MARENGO NURSING HOME
Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.
Marengo Nursing Home in Linden, Alabama has a Trust Grade of B+, which means it is recommended and performs above average compared to other facilities. It ranks #63 out of 223 nursing homes in Alabama, placing it in the top half, but it is the second out of two facilities in Marengo County, indicating limited local options. The facility is improving, having reduced its issues from five in 2019 to just one in 2022, and it has a solid staffing rating with a turnover of 37%, lower than the state average. However, there are concerns regarding RN coverage, which is less than 77% of state facilities, and past inspection findings included issues like not properly observing a resident during a nebulizer treatment and cleaning deficiencies that could potentially affect food safety. Overall, while Marengo Nursing Home has strengths in staffing and improvement trends, families should be aware of its RN coverage and the specific incidents noted by inspectors.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Alabama
- #63/223
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 37% turnover. Near Alabama's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Alabama facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 34 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Alabama. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ○ Average
- 6 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (37%)
11 points below Alabama average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Alabama avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 6 deficiencies on record
Jan 2022
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0561
(Tag F0561)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, record review and review of facility policies titled Nebulizer Therapy and SELF-ADMINISTRATIO...
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May 2019
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** (3) EI #42 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] and readmitted [DATE], with diagnoses including Vascular Dementia with Behavio...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0657
(Tag F0657)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interviews, record review and review of a facility policy titled,THE CARE PLANNING TEAM, the facility failed to ensure:...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Pharmacy Services
(Tag F0755)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews, record review and a review of a facility policy titled, Destruction Of Medication, the facility failed to ensure all of the non-controlled medication drug sheets for...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observation, interviews, the 2017 Food Code, review of the facility policies titled, MACHINE WAREWASHING, WASTE DISPOSAL and Cleaning of Ice Machine, the facility failed to ensure:
(1) dust l...
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MINOR
(C)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Staffing Information
(Tag F0732)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on observations, interview and review of a facility policy titled, Nurse Staffing Posting Information, the facility failed to ensure the DAILY STAFFING AND RESIDENT CENSUS form contained the nam...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade B+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Alabama.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Alabama facilities.
- • 37% turnover. Below Alabama's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Marengo's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns MARENGO NURSING HOME an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Alabama, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Marengo Staffed?
CMS rates MARENGO NURSING HOME's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 37%, compared to the Alabama average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Marengo?
State health inspectors documented 6 deficiencies at MARENGO NURSING HOME during 2019 to 2022. These included: 5 with potential for harm and 1 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Marengo?
MARENGO NURSING HOME is owned by a non-profit organization. Non-profit facilities reinvest revenue into operations rather than distributing to shareholders. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 78 certified beds and approximately 62 residents (about 79% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in LINDEN, Alabama.
How Does Marengo Compare to Other Alabama Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Alabama, MARENGO NURSING HOME's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (37%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Marengo?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Marengo Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, MARENGO NURSING HOME has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Alabama. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Marengo Stick Around?
MARENGO NURSING HOME has a staff turnover rate of 37%, which is about average for Alabama nursing homes (state average: 46%). Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Marengo Ever Fined?
MARENGO NURSING HOME has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Marengo on Any Federal Watch List?
MARENGO NURSING HOME is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.