Penny Lane Shared Home-Elderly

Pros

• The facility is very clean and friendly.
• The place is beautiful and staff treat residents like family.
• The staff are caring, kind, and devoted to the residents.
• The care is outstanding in a clean environment with lots of activities.
• The facility is adequately staffed and offers wonderful on-site spots such as a library and theater.
• The interior is clean and well-designed with gorgeous outdoor views.
• All staff - from reception to direct care to food service and maintenance - are wonderful.
• Memory care staff are attentive, professional, and genuine.
• The community is lively with caring staff.
• The first-floor common area is a wonderful social spot, with a cafe, salon, gift shop, and courtyard.
• The home and staff are incredible, keeping residents happy and healthy.
• The care is compassionate and families feel supported.

Cons

• They pick favorites among residents and protect the inappropriate ones from consequences, which is unfair to employees.
• The facility allegedly turned off a patient's alarm, leading to bed sores, with staff claiming they didn't like him and he was annoying.
• The place is described as a squeaky wheel kind of place.
• The food is disgusting and overly salty, with low-salt diets requiring frequent requests and little change.
• Residents reportedly receive only one shower per week.
• Staff dumped over 15 boxes outside in cold weather after a friend's death, which was uncaring.
• There was a report of money being stolen from a resident's room.

Review

Merrimack County Nursing Home is described by many who know it as a beautiful, clean, and welcoming place that feels almost like a home away from home. Visitors repeatedly note the bright, well?kept environment, with interior spaces that are modern, cheery, and designed to maximize natural light. The grounds and common areas - the atrium, courtyards, a library, a theater, and a caf? - create a sense of community and activity that residents and families alike often highlight as a standout feature. Several people describe the facility as "beautiful," "almost like a resort," and clearly emphasize the calm, inviting atmosphere that guests experience when they walk through the doors.

The staff at MCNH receive repeated praise for being warm, professional, and genuinely caring. Families and volunteers consistently describe the people who work there as devoted, attentive, and kind, with many noting that the staff treat residents with dignity and respect. A number of reviews specifically commend how staff communicate with families - calling or emailing to share updates and involving loved ones in care decisions. The sense that residents are treated like family is a common thread, with several accounts noting the empathy, patience, and supportive tone of front desk personnel, direct care staff, food service workers, and maintenance teams alike. In short, the heart of the place, for many, is the people who show up every day.

The facility's extensive amenities and programming are repeatedly highlighted as a major strength. Residents have access to a broad array of activities and social spaces that encourage engagement and interaction. There are on-site offerings such as a library and a theater, as well as lively common areas where events - from musical programs to casual conversations - take place. The first-floor common area is described as a wonderful social hub, with a caf? that offers affordable options for families and a gift shop and salon nearby. Outdoor views and a forest?floor sitting area provide tranquil spots for residents to enjoy time with visitors. The overall impression is that MCNH is designed to foster connection, with spaces and programming that nurture a sense of community.

Care quality in various units, including memory care and hospice, is a frequent source of positive feedback. Reviewers describe the memory care unit as spotless, bright, and staffed by attentive, professional, and genuinely caring teams. Families of residents on these units report feeling reassured by the level of attention and the thoughtful care provided. Hospice care is singled out for its compassion and dedication, with staff described as extraordinarily kind and devoted to both patients and their families. Across the campus, many families feel confident that their loved ones receive high levels of care that can be on par with expectations they'd have from a hospital setting, while still maintaining a home-like atmosphere.

Of course, no long-term care setting is without its challenges, and several reviews reflect a more nuanced or mixed experience. A few comments address concerns about staffing fairness and management dynamics, including claims that some staff may feel favored or that inappropriate behavior among residents isn't always addressed promptly. One reviewer recounted a distressing moment involving the handling of a loved one's belongings after death, calling the situation uncaring. There are also more practical critiques from a handful of reviewers about food quality and daily living routines - for instance, reports of meals being salty or less fresh, and a resident's note that showers might be less frequent than desired. A common thread, however, is that such issues are not presented as the norm by the broader community of reviewers, who overwhelmingly emphasize the facility's strengths and the care improvements they've observed.

Family and visitor experiences are frequently described as deeply positive, with many noting how welcome they feel during visits and events. Families report that staff are responsive, that care is thorough, and that the environment remains clean and welcoming during their time there. Several anecdotes highlight special moments crafted by the staff - the lobster feast organized to boost spirits, the joy of attending a musical event in the shared space, and the simple satisfaction of watching residents engage in conversations and activities with their loved ones. For those who volunteer there, the experience is equally affirming, with volunteers and staff often describing the community as filled with good humor, generosity, and a shared commitment to resident well-being.

Overall, the consensus paints a picture of MCNH as a high-quality, compassionate, and engaging place to receive care. It is praised for its beauty, cleanliness, and carefully designed spaces; for its robust menu of activities and its welcoming, family?oriented culture; and for a staff that many describe as among the best they've encountered in the field. While there are individual concerns and criticisms - ranging from food quality to concerns about certain management practices - these appear to be in the minority relative to the overwhelmingly positive experiences shared by residents, families, and volunteers. For anyone considering this facility, the message is clear: MCNH offers a strong combination of a pleasant living environment, attentive and empathetic staff, and meaningful opportunities for social engagement, with ongoing conversations available to address any personal care or daily living preferences.

The Boscawen area offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient lifestyle. With several restaurants within close proximity, such as Alan's of Boscawen Restaurant and Donatello's Pizza, seniors can enjoy delicious meals without having to travel far. Nearby pharmacies like Penacook Pharmacy and Health Mart Pharmacy provide easy access to medication and healthcare needs. Additionally, parks like Rolfe Park and Jamie Welch Memorial Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. For medical care, there are reputable physicians like Penacook Family Physicians and hospitals like Concord Ambulatory Surgery Center within a reasonable distance. Overall, the Boscawen area provides a welcoming environment with essential resources for seniors looking to settle down in a peaceful community.

Restaurants

• Alan's of Boscawen Restaurant (0.1 miles)
• Donatello's Pizza (1.7 miles)
• CC Tomatoes (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (2.4 miles)
• Freaky‘S Ice Cream (2.7 miles)
• The 19th Hole At Beaver Meadow (2.8 miles)
• Tea Garden Restaurant (6.4 miles)

Physicians

• Penacook Family Physicians (0.5 miles)
• Sleep Center At Concord Hospital (5 miles)
• Concord Family Medicine (5 miles)
• Concord Imaging Center (6 miles)
• GI Associates of NH (6 miles)
• Community Medical Associates (6 miles)
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Concord (6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Penacook Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Fisherville Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Health Mart Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• PharMerica (4.2 miles)
• Northeast Pharmacy (5.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (5.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (6.6 miles)

Parks

• Rolfe Park (1 miles)
• Jamie Welch Memorial Park (2 miles)
• Grappone Park (5.9 miles)
• White Park (6.4 miles)
• Elm Brook Park (9.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Concord Ambulatory Surgery Center (6 miles)
• Concord Hospital 5th Floor (6.7 miles)
• Convenient Md Concord (6.8 miles)

Cafes

• Revelstoke Coffee (6.6 miles)
• The Everyday Cafe & Pub (7.2 miles)
• Starbucks (7.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• St John The Evangelist (7.2 miles)
• Bow Mills United Methodist Church (8.8 miles)

Transportation

• cord Municipal Airport (CON) (7.4 miles)
• Brigham Joe (9.1 miles)