Best Nursing Homes in Knoxville, TN

Overview of Wellpark Health and Rehabilitation

Wellpark Health and Rehabilitation is a nursing home in Knoxville, Tennessee, offering nursing, memory care, and physician-guided therapies, backed by 24-hour staffing and an on-site medical doctor. Operating since October 2015, this 32-bed community is owned by River Bluff Healthcare, Inc., and runs under the nonprofit, church-operated umbrella of Presbyterian Homes of Tennessee, Inc. The community also accommodates individuals utilizing Medicare or private funds and holds an overall 3-star quality rating from CMS.

Regulatory history from the Tennessee Department of Health cited 3 inspections over a seven-year tracking window. The community accumulated 15 total health citations, closely mirroring the state baseline of 15.4. Crucially, every citation was categorized exclusively at a moderate severity level, with zero serious or critical deficiencies on record. The most recent review on January 24, 2025, also cited deficiencies concerning infection control, pharmacy practices, and abuse or neglect prevention, all of which are now documented as fully corrected. No monetary fines have been issued within the past three years.

The community’s nursing staff provides 3 hours and 56 minutes of direct daily care to each resident, outperforming the Tennessee state average by 7%. Weekend coverage remains exceptionally steady at 4 hours and 11 minutes per resident daily, ensuring care levels do not drop outside standard business hours. Second-quarter 2025 records show a total workforce of 92 individuals, consisting of 49 regular employees and 43 contractors. This establishes an excellent staff-to-resident ratio of 3.07 to 1, marking a 71% improvement over the statewide benchmark.

Clinical data show specialized strengths, particularly in short-term preventative medicine. Short-stay individuals receive influenza and pneumococcal immunizations at rates of 95.6% and 93.1%, beating state benchmarks by 20% and 17%, respectively. Furthermore, new antipsychotic drug prescriptions affect just 1.0% of temporary residents, showing a 42% reduction compared to state averages. These metrics support a strong short-term recovery focus, where the average overall stay is 15 days, while Medicare-supported individuals average 18 days.

Wellpark Health and Rehabilitation is a highly suitable option for older adults and families seeking a faith-affiliated environment with excellent staffing ratios and a clean penalty record, especially when transitioning out of a hospital stay for post-acute physical rehabilitation.

Overview of Nhc Healthcare, Knoxville

NHC Healthcare in Knoxville is a nursing home on East Emerald Avenue. With 115 beds, it has been serving patients and families for 33 years. Thomas Shuford owns the facility. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families have various options to access care for residents.

Residents stay for an average of 71 days in the community due to its strength in short-term rehabilitation. It’s best suited for seniors recovering from surgery, injury, or hospitalization and ready to move toward independent living or a long-term care setting.

The home supports its rehabilitation mission through dedicated therapy and recovery services. Additionally, there is 24-hour staffing, as well as options for respite, hospice, and home care referrals.

Total nurse staffing averages approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes per resident. Nurse aides provide an additional 3 hours and 10 minutes of direct support each day. This level of hands-on support is central to the home’s services.

Residents have access to chef-approved dining tailored to individual nutritional needs, high-speed internet and cable TV in rooms, and a beauty and barber shop on the premises. Additionally, there is a dining room and outdoor relaxation area for residents and visiting family who want to share meals and time together. The facility also hosts daily activities and entertainment programming.

The neighborhood has a Walk Score of 31, which means a few services are within walking distance. However, most trips require driving. This may matter for families planning how often they can visit and which amenities they’ll rely on without a car.

NHC Healthcare Knoxville is best suited for those seeking a stable, service-rich short-term rehabilitation setting with lots of staffing support and thoughtful amenities.