Wedgemere Healthcare is a medium-sized nursing facility located in Taunton, Massachusetts, with a total capacity of 94 beds. Operating under for-profit, LLC ownership, this center provides both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care services to its residents. Wedgemere Healthcare participates in both Medicare and Medicaid programs, allowing it to serve a broad range of individuals requiring skilled nursing care. It functions as an independent nursing home and is not part of any continuing care retirement community, focusing instead on the immediate health and everyday needs of its residents.
The facility offers nursing and rehabilitation care for those transitioning from hospital stays, including patients recovering from strokes, heart attacks, infections, or injuries such as fractures. Its staff delivers an average of three hours and twenty-four minutes of nurse care per resident daily, an amount consistent across weekdays and weekends. During short-term rehabilitation stays, about 46.8% of residents were able to return home following their treatment at Wedgemere Healthcare. An important note for families is that original Medicare may cover up to 100 days of short-term rehabilitation care after qualifying inpatient hospital stays, while longer-term residency is generally provided through Medicaid after other resources are exhausted.
Wedgemere Healthcare's care model includes robust procedures for daily medical and non-medical services, such as medication administration, dressing, feeding, and general support with self-care activities. About 72.5% of residents maintained their independence in routines like mobility, eating, and personal care during their stay. The facility also pays special attention to pressing health concerns, with protocols in place to minimize falls and manage infections, although approximately 7.7% of short-term residents experienced infections that required hospitalization, and 20.9% needed emergency room care during their rehabilitation. On the long-term side, there were approximately 1.9 emergency room visits per 1000 patient days among residents.
The staff at Wedgemere Healthcare work under detailed plans to meet the medical, dietary, and daily living needs of residents. The nursing home has protocols for assessing resident needs, developing individualized care plans, and administering preventative and responsive treatments. These include management of pressure ulcers, appropriate care for incontinence, respiratory health measures, and safe provision of dialysis when required. Regular reviews by licensed pharmacists ensure drug regimens are up to standard, with requirements for careful storage and clear labeling of all medications and controlled substances. There are also guidelines in place for gradual dose reductions and appropriate psychotropic medication use.
Infection control is a central aspect of the healthcare services at Wedgemere Healthcare. The nursing home implements comprehensive infection prevention and control programs, including oversight for the safe use of antibiotics and vaccine policies for flu and pneumonia. Coordination with dietary staff ensures that meals and beverages are served at safe and appealing temperatures, and all food is sourced and handled in compliance with current standards. Resident safety remains a priority as the facility maintains its premises free from accident hazards and ensures proper supervision at all times to prevent injuries.
Wedgemere Healthcare has faced a series of inspection findings in recent years, with several measures undertaken to rectify areas of improvement. These have included strengthening policies on abuse prevention, communications regarding resident transfers or discharges, accurate assessment and care planning, maintaining professional healthcare standards, providing appropriate care across all medical and dietary services, and meticulous infection control practices. Each of these initiatives demonstrates the facility’s ongoing efforts to care for residents in a safe, responsive, and attentive environment. With a stewardship model designed to align care with the evolving needs of its residents, Wedgemere Healthcare continues striving to offer reliable services to those in need of sustained or rehabilitative nursing care.