MERRY HEART NURSING HOME
Within standard 12-15 month inspection cycle. Federal law requires annual inspections.
Merry Heart Nursing Home in Succasunna, New Jersey has an impressive Trust Grade of A, indicating it is highly recommended and considered excellent. Ranking #54 out of 344 facilities in New Jersey places it in the top half, while being #5 out of 21 in Morris County shows it is among the better local options. The facility is on an improving trend, with issues decreasing from 6 in 2024 to 5 in 2025. Staffing is a strong point, with a perfect rating of 5/5 stars and a turnover rate of 35%, which is below the state average. Notably, there have been no fines reported, and the facility has more registered nurse coverage than 95% of New Jersey facilities, which is beneficial for resident care. However, there are some concerns. Recent inspections revealed that two non-certified nursing aides were allowed to continue working beyond the regulatory time frame without proper qualifications. Additionally, staff were observed feeding residents while standing, which compromises the dignity of those being served. There was also a report of residents receiving their mail opened and taped shut, leading to frustration about privacy. Overall, while Merry Heart Nursing Home has many strengths, families should be aware of these issues as they consider this facility for their loved ones.
- Trust Score
- A
- In New Jersey
- #54/344
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ○ Average
- 35% turnover. Near New Jersey's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most New Jersey facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 70 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than 97% of New Jersey nursing homes. RNs are the most trained staff who catch health problems before they become serious.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
5-Star Staffing Rating · Excellent nurse staffing levels
-
4-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
-
Staff turnover below average (35%)
13 points below New Jersey average of 48%
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, fire safety.
The Bad
11pts below New Jersey avg (46%)
Typical for the industry
The Ugly 12 deficiencies on record
Jan 2025
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and record review, it was determined that the facility failed to maintain the dignity of two unsampled residents. This deficient practice was found with 2 of 5 staff (...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0583
(Tag F0583)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and record review, it was determined that the facility failed to deliver unopened mail in a tim...
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CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Accident Prevention
(Tag F0689)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Complaint # NJ 00178498
Based on observation, interviews, review of medical records, and facility documents, it was determined that the facility failed to follow fall prevention interventions as writt...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, and review of pertinent facility documents, it was determined that the facility failed to a.)id...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of pertinent facility documentation, it was determined that the facility failed to use appropriate infection control practices specifically f...
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Jan 2024
6 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
📢 Someone Reported This
A family member, employee, or ombudsman was alarmed enough to file a formal complaint
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Report Alleged Abuse
(Tag F0609)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Complaint #165021
Based on interview, record review, and review of pertinent documents, it was determined that the facility failed to report an injury of unknown origin to the New Jersey Department of...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0658
(Tag F0658)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, record review and review of pertinent facility documents it was determined that the facility failed to follow a physician's order (PO) for the application of heel prot...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview, record review, and review of pertinent documentation, it was determined that the facility faile...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Respiratory Care
(Tag F0695)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observations, interviews, and record review it was determined that the facility failed to change the oxygen tubing as directed by the Physician order and follow the facility policy. This defi...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation, interview, and review of pertinent facility documents, it was determined that the facility failed to store, label, and date potentially hazardous foods to prevent food-borne illn...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0728
(Tag F0728)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on interviews and review of pertinent facility documentation, it was determined that the facility allowed 2 of 4 Non-Certified Nursing Aides (NA) to continue working as an NA after the specified...
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Nov 2021
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interview and record review it was determined that the facility failed to store potentially hazardous food...
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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 A (90/100). Above average facility, better than most options in New Jersey.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most New Jersey facilities.
- • 35% turnover. Below New Jersey's 48% average. Good staff retention means consistent care.
- • 12 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
About This Facility
What is Merry Heart's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns MERRY HEART NURSING HOME an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within New Jersey, 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 Merry Heart Staffed?
CMS rates MERRY HEART NURSING HOME's staffing level at 5 out of 5 stars, which is much above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 35%, compared to the New Jersey average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.
What Have Inspectors Found at Merry Heart?
State health inspectors documented 12 deficiencies at MERRY HEART NURSING HOME during 2021 to 2025. These included: 12 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Merry Heart?
MERRY HEART NURSING HOME is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility operates independently rather than as part of a larger chain. With 113 certified beds and approximately 91 residents (about 81% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in SUCCASUNNA, New Jersey.
How Does Merry Heart Compare to Other New Jersey Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in New Jersey, MERRY HEART NURSING HOME's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 3.3, staff turnover (35%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Merry Heart?
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 Merry Heart Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, MERRY HEART 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 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in New Jersey. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Merry Heart Stick Around?
MERRY HEART NURSING HOME has a staff turnover rate of 35%, which is about average for New Jersey 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 Merry Heart Ever Fined?
MERRY HEART 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 Merry Heart on Any Federal Watch List?
MERRY HEART 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.