Merry Wood Lodge: Staffing, Turnover, and Inspection Record
Merry Wood Lodge is a 124-bed for-profit nursing home in Elmore, Alabama, part of Genesis Healthcare. In the CMS August 2026 release it reported 1.91 nurse aide hours per resident per day, 22% below the Alabama average of 2.44, and 51.9% nursing staff turnover (Alabama average 46.9%).
Merry Wood Lodge
280 Mt Hebron RoadElmore, AL 36025
Elmore County
CMS Care Compare, August 2026 release
Special Focus Facility candidate. CMS lists this home as a candidate for its Special Focus Facility program, which is for nursing homes with a history of serious quality issues.
Cited for abuse or neglect. CMS marks this home with its abuse icon: it was cited for abuse or neglect that caused harm on its most recent inspection cycle, or for abuse or neglect with potential for harm on each of its last two cycles.
How many staff hours residents get
CMS reports staffing as hours per resident per day, from the payroll records each home submits. At Merry Wood Lodge, nurse aides logged 1.91 hours per resident per day, 22% below the Alabama average. With about 99 residents a day, that works out to roughly 188 aide hours a day, or about 24 eight-hour aide shifts across day, evening, and night. On weekends, total nursing hours per resident ran 11% below the all-days figure.
| Hours per resident per day | This home | Alabama avg | US avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurse aides (CNAs) | 1.91 | 2.44 | 2.32 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.55 | 0.79 | 0.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.78 | 0.65 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff | 3.24 | 3.88 | 3.86 |
| All nursing staff, weekends | 2.89 | 3.26 | 3.42 |
CMS Care Compare, August 2026 release: reported staffing hours from Payroll-Based Journal data, and CMS state and US averages.
Staff turnover
51.9% of nursing staff at Merry Wood Lodge left over the year CMS measured, against a Alabama average of 46.9% and a US average of 45.8%. Registered nurse turnover was 54.2%. 1 administrator left over the same period.
Inspections and penalties
State inspectors last completed a standard health inspection on Sep 1, 2024. The most recent inspection cycle, which also counts complaint and infection-control inspections from the past 12 months, found 8 health deficiencies (Alabama average 4.0). CMS lists 1 fine totaling $182,968 and 1 payment denial in the last three years.
| Inspection date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2024 | Fine | $182,968 |
| Sep 1, 2024 | Payment Denial | 42 days from Oct 1, 2024 |
CMS Penalties file, August 2026 release. A payment denial stops Medicare and Medicaid payment for new admissions for the days shown.
CMS star ratings
CMS rates every nursing home from one to five stars overall and on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Merry Wood Lodge holds 1 of 5 overall; the Alabama average is 3.0.
About Merry Wood Lodge
- Ownership: For profit - Limited Liability company
- Chain: Genesis Healthcare, 184 homes
- Legal name: Sunbridge Healthcare LLC
- Medicare and Medicaid certified since: Jan 1, 1974
- Councils: resident council
- Area: urban
Nursing homes near Merry Wood Lodge
The closest homes by distance, with the same CMS figures. Select a column to sort.
| Wetumpka Health and Rehabilitation, LLC Wetumpka | 5.9 | 121 | 2.52 | 3.72 | 50.0% | 1 | None |
| Charlton Place Rehab and Healthcare Center Deatsville | 6.6 | 65 | 2.34 | 3.89 | 53.0% | 5 | None |
| Prattville Health and Rehabilitation, LLC Prattville | 8.2 | 162 | 2.51 | 4.11 | 57.2% | 1 | None |
| Montgomery Children's Specialty Center Montgomery | 9.5 | 54 | 1.89 | 3.49 | 50.8% | 3 | None |
| Crowne Health Care of Montgomery Montgomery | 12.1 | 185 | 2.84 | 4.33 | 54.1% | 4 | None |
| Capitol Hill Healthcare Center Montgomery | 12.9 | 284 | 2.36 | 4.02 | 36.3% | 4 | None |
| Hillview Terrace Montgomery | 13.1 | 143 | 2.95 | 4.53 | 44.4% | 2 | None |
| Diversicare of Montgomery Montgomery | 14.0 | 138 | 2.01 | 3.02 | 57.1% | 2 | None |
Aide hrs and all nurse hrs are staff hours per resident per day. Fines are the CMS total for the last three years. Turnover is the share of nursing staff who left over a year. All figures from CMS Care Compare.
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Source: CMS Care Compare Provider Information, State and US Averages, and Penalties files, August 2026 release. Figures are as CMS publishes them; check Medicare Care Compare for the latest. Methodology.