Fairhaven, Massachusetts's Bristol County seat, has 3 Medicare-certified nursing homes with approximately 366 beds. Families have good options, with many facilities exceeding state averages.

Fairhaven vs. Massachusetts: Above Average Quality

Fairhaven nursing homes outperform the state average on key quality metrics. The city's average CMS rating of 3.33 stars exceeds Massachusetts's statewide average of 2.90 stars by 0.4 stars—a meaningful difference that suggests stronger local standards.

1 of 3 facility earns a B grade or better, giving families good options. While quality is generally high, the overall picture is positive for Fairhaven families.

Understanding Our Trust Score System

The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:

• Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
• Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
• Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
• Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
• Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity

In Fairhaven, 1 facility scores a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.

Staffing: A Significant Concern in Fairhaven

Staffing levels are among the most important predictors of nursing home quality. Research consistently shows that facilities with more nursing staff—especially registered nurses—have better outcomes for residents.

Fairhaven facilities average 0.63 RN hours per resident day, which falls below the CMS-recommended threshold of 0.75 hours. The typical Fairhaven resident receives approximately 38 minutes of RN attention daily—compared to the 45 minutes experts recommend.

1 Fairhaven facilities exceed CMS staffing recommendations. Families prioritizing staffing should look for facilities with the "Top Staffing" badge and ask specifically about RN hours during facility visits.

Ownership: Mix of For-Profit and Non-Profit

Fairhaven has 2 non-profit nursing homes and 1 for-profit facility. 2 of 3 facilities are chain-owned, with the remainder independently operated.

Research suggests non-profit facilities often have higher staffing levels and fewer deficiencies on average, though ownership type alone does not guarantee quality. Families should evaluate each facility individually using inspection data, staffing levels, and recent deficiency reports.

Nearby Alternatives Worth Considering

Families may also want to consider nearby Massachusetts cities for additional options. The following Massachusetts cities offer multiple nursing home options:

• Worcester — 16 facilities
• Boston — 11 facilities
• Holyoke — 8 facilities
• Fall River — 7 facilities
• Lowell — 7 facilities
• New Bedford — 6 facilities