News

State Deems Two Haverhill Nursing Homes ‘Deficiency Free’ Once Again

HAVERHILL (June 23, 2015) —Two Haverhill nursing homes, Lakeview House Skilled Nursing and Residential Care Facility and Baker-Katz Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, received the federal government’s top five-star rating and have been deemed “deficiency free” again this year.

The state Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification made the determinations during separate unannounced surveys this spring. The division inspects nursing homes at least every 9-15 months to assess compliance with federal standards of care such as adequacy of staffing, quality of care and cleanliness of facilities.

“We take great interest in ensuring not only the highest levels of patient care and quality, but also work to maintain safe, clean and home-like facilities,” said Jon D. Guarino, president of Guarino-Grimes LLC, managers of the two nursing homes.

Baker-Katz employs approximately 87 staff to care for 68 skilled nursing and rehabilitation clients, said Administrator William P. Grimes. “The very high ratio of staff to patients is, in fact, one facet behind the state’s top rating,” he explained. “That’s what it’s all about—dedicated, competent and loving staff members.”

Lakeview House employs 88 employees to manage its 26-bed skilled unit and 65 rest home beds, said Administrator James F. Grimes. While much of the state’s focus is on physical building issues, he agrees, staff make the difference when it comes to delivering expert care. “High ratings are not easy to achieve. The credit goes to the day-to-day employees who strive to go the extra mile,” he said.

Surveys and on-site visits involve more than 100 items, including reviews of nursing home administration, nursing, resident rights, kitchen/food services and environment.

Lakeview House Skilled Nursing and Residential Care Facility, founded during the mid-1940s, provides 26 licensed skilled care beds and 65 residential care beds. It came under current management in 1983. Baker-Katz Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, founded during the mid-1960s, provides 68 skilled nursing facility and rehabilitation center licensed skilled care beds. It came under current management in 2001.

Lakeview House Welcomes Back Nurse and Educator Marion Bergman

HAVERHILL, Mass. (June 11, 2014) — Lakeview House Skilled Nursing and Residential Care Facility was the site of a historical reunion Thursday, June 5, as Marion F. Bergman met with Lakeview’s Director of Social Services Joseph S. Tavitian to compare notes on the facility’s storied past.

Bergman’s family bought the property in 1946. Her parents, James and Florence Sexton, bought what had been the Kenoza Lake Country Club and developed it first into a rest home, and then a full-fledged nursing home, calling it Kenoza Lake Health Resort. Before the property was used as a country club it belonged to the Shattuck family. Marble fireplaces and turned mahogany staircases adorned the luxury estate.

“The place has quite an interesting history,” said Bergman. Bergman’s personal history is inextricably entwined with that of Lakeview House. She graduated from the Beverly Hospital School of Nursing in 1954 after completing years of training, and returned to join the professional staff at her family’s facility. She eventually transitioned to an educational position, teaching nurses’ aides at facilities in the Merrimack Valley.

Bergman’s family sold Kenoza Lake Health Resort in 1958. In 1983 Jon D. Guarino acquired the property and named it Lakeview House. In 2001 he purchased Baker-Katz Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Both Lakeview House and Baker-Katz remain family-owned and operated by Guarino. Bergman was pleased to note that the facilities retain the comfort and atmosphere she remembered. “It’s like a big extended family,” she said.

Lakeview House Skilled Nursing and Residential Care Facility provides 26 licensed skilled care beds and 65 residential care beds.

Two Haverhill Nursing Homes Receive Commonwealth’s Top Ratings

HAVERHILL (Aug. 16, 2012) — Pizza parties greeted employees of two Haverhill nursing homes upon release of top ratings for each home by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Lakeview House Skilled Nursing and Residential Care Facility and Baker-Katz Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, both of Haverhill, were again deemed “deficiency free” by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Division of Health Care Quality after separate surveys.

“It is entirely appropriate to reward staff of each facility since they have worked well above and beyond the calls of duty to create safe, clean and home-like atmospheres,” said Jon D. Guarino, president of Guarino-Grimes LLC, managers of the two nursing homes. “The ability of staff, quality of care and cleanliness are among the criteria the state uses to rank health care settings,” he explained. Guarino also thanked William P. Grimes, administrator of Baker-Katz, and James F. Grimes, administrator of Lakeview House, at separate parties for consistently achieving high ratings.

The Commonwealth inspects nursing homes at least every nine to 15 months.

According to the state, five critical areas of each nursing home with more than 100 items are evaluated. These include administration, nursing, resident rights, kitchen and food services and the environment.

Lakeview House Skilled Nursing and Residential Care Facility, founded during the mid-1940s, provides 26 licensed skilled care beds and 65 residential care beds. It came under current management in 1983. Baker-Katz Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, founded during the mid-1960s, provides 72 licensed skilled care beds. It came under current management in 2001.