CMS Verified · Updated March 2026
Merry Wood Lodge
54.6
Score /100
2.0★
CMS Overall
1.0★
Health Inspection
5.0★
Quality Care
3.0★
Staffing
#11448
National Rank
Care Offered
- Long-Term Care
- Rehab / Short-Term
Medicare & Medicaid
- Accepts Medicare
- Accepts Medicaid
Facility Details
- 124 Certified Beds
- Ownership: For profit – Limited Liability company
- Resident Council: Resident
- Auto Sprinklers: Yes
- Network: GENESIS HEALTHCARE
Quick Verdict
Overall Quality
⚠️ Below Average (2★) overall
Health Inspection
❌ Poor (1★) health inspection
Staffing
⚠️ Average (3★) staffing
Quality of Care
✅ Excellent (5★) quality of care
Compliance
❌ Serious safety findings
5-Year Trend
Improving over 5 years
Composite Quality Score
54.6
/ 100
Composite Quality Score
Built from 5 components using official CMS data. How it’s calculated →
Safety & Inspections (35 pts)
20.0 / 35
20.0 / 35
Quality of Care (25 pts)
25.0 / 25
25.0 / 25
Nurse Staffing (20 pts)
2.8 / 20
2.8 / 20
Compliance History (15 pts)
9.5 / 15
9.5 / 15
Staff Stability (10 pts)
4.9 / 10
4.9 / 10
Improvement Trend (+5 pts)
3.8 / 5
3.8 / 5
Is This Facility Right For Your Loved One?
⚠️ Dementia / Alzheimer’s
12.9% antipsychotic use — near the national average of 16.7%.
✅ Short-Stay Rehab
Only 10.5% of short-stay residents are rehospitalized — well below the national average of 23.9%. Good choice for post-surgery or post-hospital recovery.
✅ Bedridden / Immobile Residents
Only 2.1% of residents develop pressure sores — well below the national average of 5.1%. Good wound prevention protocols.
✅ ️ Fall-Risk Residents
Only 1.8% of residents experience falls with major injury — well below the national average of 3.3%. Strong fall prevention program.
Overall Rating 2022–2026
Total Nurse Hours/Day 2022–2026
Quality Measures vs National Average
Long-Stay Residents
Antipsychotic Medication Uselong-stay
12.9%
-3.8% vs national
-3.8% vs national
National avg: 16.7% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Falls with Major Injurylong-stay
1.8%
-1.5% vs national
-1.5% vs national
National avg: 3.3% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Pressure Ulcerslong-stay
2.1%
-3.0% vs national
-3.0% vs national
National avg: 5.1% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Daily Activity Declinelong-stay
15.2%
+0.3% vs national
+0.3% vs national
National avg: 14.9% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Walking/Mobility Worsenedlong-stay
22.3%
+6.0% vs national
+6.0% vs national
National avg: 16.3% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Urinary Tract Infectionslong-stay
0.3%
-1.4% vs national
-1.4% vs national
National avg: 1.7% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Residents with Depressive Symptomslong-stay
3.9%
-7.5% vs national
-7.5% vs national
National avg: 11.4% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Physical Restraints Usedlong-stay
0.0%
-0.1% vs national
-0.1% vs national
National avg: 0.1% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Residents Losing Too Much Weightlong-stay
4.3%
-1.1% vs national
-1.1% vs national
National avg: 5.4% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Short-Stay / Rehab Residents
Rehospitalized After Admissionshort-stay
10.5%
-13.3% vs national
-13.3% vs national
National avg: 23.9% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Emergency Dept. Visit Rateshort-stay
4.1%
-7.9% vs national
-7.9% vs national
National avg: 12.0% | 4-quarter average (2024Q4–2025Q3)
Quality Measure Trends (2022–2026)
Antipsychotic Medication Use % (lower = better)
Falls with Major Injury % (lower = better)
Pressure Ulcers % (lower = better)
Rehospitalization Rate % (lower = better)
Why does a facility with 1 CMS star sometimes have a higher composite score? CMS star ratings place hundreds of facilities into just 5 buckets. Our composite score uses the raw underlying data to rank facilities more precisely. A 1-star facility may have been penalized in health inspection while performing well in staffing and quality care. Read our methodology.
Current CMS Ratings (2026)
Overall Rating
★★★★★2 / 5
Health Inspection
★★★★★1 / 5
Staffing Rating
★★★★★3 / 5
Quality Measures (QM)
★★★★★5 / 5
5-Year Rating Trends
Overall Rating
Health Inspection Rating
Quality of Care (QM) Rating
Staffing Rating
Average Residents per Day
Occupancy % (Residents / Beds)
Staffing InsightMerry Wood Lodge currently provides 3 hours 10 minutes of total nurse staffing per resident per day, including 47 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) coverage. The CMS Staffing Rating is 3 out of 5 (average). RN hours per resident have increased from 26 min/day (2022) to 47 min/day (2026), a positive sign of investment in skilled nursing. Total nursing staff turnover is high at 51.3%, which can affect care continuity.
Current Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day (2026)
Total Nurse Staffing3 hours 10 minutes
Nurse Aide Hours1 hour 56 minutes
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Hours27 minutes
Registered Nurse (RN) Hours47 minutes
Physical Therapist Hours2 minutes
National average total nurse staffing is approximately 3.9 hours per resident per day (CMS, March 2026).
Weekend Staffing Hours Per Resident Per Day (2026)
Weekend Total Nurse Hours2 hours 51 minutes
Weekend Registered Nurse (RN) Hours32 minutes
Weekend staffing is typically lower than weekday levels. Ask the facility about their weekend nurse-to-resident ratios.
5-Year Staffing Trends
Total Nurse Hours/Day
Registered Nurse (RN) Hours/Day
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Hours/Day
Nurse Aide Hours/Day
Total Staff Turnover %
Registered Nurse (RN) Turnover %
5-Year Compliance Record (2022–2026)
❌ Serious findings — see details below
Immediate Jeopardy citation in last 2 years. This means inspectors found conditions that posed an immediate threat to resident safety. Review the full inspection report at medicare.gov/care-compare.
Total citations (2022–2026)73
Citations causing actual harm (severity G+)18
Immediate jeopardy citations (most serious)16
Complaint-driven citations36
Abuse / neglect related citations15
Government fines (2022–2026)3
Total fines paid$526,754
Medicare/Medicaid payment denial days42
Severity A–C: minor | D–F: potential harm | G–I: actual harm | J–L: immediate jeopardy. Data covers 2022–2026.
Annual Trends
Government Fines ($) Per Year
Substantiated Complaints Per Year
Composite Quality Rankings
#11,448
of 14,703
National
⚠️ Bottom 25%
Nationally, Merry Wood Lodge ranks 9398th out of 14,703 facilities (composite score: 67.4/100), placing it in the below average nationwide. Within AL, it ranks 156th out of 224 nursing homes. For 2026 staffing: total nurse hours rank #12,239 nationally and RN hours rank #3,882 nationally (#45 in AL).
How are these rankings calculated? →
Total Nurse Staffing — Year-by-Year National and State Ranks
| Year | Hours/Day | National Rank | AL State Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3.40 | #8,735 / 14,703 | #142 / 224 |
| 2023 | 3.29 | #9,683 / 14,703 | #156 / 224 |
| 2024 | 3.15 | #11,499 / 14,703 | #195 / 224 |
| 2025 | 3.27 | #11,085 / 14,703 | #188 / 224 |
| 2026 | 3.16 | #12,239 / 14,703 | #201 / 224 |
Registered Nurse (RN) Hours — Year-by-Year National and State Ranks
| Year | Hours/Day | National Rank | AL State Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0.44 | #10,033 / 14,703 | #171 / 224 |
| 2023 | 0.45 | #9,155 / 14,703 | #148 / 224 |
| 2024 | 0.54 | #7,385 / 14,703 | #113 / 224 |
| 2025 | 0.82 | #3,261 / 14,703 | #29 / 224 |
| 2026 | 0.78 | #3,882 / 14,703 | #45 / 224 |
Total Nurse Rank — National (lower = better)
Registered Nurse Rank — National (lower = better)
Frequently Asked Questions
Merry Wood Lodge is certified as a Medicare and Medicaid facility and has been approved to provide these services since 1974-01-01. Medicare covers short-term skilled nursing care (typically up to 100 days after a qualifying hospital stay). Medicaid covers long-term care for residents who meet financial eligibility requirements. Contact the facility at (334) 567-8484 or your local Medicaid office to verify current eligibility.
Merry Wood Lodge holds an overall CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) rating of 2 out of 5 stars. This is made up of three components: Health Inspection (1â
), Staffing (3â
), and Quality of Resident Care (5â
). Our independent composite quality score â which uses the raw underlying CMS numbers to break ties between similarly-rated facilities â is 67.4/100, placing it #9398 of 14703 facilities nationally and #156 of 224 in Alabama. Star ratings are a useful starting point, but the composite score and individual sub-ratings give a more complete picture for families comparing facilities.
Each resident at Merry Wood Lodge receives a reported average of 3 hours 10 minutes of total nurse staffing per day. This breaks down as: Registered Nurse (RN) coverage â 47 minutes; Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) â 27 minutes; Nurse Aide â 1 hour 56 minutes. On weekends, total nurse staffing is 2 hours 51 minutes per resident per day. The CMS Staffing Rating for this facility is 3 out of 5. The national average for total nursing hours is approximately 3.5 hrs/day. Total nursing staff turnover is 51.3%. Families are encouraged to ask about current staffing schedules during their facility visit.
â ï¸ CMS has flagged Merry Wood Lodge with an abuse icon, indicating a history of reported abuse or neglect incidents. Families should review the detailed inspection reports on Medicare.gov before considering this facility. In the current reporting period, the facility received 1 fine(s) totaling $182,968. 6 substantiated complaints were recorded across the 5-year period â families should request details from the facility or review CMS inspection findings. There were 1 Medicare payment denial(s) in the current period. In the most recent CMS reporting period, the facility received 1 fine(s) totaling $182,968, and 1 Medicare payment denial(s). Total penalties: 2. The Total Weighted Health Survey Score is 640.0 (lower scores are better). IMPORTANT: CMS has flagged this facility with an abuse icon â indicating a reported history of abuse or neglect. Families should review the full inspection report on medicare.gov/care-compare before deciding. Full inspection history and complaint details are available at medicare.gov/care-compare.
Nationally, Merry Wood Lodge ranks 9398th out of 14,703 facilities (composite score: 67.4/100), placing it in the below average nationwide. Within AL, it ranks 156th out of 224 nursing homes. For 2026 staffing: total nurse hours rank #12,239 nationally and RN hours rank #3,882 nationally (#45 in AL). Our composite quality score of 67.4/100 weighs health inspections, quality of resident care, staffing hours, compliance record, and five-year performance trends â giving a more complete picture than CMS star ratings alone, which can place hundreds of facilities in the same 5-star bucket. To browse and compare all nursing homes in Elmore, visit: https://nursinghomesnearme.org/alabama/elmore/
Contact and Location
ADR
Address
280 MT HEBRON ROAD, Elmore, AL 36025
Get directions on Google Maps
TEL
Phone
LLC
Legal Name
SUNBRIDGE HEALTHCARE LLC
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Facility Details
| Certified Beds | 124 |
| Avg Residents / Day | 95 (77% occupancy) |
| Ownership Type | For profit – Limited Liability company |
| Provider Type | Medicare and Medicaid |
| County | Elmore County, AL |
| City | Elmore, AL |
| ZIP Code | 36025 |
| Approved Since | January 1, 1974 |
| Resident Council | ✅ Yes |
| Auto Sprinklers | ✅ All areas |
| Ownership Changed | No |
| CMS Certification # | 015019 |
| Last Inspection | September 1, 2024 |
| CMS Data Updated | March 1, 2026 |
10 Closest Nursing Homes
The 10 nearest CMS-certified nursing homes to this facility, measured in straight-line distance. Use this to compare alternatives in the area.
📌 Straight-line distances only — does not account for roads or terrain. Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, March 2026. ⚠ = approximate location (ZIP centroid geocoding).
Data Disclaimer: All data on this page is sourced exclusively from the official CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) Nursing Home Compare dataset, covering reporting periods from 2022 through 2026. NursingHomesNearMe.org does not independently verify, collect, or alter this data. Composite scores and rankings are calculated by NursingHomesNearMe.org using a proprietary methodology. Learn how rankings are calculated. Information may not reflect current facility conditions. Always verify at medicare.gov/care-compare before making care decisions.
Data: CMS Nursing Home Compare · March 2026 ·
Ranked among 14703 U.S. facilities ·
Ranking Methodology ·
NursingHomesNearMe.org
Ranked among 14703 U.S. facilities ·
Ranking Methodology ·
NursingHomesNearMe.org