Your report for Berkshire Place
Overall Score
CMS Five-Star Quality Rating- Much below average
- Below average
- Average
- Above average
- Much above average
Where it ranks
- MassachusettsAbove 60% of peers338 rated homes · average 3.0★
- Berkshire CountyAbove 50% of peers13 rated homes · average 3.4★
- United StatesAbove 61% of peers14,574 rated homes · average 3.0★
How the rating is built
- Health inspectionsStarting point4★+1.1 vs MA avg
- StaffingCan add or remove a star4★+1.1 vs MA avg
- Quality measuresCan add or remove a star4★+0.7 vs MA avg
CMS starts from the health inspection stars, then adds or subtracts a star for staffing and for quality measures. Stars are assigned relative to other facilities in the same state.
Ratings & measures
Tap a row to see what it meansHealth inspection ratingCMS stars from the last three on-site inspection cycles4★Above 64% of peersMA avg2.9★U.S. avg2.8★
Stars assigned from the last three standard surveys and every complaint investigation in that window, weighted toward the most recent and the most serious findings. CMS assigns these stars relative to other facilities in the same state.
It carries the most weight in the overall rating and is the only domain based on what trained inspectors saw on site rather than what the facility reported.
Staffing ratingCMS stars from payroll-reported hours and turnover4★Above 67% of peersMA avg2.9★U.S. avg2.9★
Nurse and aide hours per resident day from payroll records CMS collects every quarter, adjusted for how much care residents need, plus staff turnover and weekend coverage.
More hours and lower turnover are the strongest predictors of fewer falls, pressure sores, and avoidable hospital stays.
Quality measures ratingCMS stars from clinical outcomes and resident assessments4★Above 54% of peersMA avg3.3★U.S. avg3.6★
Clinical outcomes from resident assessments and Medicare claims: falls with injury, pressure ulcers, hospitalizations, antipsychotic use, and more, for both short-stay and long-stay residents.
It shows whether care is working, but part of it comes from the facility’s own assessments, so read it alongside the inspection results.
Total nurse hoursPer resident per day, all nursing staff5.33hrsTop 4%MA avg3.86Benchmark4.10
All licensed nurse and aide hours worked, divided by the number of residents, on an average day. Reported from payroll, not self-reported.
Federal research links 4.1 hours a day to fewer avoidable harms. Below about 3 hours, residents wait longer for help with basics like toileting and repositioning.
RN hoursPer resident per day, registered nurses only0.75hrsAbove 79% of peersMA avg0.65Benchmark0.75
Registered nurse hours only. RNs assess residents, manage medications, and catch changes in condition; LPNs and aides deliver most hands-on care.
RN coverage is the staffing measure most tied to fewer hospital transfers and infections, and it is where thinly staffed facilities cut first.
Nursing staff turnoverShare of nursing staff who left within a year · lower is better50%Above only 20% of peersMA avg39%RN turnover25%
The share of nursing staff who left within the past year, from the same payroll data.
High turnover means residents are cared for by people who do not know them, and it is one of the strongest predictors of inspection problems.
Fines in the last three yearsCivil money penalties imposed by CMS · lower is better$8,648Above only 46% of peersMA avg$39,993Fines · denials1 · 0
Civil money penalties CMS imposed after serious or uncorrected deficiencies, and denials of Medicare payment for new admissions.
Penalties follow the worst inspection findings. A recent fine is the clearest sign that inspectors found real harm.
Inspection history
Last three inspection cyclesCitations by monthApr 2022 – Oct 2024
- No actual harm (D–F)
- Actual harm (G–I)
- Immediate jeopardy (J–L)
- $Fine or payment denial
Showing
Click a month or a year to filter the findings below. Arrow keys move between months; Esc clears.
Oct 28, 2024Cycle 1worst D · no actual harm
- F773Provide or obtain laboratory tests/services when ordered and promptly tell the ordering practitioner of the results.AdministrationD · isolatedCorrected Nov 19, 2024
- F658Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Nov 19, 2024
- F758Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.Pharmacy ServiceD · isolatedCorrected Nov 19, 2024
Aug 17, 2023Cycle 2worst G · actual harm$8,648
- F580Immediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.Resident RightsG · isolatedCorrected Sep 15, 2023
- F656Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Sep 15, 2023
- Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, residentâs preferences and goals.Quality of Life and CareG · isolatedCorrected Sep 15, 2023
- F842Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Sep 15, 2023
- F637Assess the resident when there is a significant change in conditionResident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Sep 15, 2023
- F695Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected Sep 15, 2023
Jun 6, 2023Cycle 3worst E · no actual harm
- F658Ensure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected Jun 23, 2023
- F883Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.Infection ControlD · isolatedCorrected Jun 23, 2023
- F887Educate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.Infection ControlE · patternCorrected Jun 23, 2023
Apr 22, 2022Cycle 3worst F · no actual harm
- F656Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.Resident Assessment and Care PlanningD · isolatedCorrected May 27, 2022
- F686Provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected May 27, 2022
- F689Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.Quality of Life and CareD · isolatedCorrected May 27, 2022
- F758Implement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.Pharmacy ServiceD · isolatedCorrected May 27, 2022
- F812Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.Nutrition and DietaryF · widespreadCorrected May 27, 2022
- F883Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.Infection ControlD · isolatedCorrected May 27, 2022
- F886Perform COVID19 testing on residents and staff.Infection ControlE · patternCorrected May 27, 2022
Staffing
From quarterly payroll reportsHours per resident per day
- All nursing staffRNs, LPNs and aides combined5.33hrs
- Registered nursesRN hours only0.75hrs
- Licensed practical nursesLPN hours1.36hrs
- Nurse aidesCNA hours3.23hrs
- Weekend nursingAll staff on Saturdays and Sundays4.79hrs
- Massachusetts average
- Research benchmark (4.10 total, 0.75 RN)
Turnover & capacity
- Nursing staff turnoverShare who left within a year · lower is better50%Above only 20% of peersMA avg 39%
- RN turnoverRegistered nurses only25%Not ranked by CMS
- Administrators who leftIn the past year2Leadership changed
- Occupancy54 certified beds · ~49 residents a day90%Above 68% of peersMA avg 81%
Fines & penalties
Roughly the past three yearsEnforcement summary
- $8,648In fines
- 1Fine
- 0Payment denials
- $39,993MA avg in fines
Actions on record
- Aug 17, 2023Civil money penalty$8,648
Ownership
As filed with CMSStructure
- Ownership type
- Non profit - Corporation
- Chain
- Independent
- Certification
- Medicare
- Location type
- Urban
- Ownership change
- None in the last 12 months
People and entities on file
- Berkshire Retirement Home INC
- Edward Forfa
- Nelson Furlano
- Mark Gilligan
- Shelley Guyette
- Richard Herrick
- Craig Kahn
- Elizabeth Kirby
- Dorothy Mara
- +4 more
- Edward Forfa
Person Organization
Sources & notes
Public data, updated quarterlyData sources
- CMS Care Compare · Provider InformationStar ratings, staffing hours, turnover, penalties and flags · processed February 2026.
- CMS Health CitationsEvery deficiency from the last three inspection cycles, with scope, severity and inspection cycle.
- CMS Penalties and Ownership filesCivil money penalties, payment denials, and the owners and managers on file.
Notes
- CMS Certification Number 225762 · 290 SOUTH STREET, PITTSFIELD, MA, 01201.
- Percentiles compare this facility with every rated nursing home in Massachusetts and Berkshire County. Turnover and fines are inverted so a high percentile is always good.
- This is an informational summary of public data, not medical, legal, or placement advice. Facilities cannot pay to change it; a facility that believes a record is wrong can dispute it with CMS.
