QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER
Inspected within the last 6 months. Data reflects current conditions.
Quality Life Services in Mercer, Pennsylvania, has a Trust Grade of C, indicating it is average compared to other nursing homes. It ranks #339 out of 653 facilities in Pennsylvania, placing it in the bottom half, and #9 out of 10 in Mercer County, suggesting limited local options. The facility is currently facing a worsening trend, with issues increasing from 2 in 2023 to 5 in 2025. Staffing is a concern, with a low rating of 2 out of 5 stars and a high turnover rate of 71%, much higher than the state average of 46%. The facility has incurred $7,443 in fines, which is considered average but still indicates some compliance issues. RN coverage is average, meaning that registered nurses are present, but not in higher numbers compared to other facilities. Specific incidents include not having a qualified Infection Preventionist on staff, which puts residents at risk for infections, and failing to properly assess and document pressure ulcers for multiple residents, potentially leading to inadequate care. While the facility has some strengths, such as average overall and health inspection ratings, these serious concerns about staffing and care practices may be significant factors for families to consider.
- Trust Score
- C
- In Pennsylvania
- #339/653
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Worse
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 71% turnover. Very high, 23 points above average. Constant new faces learning your loved one's needs.
- Penalties ⚠ Watch
- $7,443 in fines. Higher than 79% of Pennsylvania facilities, suggesting repeated compliance issues.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 46 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Pennsylvania. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 7 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
Near Pennsylvania average (3.0)
Meets federal standards, typical of most facilities
25pts above Pennsylvania avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Below median ($33,413)
Minor penalties assessed
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
23 points above Pennsylvania average of 48%
The Ugly 7 deficiencies on record
Jul 2025
2 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
Quality of Care
(Tag F0684)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy, clinical records, and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to follow physician orders for one of two residents reviewed (Closed Record Resid...
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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
Infection Control
(Tag F0880)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on review of facility policy, clinical records, observations, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to prevent the potential for cross contamination during a dressing c...
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Jun 2025
1 deficiency
CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0882
(Tag F0882)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on review of facility infection control program and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure the designated Infection Preventionist (IP) was qualified with specializ...
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Jan 2025
2 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
ADL Care
(Tag F0677)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy and clinical records and facility documentation, and resident and staff interviews, it was de...
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CONCERN
(E)
📢 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
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on review of clinical records and facility policy, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure evidence for provision of documentation of pressure ulcers for two of...
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Jan 2023
2 deficiencies
CONCERN
(E)
📢 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
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
(Tag F0686)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on review of facility policies and clinical records and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to comprehensively assess and monitor pressure ulcers within required timefra...
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CONCERN
(E)
📢 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
Medical Records
(Tag F0842)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
Based on review of clinical records and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to maintain accurate and complete documentation for three of three residents reviewed (Residents R1...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • Grade C (58/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
- • 71% turnover. Very high, 23 points above average. Constant new faces learning your loved one's needs.
About This Facility
What is Quality Life Services - Mercer's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which is considered average nationally. Within Pennsylvania, this rating places the facility higher than 0% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This mid-range rating indicates the facility meets federal standards but may have areas for improvement.
How is Quality Life Services - Mercer Staffed?
CMS rates QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 71%, which is 25 percentage points above the Pennsylvania average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs. RN turnover specifically is 75%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Quality Life Services - Mercer?
State health inspectors documented 7 deficiencies at QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER during 2023 to 2025. These included: 7 with potential for harm.
Who Owns and Operates Quality Life Services - Mercer?
QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by QUALITY LIFE SERVICES, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 48 certified beds and approximately 43 residents (about 90% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in MERCER, Pennsylvania.
How Does Quality Life Services - Mercer Compare to Other Pennsylvania Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania, QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER's overall rating (3 stars) matches the state average, staff turnover (71%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Quality Life Services - Mercer?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate and the below-average staffing rating.
Is Quality Life Services - Mercer Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER 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 3-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Pennsylvania. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Quality Life Services - Mercer Stick Around?
Staff turnover at QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER is high. At 71%, the facility is 25 percentage points above the Pennsylvania average of 46%. Registered Nurse turnover is particularly concerning at 75%. RNs handle complex medical decisions and coordinate care — frequent RN changes can directly impact care quality. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Quality Life Services - Mercer Ever Fined?
QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER has been fined $7,443 across 1 penalty action. This is below the Pennsylvania average of $33,153. While any fine indicates a compliance issue, fines under $50,000 are relatively common and typically reflect isolated problems that were subsequently corrected. Families should ask what specific issues led to these fines and confirm they've been resolved.
Is Quality Life Services - Mercer on Any Federal Watch List?
QUALITY LIFE SERVICES - MERCER 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.