Best Assisted Living in Tennessee

Overview of Nhc Healthcare, Smithville

Nhc Healthcare, Smithville is a 114-bed skilled nursing facility in Smithville, Tennessee, offering short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, memory care, and respite care. It is operated by Ryan Vaden. Located on Fisher Avenue in De Kalb County and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. About 44% of new admissions arrive for post-acute rehabilitation, giving the facility a mix of short- and long-stay residents with a 110-day average length of stay.

CMS rates the facility at 3 stars overall. Over the past eight years, NHC HealthCare Smithville recorded 10 total health citations — ranking 57th out of 176 Tennessee skilled nursing facilities, well below the state average of 15.4. Citations per inspection averaged 3.33, also below the Tennessee mean of 4.39.

Seven of the 10 citations followed complaint investigations, and the facility carries $229,000 in cumulative federal fines, placing it 171st out of 177 fined Tennessee facilities — 165% above the state average for fine amounts. One payment denial has also been issued, roughly double the Tennessee norm.

The facility’s staffing averages 3 hours 31 minutes of total nursing care per resident per day, modestly below Tennessee’s average of 3 hours 40 minutes. Rehabilitation services are available on-site, and the facility provides 24-hour staffing along with a beauty and barber shop, outdoor relaxation area, and daily activities programming. A secured memory care unit supports residents with dementia.

NHC HealthCare’s rehabilitation capacity and mixed payer profile make it suitable for both post-acute Medicare stays and long-term Medicaid residency in the Smithville and DeKalb County area. Memory care availability also extends its reach to residents in the earlier through mid-stages of dementia who require structured supervision.

Nhc Healthcare, Sequatchie is a 47-bed skilled nursing facility in Dunlap, Tennessee, providing skilled nursing, long-term care, rehabilitation services, memory care, and respite care, privately owned and operated by Randy Reynolds. The community has been operating for 48 years and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The facility holds a 4-star overall CMS rating. All four sub-domains — Health Inspection, Staffing, Quality Measures, and overall — score above the Tennessee average, with Quality Measures running 34% above the state mean and Health Inspection 30.7% above. Nursing hours average 3 hours and 45 minutes per resident per day compared to a Tennessee average of 3 hours and 40 minutes, placing the facility 39th out of 172 Tennessee SNFs on adjusted staffing. No civil money penalties or payment denials were reported in the past three years.

The facility offers 24-hour staffing, an on-site beauty and barber shop, a dining room, an outdoor relaxation area, and daily activities programming. Rehabilitation services are available for post-acute recovery, and a memory care program is available for residents with dementia. The facility’s occupancy rate is 66% — 31 of 47 beds — modestly below Tennessee’s 71.6% average, suggesting current availability.

Nhc Healthcare, Sequatchie fits residents seeking skilled nursing or post-acute rehabilitation in a small, long-established community in Sequatchie County, with memory care capacity for those in earlier or mid-stage dementia.

Overview of Nhc Healthcare, Knoxville

Nhc Healthcare, Knoxville is a 127-bed skilled nursing and post-acute facility on East Emerald Avenue in Knoxville, Tennessee, offering 24/7 skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, memory care, and respite care to residents across Knox County. It is operated by NHC Healthcare/Knoxville, LLC.

CMS rates the facility 3 stars overall. Health Inspection scores pull the rating down — running 31.5% below the Tennessee average — while staffing and quality measures perform much better. Staffing rates run 22.4% above the state benchmark, and quality measures are 34.0% higher. Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 32 minutes per resident per day, just under the Tennessee average of 3 hours and 40 minutes, a modest gap given the facility’s strong staffing sub-rating reflects case-mix-adjusted performance.

The community provides on-site beauty and barber services, a dining room, outdoor relaxation areas, and daily activities and entertainment programming. Rehabilitation services include therapy delivered on-site, consistent with a post-acute model. Memory care and respite care are available alongside longer-term skilled nursing stays.

With an average length of stay of 71 days and Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay acceptance, NHC HealthCare Knoxville is best suited for residents needing short- to mid-term post-acute rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing placement. It fits residents transitioning from a hospital stay or managing complex care needs in Knox County.

Overview of Magnolia Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

Magnolia Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center is a 181-bed nursing home and rehabilitation facility in Columbia, Tennessee, offering short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, memory care, respite care, and palliative and hospice services. The facility is operated by Columbia TN SNF LLC, and the community has been operating for 33 years

Across three inspections from 2018 to 2022, the facility recorded a deficiency rate of 7.7 per year — 75% above the Tennessee average of 4.4 — with recurring findings in care planning, medication administration, infection control, and food safety. No fines, immediate jeopardy findings, or enforcement actions were documented in the available record.

Staffing presents a mixed picture: RN staffing averages 18 minutes per resident per day, 51% below the Tennessee average of 37 minutes, though LPN and CNA staffing are modestly above state averages.

The facility has a dedicated rehabilitation unit supported by physical, occupational, and speech therapies, as well as specialty programs for orthopedic recovery, neurological recovery, pulmonary rehabilitation, and joint replacement therapy. Additional services include cardiac telemetry, wound care, IV administration, and outpatient therapy, which are available on-site. A private hospice room and palliative care program round out the post-acute continuum. The facility’s occupancy rate is 40%, compared with a Tennessee average near 72%, indicating broad availability.

The combination of specialty rehabilitation programs, 7-day admissions, and extensive clinical services makes Magnolia Healthcare a practical option for residents needing short-term post-acute care, particularly those recovering from orthopedic procedures, cardiac events, or other complex medical conditions requiring skilled nursing oversight in Columbia, Tennessee.

West Meade Place LLP is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility in Nashville, Tennessee, providing skilled nursing, rehabilitative therapy, and respiratory care to residents in Davidson County’s West Meade neighborhood. Licensed since 1992, the privately owned community is owned by Barbara Friedbauer and administered by James L. Wright.

The facility holds a 4-star overall CMS rating, landing 30.7% above the Tennessee average — driven largely by a 5-star Quality Measures score. Across three inspections over the past seven years, West Meade recorded 16 citations with zero critical or serious findings, compared with a Tennessee average of 1.7 combined — a clean severity profile. No federal fines or payment penalties have been imposed in the past three years.

Quality outcome data reinforces the facility’s CMS profile. Hospitalization rates are 1.00 per 1,000 resident days, 37% below the Tennessee average, and emergency department visits are 0.39 per 1,000 days — 75% better than its peers’. The 2-star staffing rating reflects total nursing hours of 2 hours and 56 minutes per resident per day, roughly 20% below the state average, while RN hours are 59% above the state average. Weekend RN hours are notably high at 1 hour and 7 minutes per day, nearly three times the Tennessee average of 24 minutes per day.

Clinical services include in-house dialysis, stroke and neurological care, respiratory therapy, podiatry, dental and psychiatric services, and a certified dietitian — a depth of clinical support that extends beyond standard SNF programming. Amenities include an atrium and outdoor garden area. The facility holds a VA contract and serves veterans directly.

At 77% occupancy — slightly above the state average of 73% — and with a 90-day average length of stay, West Meade primarily serves long-term residents, with 63% of admissions coming through private pay.

West Meade Place LLP is best suited for residents requiring continuous skilled nursing care, including those with complex clinical needs such as respiratory conditions, stroke recovery, or dialysis, in an established West Nashville location.

Waverly Hills Post Acute is a 100-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation community in Waverly, Tennessee, providing both short-term and long-term care, including skilled nursing, memory care, hospice services, and respite care for residents in Humphreys County. The facility is operated by Tennessee Health Management LLC.

CMS rates the facility at 2 stars overall. Quality Measures score 34% above the Tennessee average — a meaningful signal for residents whose care involves managing chronic conditions, hospital readmissions, or mobility outcomes. Staffing runs the other direction: nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 0 minutes per resident per day, 18% below the Tennessee average of 3 hours and 40 minutes, placing the facility 142nd out of 172 Tennessee SNFs on that measure. The facility’s occupancy rate is well below the state average of 73%, which typically indicates current availability.

The program list is broad for a community this size. Services include short-term rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, complex wound care, palliative care, diabetes care, and Alzheimer’s and dementia care. An expansive rehab gym supports the post-acute side; a dedicated memory care program and a hospice partnership extend the continuum of care for longer-stay residents. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Waverly Hills Post Acute serves residents seeking short-term post-acute rehabilitation or longer-term skilled nursing care in Humphreys County, particularly those managing complex chronic conditions where quality measure performance is a meaningful input alongside below-average staffing levels.

Holston Rehabilitation and Care Center is a 204-bed skilled nursing facility in Kingsport, Tennessee, offering short-term rehabilitation, memory support care, and long-term skilled nursing to residents in Sullivan County. Licensed since 1992, the center is operated by Holston Manor SNF Operations, LLC, under the administration of Johnathan Blaine Kelly.

CMS rates the facility 1 star overall, with 1-star sub-ratings across Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures — the Health Inspection component carrying the most weight in that overall score. No civil money penalties or payment denials appear in CMS records for the past three years. Total nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 46 minutes per resident per day, slightly above Tennessee’s average of 3 hours and 40 minutes; however, registered nurse staffing averages 29 minutes per day — 22% below the state benchmark — which is the staffing figure most relevant to clinical oversight.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 51.2%, well below Tennessee’s average of 73%, placing the facility 261st out of 302 state SNFs by that measure. Admissions run 71% private pay and 20% Medicare, with an average length of stay of 89 days — a profile consistent with post-acute and short-term recovery stays.

Rooms are typically available. The center’s amenities and services include a therapy gym, an interior courtyard, an atrium for private gatherings, an activities department, and 24-hour on-site staffing.

Holston Rehabilitation and Care Center is best suited for residents seeking short-term rehabilitation or transitional care in the Kingsport area, where current availability is high

Overview of Camden Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

Camden Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility at 197 Hospital Drive in Camden, Tennessee, providing short- and long-term care, rehabilitation services, memory care, and hospice support. The privately owned community is operated by Camden Operator, LLC, and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.
CMS rates the facility at 1 star overall. Across the inspections on record, Camden Healthcare averages 5.7 deficiencies per year — roughly 30% above the Tennessee average of 4.4.

The most significant finding in recent years came from a pair of April 2024 complaint investigations, both of which resulted in Immediate Jeopardy citations: the facility failed to protect multiple residents from sexual abuse by another resident, failed to report those allegations to the State Survey Agency and Adult Protective Services in a timely manner, and failed to conduct adequate investigations. The May 2025 annual survey identified five deficiencies, including inaccurate fall documentation, inadequate monitoring of psychotropic medications, and failure to provide physician-ordered adaptive eating equipment to residents.

Staffing is a relative strength: nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 48 minutes per resident per day, placing Camden Healthcare 39th out of 172 Tennessee skilled nursing facilities on adjusted staffing — above the majority of the state’s SNFs.

The facility’s 900-square-foot rehabilitation and therapy center provides post-acute care, with services including wound care, IV medication therapy, post-operative care, and outpatient therapy. Other on-site services include 24-hour staffing and an on-site medical director, podiatrist, and dentist.

Camden Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center’s care mix — Medicare and Medicaid acceptance, active rehabilitation programming, and memory care capacity — makes it suitable for both short-term post-acute stays and longer-term placements for residents with complex care needs in the Camden area. However, families considering placement should review the facility’s Immediate Jeopardy findings and inspection history.

White House Health Care, Inc. is a 140-bed skilled nursing facility in White House, Tennessee, offering short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, hospice, memory care, respite care, and 24-hour staffing coverage. The community is privately owned by the Dixie Mae Taylor-Huff Estate, administered by Sandi Sparkman, and serves Robertson County. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The facility holds a 5-star CMS overall rating — 63% above the Tennessee average — with above-average scores across all four sub-categories. The standout driver is staffing: nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 38 minutes per resident per day compared with the Tennessee average of 3 hours and 40 minutes, placing the facility 16th of 172 Tennessee skilled nursing facilities on adjusted nursing hours. Inspection citation rankings are strong as well, with the facility holding the best-in-state federal fines record among 177 Tennessee SNFs.

The payer mix reflects a predominantly post-acute orientation: Medicare accounts for 61% of new admissions, private pay for 35%, and Medicaid for just 5%. The facility’s occupancy rate is 72%, fractionally below the Tennessee average of 73%.

White House Health Care fits residents seeking short-term Medicare rehabilitation or post-acute recovery in Robertson County, with the staffing depth and ratings profile to support higher-acuity clinical needs.