Penacook Place receives high marks in

statewide satisfaction survey

HAVERHILL -- Family members of residents at the not-for-profit Penacook Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center are very satisfied with the care that their loved ones are receiving, according to recently released results of the Department of Public Health’s 2005 Nursing Home Satisfaction Survey. 

More than 16,000 family members of nursing home residents across Massachusetts completed the survey, which is the first of its kind in the state. Using a scale of 1-5, with 1 being “very dissatisfied” and 5 being “very satisfied,” participants were asked to rate nursing home staff, physical environment, activities, personal care services, food and meals, and residents’ personal rights, as well as overall satisfaction and the facility’s ability to meet residents’ needs. Penacook Place received 4.49 for overall satisfaction, well above the statewide average of 4.25, and the highest score of all three Haverhill nursing homes that participated in the survey.

“Every member of the staff and management here is committed to the Golden Rule of Penacook Place -- to care for our residents as we would want to be cared for,” said President and CEO Julian Rich. “Penacook Place includes residents and their families in making decisions and initiating changes that improve and enhance quality of care and quality of life. Judging from the results of this survey, along with the positive feedback we have received over the years, Penacook’s efforts continue to be successful.”

Penacook Place is a member of the Massachusetts Aging Services Association (MassAging), a statewide organization representing not-for-profit providers of housing and services for the aging.  Like Penacook Place, MassAging members scored particularly well on the survey results, averaging higher levels of satisfaction compared with the statewide averages.  

“Given their emphasis on quality improvement, it is not surprising that MassAging’s not-for-profit nursing homes across the state show high rates of satisfaction from family members,” said Elissa Sherman, president of MassAging.

Located at 150 Water St., the 160-bed Penacook Place is the only not-for-profit nursing and rehabilitation facility serving the city of Haverhill. Penacook Place has a professional staff of 230 employees.

The Massachusetts Aging Services Association (MassAging) is the only Massachusetts membership association representing the full continuum of not-for-profit providers of aging services. MassAging has over 140 provider members and Business Affiliates. Provider members are sponsored by religious, fraternal, and other not-for profit groups and include nursing homes, residential care communities, assisted living residences, housing providers, continuing care retirement communities, and community based service providers.