Life Care Center of South Hill is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. The upscale nursing home aims to change the meaning of skilled nursing and rehabilitation for seniors through the exceptional level of care that is delivered by their patient-friendly staff as an approach to offer the best care possible for their residents. Life Care Center can be trusted as a safe and secure community that cares for every patient’s needs.
Convenience and hassle-free living is the center of Life Care Center services: medication management, post-surgical care, and wound care; as well as their 24-hour skilled nursing care services provide compassionate care as it is their utmost priority. Other services include 24/7 easy admissions, fall prevention, IV therapy, discharge planning, and case management.
Compare Nursing Homes around Tacoma (Metro Area)
Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the WA Dept. of Social & Health Services (DSHS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.
Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.
The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
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CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
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Care Types in This Table
NH (Nursing Home):
24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs.
SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility):
Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness.
MC (Memory Care):
Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia.
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Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
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Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
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Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
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This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
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CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
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CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
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CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
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CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
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Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
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Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
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Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
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Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
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Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
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Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
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Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
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Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
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Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
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The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
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What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
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Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
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Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The Washington average is: 62.6% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
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CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
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| Life Care Center of South Hill | NH SNF | Puyallup | 100
Facility
100
WA AVG
81
Rank
#91 / 356 |
97.6%
Facility
97.6%
WA AVG
75
Rank
#13 / 276 | +30% | 3.74
Facility
3.74
WA AVG
4.22
Rank
#45 / 61 | -15% | -11% | $17.4k
Facility
$17.4k
WA AVG
$87.7k
Rank
#31 / 61 | 29
Facility
29
WA AVG
48.9
Rank
#10 / 61 | 4.8
Facility
4.8
WA AVG
6.9
Rank
#17 / 61 | - | 98 | - |
32
Facility
32
WA AVG
51
Rank
#459 / 619 | Alexander Medina | $20.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$20.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
$15.9M
Rank
#10 / 51 | $10.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$10.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
$9.2M
Rank
#15 / 51 | 52.5%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
52.5%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
62.6%
Rank
#31 / 51 | 505526 | ||||
| Life Care Center of Puyallup | NH SNF | Puyallup (Meeker) | 102
Facility
102
WA AVG
81
Rank
#86 / 356 |
92.1%
Facility
92.1%
WA AVG
75
Rank
#41 / 276 | +23% | 4.14
Facility
4.14
WA AVG
4.22
Rank
#29 / 61 | +18% | -2% | $0
Facility
$0
WA AVG
$87.7k
Rank
#1 / 61 | 50
Facility
50
WA AVG
48.9
Rank
#36 / 61 | 5.6
Facility
5.6
WA AVG
6.9
Rank
#23 / 61 | - | 94 | - |
65
Facility
65
WA AVG
51
Rank
#189 / 619 | Paul Nimz | $9.6MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$9.6MFiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
$15.9M
Rank
#42 / 51 | $5.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$5.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
$9.2M
Rank
#42 / 51 | 54.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
54.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
62.6%
Rank
#27 / 51 | 505324 | ||||
| Avamere at Pacific Ridge | NH MC SNF | Tacoma (Eastside) | 102
Facility
102
WA AVG
81
Rank
#86 / 356 |
64.1%
Facility
64.1%
WA AVG
75
Rank
#216 / 276 | -14% | 5.54
Facility
5.54
WA AVG
4.22
Rank
#3 / 61 | -62% | +31% | $57.8k
Facility
$57.8k
WA AVG
$87.7k
Rank
#43 / 61 | 76
Facility
76
WA AVG
48.9
Rank
#49 / 61 | 8.4
Facility
8.4
WA AVG
6.9
Rank
#46 / 61 | 2 | 65 | - |
56
Facility
56
WA AVG
51
Rank
#282 / 619 | Christine Miller | $11.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$11.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
$15.9M
Rank
#31 / 51 | $6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
$9.2M
Rank
#31 / 51 | 59.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
59.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
62.6%
Rank
#20 / 51 | 505264 | ||||
| North Auburn Rehabilitation & Health Center | NH SNF | Auburn (Christopher) | 125
Facility
125
WA AVG
81
Rank
#37 / 356 |
55.2%
Facility
55.2%
WA AVG
75
Rank
#246 / 276 | -26% | 3.91
Facility
3.91
WA AVG
4.22
Rank
#37 / 61 | -35% | -8% | $54.0k
Facility
$54.0k
WA AVG
$87.7k
Rank
#42 / 61 | 100
Facility
100
WA AVG
48.9
Rank
#57 / 61 | 12.5
Facility
12.5
WA AVG
6.9
Rank
#56 / 61 | 5 | 69 | - |
58
Facility
58
WA AVG
51
Rank
#272 / 619 | Joseph Denor | $10.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$10.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
$15.9M
Rank
#35 / 51 | $5.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
$5.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
$9.2M
Rank
#43 / 51 | 48.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility
48.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
WA AVG
62.6%
Rank
#40 / 51 | 505195 |
Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every WA community we track that reports that metric, not just the 5 analyzed for Tacoma.
Life Care Center of Puyallup is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation center. The upscale nursing home aims to change the meaning of skilled nursing and rehabilitation for seniors through the exceptional level of care that is delivered by their patient-friendly staff as an approach to offer the best care possible for their residents. Life Care Center can be trusted as a safe and secure community that cares for every patient’s needs.
Convenience and hassle-free living is the center of Life Care Center services: medication management, post-surgical care, and wound care; as well as their 24-hour skilled nursing care services provide compassionate care as it is their utmost priority. Other services include 24/7 easy admissions, fall prevention, IV therapy, discharge planning, and case management.
Avamere at Pacific Ridge is focused on promoting an active lifestyle for their skilled nursing and rehabilitation residents. The award-winning senior care promotes an environment where residents are able to celebrate their individuality and independence. Avamere at Pacific Ridge has welcomed seniors and families to their beautiful community that has been thoughtfully designed to have a wonderful time during their golden years.
The lifestyle at Avamere is enriching and engaging with daily activities for seniors to take part in as a way to stimulate their holistic development. Personalized care is delivered with compassion, regular wellness checks, and safety and security in every room; as well as having a 24-hour healthcare professional on-site, a nurse call system, and an on-site therapist– all designed to enhance the lives of residents.
North Auburn Rehabilitation & Health Center is a leading provider of long-term skilled nursing care and short-term rehabilitation solutions, offering a full continuum of services and care focused around each individual in today’s ever-changing health care environment. The center, which has been serving the entire Puget Sound region since 1967, is conveniently located in a quiet residential neighborhood near a variety of shopping centers and community parks, and is next door to Parkside Retirement and Assisted Living Community, with Auburn Regional Medical Center just two miles away.
North Auburn Rehabilitation & Health Center is Medicare and Medicaid certified, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of care. The center offers a range of healthcare services, including short-term care, traditional/long-term care, post-operative care, and respiratory services. To help instill confidence that health and well-being will be maintained after discharge, North Auburn Rehabilitation & Health Center’s Extend to Home program provides a home wellness plan that includes regular follow-up with patients to assist in a smooth transition home and/or offer additional assistance after discharge. During a patient’s stay, therapists provide training and tips on how to continue the rehabilitation and strengthening process at home, while nurses give instruction on how to successfully manage any ongoing medical needs. The staff also educates patients on community resources and other safety considerations.
Franke Tobey Jones is a stunning English Tudor-style retirement community in Tacoma, Washington, offering independent living, memory care, skilled nursing care, and assisted living. The community creates a cozy and encouraging atmosphere for seniors by guaranteeing excellent care, weekly housekeeping, and restaurant-style dining. Residents can engage in diverse activities, from educational to recreational pursuits, and even bring along their pets, fostering a home-like atmosphere.
Committed to creating a supportive atmosphere where residents can thrive, the community provides top-notch amenities akin to a luxury hotel while ensuring comprehensive care services. Residents can enjoy refreshments while chatting with their friends at the cafe, attend various exercise classes at the state-of-the-art wellness center, and participate in lifelong learning programs at the community’s senior university. With a focus on resident well-being and comfort, the community strives to make the transition to retirement living seamless and enriching, ensuring seniors feel valued and cared for regardless of their journey.
How we rank these nursing homes
Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports.
Weighting overview
- 35%Care Quality
- 20%Staffing
- 20%Regulatory
- 20%Operational
- 5%Environment
Care Quality 35%
The largest single share of every ranking. CMS star ratings and quality measures that reflect actual care delivered to residents.
- Includes
- Overall Rating
- Health Inspection
- QM Rating
- Long-Stay QM
- Short-Stay QM
Staffing Adequacy 20%
The strongest predictor of resident outcomes. Volume and stability of nursing care, drawn from CMS Payroll-Based Journal.
- Includes
- Nurse Hrs/Res/Day
- RN vs State
- Total Nurse Staff Hrs vs State
- RN Turnover
Regulatory & Safety Record 20%
Inspection patterns that star ratings can mask. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.
- Includes
- Citations
- Citations/Inspection
- Severe Citations
- Fines
- Accreditations
Operational & Financial Stability 20%
Stable operations and sound finances are leading indicators of consistent care over time.
- Includes
- Occupancy vs State
- Avg Length of Stay
- Revenue
- Payroll %
- Years in Operation
- Admin Tenure
Environment & Accessibility 5%
Context that matters to families but doesn't directly measure clinical care. Weighted lower for nursing homes than for assisted or independent living.
- Includes
- Walk Score
- BBB Rating
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Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in Tacoma, WA
What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in Washington?
Assisted living in Washington is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.
Does Washington Medicaid cover nursing home care?
Yes — Washington Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet income, asset, and medical-need eligibility requirements. Most CMS-certified nursing homes accept Medicaid as a primary payer once long-term-care eligibility is established.
What is nursing home care?
Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses, rehabilitation services, and long-term custodial care for residents with significant health or functional needs.
How many nursing homes are listed on this page?
This page features 5 nursing homes in Tacoma, WA. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.
How do I choose the right nursing home in Tacoma, WA?
Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Tacoma, WA, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.
What should I look for when visiting nursing homes in Tacoma, WA?
Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.
