Page 16 of Best Nursing Homes in Tennessee

Rocky Top Care Center is a nursing home in Rocky Top, Tennessee, that offers memory care, long-term support, complex medical treatment, respite options, and hospice care. Serving Anderson County, the community has been licensed since July 1992 with 117 beds. Everyday management is overseen by Core LTC Services LLC, under the ownership of Jetty Operations Holdings LLC, which took control of the property in May 2024.

The community operates at a 75% occupancy rate, which is slightly above the Tennessee state average of 71.6%. While it accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private financing, the current occupant base is predominantly composed of Medicaid beneficiaries, which is 83.3%.

Federal records show significant regulatory challenges, resulting in a 1-star overall CMS rating. Additionally, 37 total deficiencies were cited across four separate inspections, and it is currently designated as a Special Focus Facility Candidate, indicating a recurring history of major quality issues that place it under close government scrutiny.

The most severe evaluation took place on August 22, 2024, uncovering 15 deficiencies. Notably, four of these citations reached the highest tier of severity on the federal scale, representing immediate jeopardy to the health and safety of multiple residents. These critical findings involved failures in resource management, administrative governance, quality assurance frameworks, and infection control protocols. This review also flagged issues regarding food storage safety, direct caregiver staffing, resident dignity, and medication organization.

Direct nursing care totals 3.49 hours per resident daily, falling below the Tennessee benchmark of 3.9 hours. Registered Nurse (RN) availability is a relative highlight, with daily hours 30% above the state average at 48 minutes, and weekend coverage tracking 54% above the state standard. Conversely, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) hours are a point of concern, running 27% below the state average at 1 hour and 34 minutes per day. Staff turnover stands at 44.4%, which is slightly more favorable than the Tennessee statewide average of 48.7%.

On a positive note, hospital readmission frequencies are 30% better than the state average. Antipsychotic drug utilization is also elevated at 21.3%. For temporary rehabilitation guests, metrics show zero major fall injuries, though seasonal vaccination rates remain well below state benchmarks.

Rocky Top Care Center primarily caters to those requiring long-term Medicaid assistance and localized clinical care. Given the severe regulatory findings from late 2024, families evaluating this option are strongly encouraged to request updated documentation regarding corrective actions implemented under the new management and to conduct an in-person visit before finalizing any care arrangements.

Operated under Hanalei River Holdings, Northbrooke Post Acute is a skilled nursing home in Jackson, Tennessee. The 120-bed community has been serving the area for nearly three decades. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, so families have several options for covering both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care.

The facility has an occupancy rate of 66%. Residents stay an average of 119 days, which is a mix of people recovering after illness, surgery, or hospitalization and those needing ongoing skilled nursing care. Rehabilitation services, short-term rehabilitation programs, and respite care are available. The home also offers activity programs and hospice services for residents who need additional support.

Daily nurse staffing averages about 2 hours and 57 minutes per resident each day. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nursing aides provide care and supervision around the clock. The staffing structure supports residents’ medical needs and provides hands-on assistance throughout the day and night.

State inspections reviewed areas such as staffing levels, medication handling, food safety, infection control, and wound and pressure sore care. These are important parts of daily care in a nursing home. Families considering the facility should ask how these areas are managed as part of the evaluation.

The home is located on Physicians Drive in an area with low walkability. Family visits and errands require driving. With nursing care services and supportive programming, the home is best suited for residents requiring rehabilitation with ongoing medical oversight.

Overview of Life Care Center of Hickory Woods

Thirty-nine days is the average stay at Life Care Center of Hickory Woods, which tells you most of what you need to know about the population it primarily serves. This is a post-acute setting: a 56-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in the Hickory Woods Estates neighborhood of Antioch, Tennessee, built for people moving through recovery rather than putting down permanent roots. Fifty-five years in operation at the same address on Murfreesboro Pike.

Currently, 45 of those 56 beds are occupied. Total nursing time runs 4 hours and 1 minute per resident per day, distributed across registered nurses at 45 minutes, LPNs at 1 hour and 15 minutes, and nurse aides at 2 hours and 16 minutes. Staffing runs 24 hours a day. A certified dietitian is on staff, and rehabilitation services are available on-site.

Beyond clinical care, the facility offers more than the basics: a fine dining program, a beauty salon and barber shop, landscaped grounds and courtyards, a library, transportation services, and complimentary wireless internet. A full-time, certified activity director runs a daily schedule, and family and resident councils meet regularly. Pet visitors are welcome. Room options include private and semiprivate configurations, each with a private bathroom.

Payment is accepted through Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, which gives families some flexibility on the financial side. The community re-entry program supports residents who are working toward discharge back to home or another community setting. Alex Butaud is the executive director; Jamie Hercules serves as administrator. The facility is operated by Highland Park Medical Investors, LLC.

For families navigating a post-acute placement in the Nashville area, this is a facility where the facts and the setup align: short average stays, 24-hour nursing coverage, on-site rehab, and a payment mix that accommodates most coverage pathways.

Overview of Stones River Manor

Situated in the lively community of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Stones River Manor is a comprehensive senior living facility, presenting independent living, assisted living, and assured care services. As a not-for-profit establishment, Stones River Manor streamlines senior living, fostering a supportive and dynamic environment. Their services extend to adult day care and restorative care chairs, along with advanced care tailored for independent living.

With a steadfast reputation built over 40 years, this community has brought happiness to numerous families in the region, offering a vibrant and enjoyable social community. Stones River Manor provides a variety of floor plans and includes weekly housekeeping services, cable television, monthly health assessments, laundry services, and much more, ensuring a reliable and enriching experience for residents seeking independent living options.

Overview of Life Care Center of Ooltewah

Life Care Center of Ooltewah is a 120-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility administered by Ashley Borja in Ooltewah, Tennessee, owned by Ooltewah Medical Investors Limited Partnership. Licensed since 2013 and recognized with a Best Nursing Home award, the facility offers 24-hour skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services in the greater Chattanooga area.
Staffing is a consistent strength. Registered nurse hours reach 1 hour and 7 minutes per resident per day, 81 percent above the 37 minutes Tennessee average, providing stronger clinical oversight than most peers in the state. Weekend RN coverage holds at 48 minutes per day, double the 24 minutes Tennessee benchmark. Physical therapist hours at 18 minutes per resident per day are 260 percent above the 5 minutes state average, which translates to markedly more hands-on therapy time for residents recovering from surgery, stroke, or injury. Short-stay quality outcomes are rated significantly above average by CMS. The 63.7 percent community return rate is 26 percent better than Tennessee’s 50.6 percent average, and 78.4 percent of short-stay residents met or exceeded expected self-care ability at discharge, 46 percent above the state benchmark. For long-stay residents, hospitalizations run at 1.46 per 1,000 resident days, 8 percent better than the state average, and ED visit rates at 0.62 per 1,000 days are 61 percent better than the Tennessee figure of 1.57.
Amenities feature a dedicated Alzheimer’s and dementia care program, a Community Re-Entry Program, a fine dining program, and landscaped grounds and courtyards.
Life Care Center of Ooltewah fits families in Chattanooga seeking post-acute rehabilitation with above-average therapy staffing, or long-stay placement for residents with dementia. The latest inspection summary must be requested from facility leadership or the Tennessee Department of Health.

Selmer Post Acute is a 126-bed nursing home in Selmer, Tennessee, offering skilled nursing, long-term care, and rehabilitation. Managed by Selmer SNF Healthcare, LLC, and partnered with the PACS Group in McNairy County since July 1992. Welcoming Medicare beneficiaries, it also offers 24-hour licensed nursing coverage alongside physical, occupational, respiratory, and speech therapies within a dedicated therapy space. Highlighting its exceptional care standards, CMS has awarded the community its top five-star overall rating.

A total of 11 deficiencies were identified across three standard reviews, with no financial penalties or payment freezes issued over the last three years. The most recent routine review from July 23, 2025, identified 3 minor deficiencies, which involved care plan compliance, accidental hazard prevention, and urinary tract infection protocols. An earlier March 2022 review also noted 6 deficiencies, which involved resident autonomy in treatment and transfer notices, daily living support, nutritional oversight, pharmaceutical storage, and meal planning. However, no severe safety threats were found, though families may want to note that the three-year and four-month gap between the 2022 and 2025 reviews lasted longer than the customary 9-to-15-month schedule.

Daily direct nursing care averages 3.78 hours per individual, staying within a close margin to the Tennessee benchmark of 3.9 hours. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) availability is a particular asset, tracking 22% higher than the state baseline at 1 hour and 19 minutes daily, while Registered Nurse and Certified Nursing Assistant hours trail slightly behind state trends. Notably, the employee turnover rate is low at 27.5%, staying far below the Tennessee average of 48.7% and indicating reliable workforce stability.

Clinical results represent a major benefit for residents. Long-term individuals experience 57% fewer hospital transfers per 1,000 resident days and 46% fewer emergency room visits than the state average. For short-term rehabilitation guests, the readmission rate back to a hospital stands at 14.3%, outperforming state averages by 36%, while emergency visit frequencies are 63% better than state benchmarks at 4.2%. Major injury-causing falls were non-existent, compared to a state average of 0.8%. Furthermore, the rate of successful discharges back home or into the neighborhood hits 58.7%, exceeding the Tennessee average by 16%, though independent care abilities at discharge trend slightly below the state average.

Selmer Post Acute’s environment is an excellent match for older adults looking for short-term recovery or extended nursing assistance within a tight-knit regional setting, especially for those who value strong hospital prevention records, low staff turnover, and top-tier federal quality scores.

Life Care Center of Tullahoma is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility at 1715 N Jackson St in Tullahoma, Tennessee, offering 24-hour skilled nursing care and rehabilitative support in a single-story, home-like setting.
Short-stay quality measures are rated significantly above average by CMS. Zero short-stay residents experienced falls with major injury, 100 percent better than Tennessee’s benchmark, and the 57.2 percent community return rate is 13 percent above the 50.6 percent state average. Re-hospitalization and ED visit rates for short-stay residents also modestly outperform the state. Long-stay quality measures are rated significantly above average overall, though the hospitalization rate for long-stay residents at 2.92 per 1,000 resident days is 85 percent above the 1.58 Tennessee average, a figure families considering long-stay placement should discuss with facility leadership. The staffing profile is mixed. LPN hours reach 1 hour 23 minutes per resident daily, 26 percent above Tennessee’s average, providing strong routine bedside coverage. RN hours at 17 minutes daily are 54 percent below the 37 minutes state average, and weekend RN hours at 6 minutes per day are 76 percent below the 25 minutes Tennessee benchmark.
The community provides private and semi-private rooms alongside dining services, housekeeping, beauty services, and organized social and recreational programming led by a certified activity director.
Families should request the latest inspection summary from the Tennessee Department of Health or facility leadership and ask about RN availability and weekend clinical oversight protocols before proceeding. Discussions about long-stay placement must also be addressed with facility leadership.

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.

Grandview Post Acute is a 120-bed nursing home in Cookeville, Tennessee, offering skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and respite care. Serving Putnam County and the neighboring Upper Cumberland area, this community is owned by Cookeville SNF Healthcare, LLC and has maintained a Tennessee state nursing home license since June 2001. Medicare, alongside private funds and various insurance plans, is also accepted.

This community provides a comprehensive range of recovery and extended support services, such as temporary rehabilitation, long-term professional nursing, memory assistance, short-term relief stays, and end-of-life care. The medical schedule includes daily physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapies conducted in a large on-site gym. Additionally, older adults have access to intravenous treatments, specialized wound management, pain control, restorative nursing, and complex feeding or dialysis support. A specialized social services department manages transition logistics, which is a vital resource for families coordinating a return to independent living.

The living environment consists of a blend of individual and shared suites that include personal bathrooms and a variety of features, including a modern therapy gym, outdoor garden areas, and a dining hall serving meals designed by a registered dietitian. Transportation and group trips are provided, and licensed medical staff remains on the premises 24/7. Its placement near Cookeville Regional Medical Center also establishes it as a convenient destination for those moving out of acute hospital settings.

Grandview Post Acute is a good option for older adults with diverse requirements, whether they are healing from orthopedic surgery, stroke, or heart and lung issues, or if they need permanent nursing and memory support in Putnam County. The closeness to the local medical center and the variety of expert medical services make it a logical choice for complicated recovery cases, while the social calendar and property features enhance the living experience.