VARNUM OPS LLC
LOWELL, MA · Middlesex County · For profit - Limited Liability company · 169 certified beds
📍 476 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854 · 📞 (978) 458-3388
Medicare ID: 225458 · Last Medicare inspection: Jan 12, 2026
Score Breakdown
What the numbers mean
VARNUM OPS LLC scored 52 out of 100 — 14 points below the state average of 66.
📋 Inspections: 46 citations over the last 36 months — 22 more than the state average (24). 1 was rated serious (G+) — an inspector determined it caused or risked harm to a resident. 17 findings recurred across inspection cycles — indicating a problem that was not fixed.
🚨 Staffing: Staffing levels are well below average — this is a serious concern. Understaffing leads to worse resident outcomes. We strongly recommend asking for staffing schedules and speaking with current residents or family members before making any decision.
⚠️ Penalties & enforcement: CMS has recorded 1 enforcement action totaling $15,030 against this facility. Penalties are only issued after a facility fails two levels of regulatory review — meaning this is a serious escalation beyond a standard citation. Ask for a written explanation of every fine and what corrective actions were taken.
💬 Complaints: Low complaint activity — few formal complaints from residents or families have triggered inspections. Ask if there is a family council you can speak with.
⚠️ Resident quality outcomes: Some quality measures are below national benchmarks. Areas like fall prevention, pain management, or medication use may warrant closer attention.
What inspectors found (last 3 surveys)
Top concern areas
⚖ Penalties & Enforcement
Federal civil monetary penalties (CMPs) are only issued after a facility has failed two levels of regulatory review — meaning problems were found on inspection and the facility could not rebut the findings. This is a serious escalation beyond a standard citation.
⚠ Each enforcement action required CMS to make a separate non-compliance determination — meaning this facility failed two levels of regulatory review before any fine was issued. Ask management specifically what violations triggered these fines and what corrective steps were taken.
📅 Per-action enforcement records (date, fine amount, and penalty type for each individual action) are sourced from a separate CMS enforcement dataset and will be added in a future data update.
Resident Wellbeing — Key Indicators
These are the measures families ask about most. They come from CMS clinical assessments of every resident — not just inspection reports. Stars (★) count toward the official CMS quality star rating.
Source: CMS MDS Quality Measures & Medicare claims data. Scores shown are the most recent 4-quarter averages for long-stay residents.
See every citation, score history, ownership, and get monthly alerts
Watch this facility for $14.99/year. Family plan covers 3 facilities for $29.99/year.