Page 7 of Best Nursing Homes in Tennessee

Overview of Life Care Center of Old Hickory Village

Life Care Center of Old Hickory Village is a 124-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Old Hickory, Davidson County, Tennessee, owned by Nashville Medical Investors, LLC and administered by Vasile Malenchii. Operating since 2007, the facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. It serves primarily short-stay residents, with an average stay of 31 days and 71 percent of admissions on private pay.
CMS health inspection data covering five inspections since 2018 shows 18 total citations, above the Tennessee average of 15.4, with the facility ranked 113th of 176 in the state. Six of those citations resulted from complaint investigations. One serious citation was issued at the October 2025 inspection for a quality of care deficiency and has since been corrected; no critical citations appear in the eight-year record. The health inspection CMS sub-rating trails the Tennessee average by 31.5 percent, the weakest of the four sub-categories. No penalties assessed in the past three years. Staffing and short-stay outcomes are stronger. Physical therapist hours reach 11 minutes per resident per day, 120 percent above Tennessee’s average of 5 minutes, supporting the facility’s post-acute rehabilitation focus. The CMS staffing rating runs 22.4 percent above the state average, and the quality measures rating is 34 percent above. Short-stay residents return home at a 65.6 percent rate, 30 percent better than Tennessee’s benchmark, and 80.6 percent meet or exceed expected self-care ability at discharge.
Services include post-surgical care, wound care, IV therapy, and an Alzheimer’s and dementia care program.
Life Care Center of Old Hickory Village suits Davidson County families requiring post-acute rehabilitation with strong discharge outcomes. Families should review with facility leadership the complaint investigation history and the October 2025 quality of care citation before placement.

Overview of Life Care Center of East Ridge

Life Care Center of East Ridge 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 care delivered by their patient-friendly staff 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 are the center of Life Care Center services: medication management, post-surgical care, and wound care. Their 24-hour skilled nursing care services provide compassionate care as their utmost priority. Other benefits include 24/7 easy admissions, fall prevention, IV therapy, discharge planning, and case management.

Overview of Center on Aging and Health

Operating for 25 years, Center on Aging and Health is a 120-bed SNF on South Mohawk Drive in Erwin, Tennessee. Owned by Christopher Gaddy, the facility provides residential care to residents requiring ongoing nursing support and medical services. It welcomes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, making it attainable to families with different coverage options.

The community operates with full-time nursing staff 24/7. Total nursing care averages 3 hours 25 minutes per resident day, including registered nurses, nurse aides, and LPN/LVN support. This staffing structure supports occupants needing consistent hands-on assistance with daily care and medical oversight. Clinical services are spotlighted. The facility offers rehabilitation services and specialized programs, including orthopedic rehabilitation, a secured memory unit for residents with cognitive decline, and on-site dialysis for occupants needing it. Respite care exists for short-term stays, and the community maintains hospice rooms for end-of-life care. A doctor is on staff, and in-home services are available to residents who may transition to care at home. Currently at about 52 percent occupancy, the community averages a stay duration of roughly 178 days, reflecting a mix of residents in short-term rehabilitation and longer-term care. The surrounding area scores 45 for walkability, meaning some neighborhood services are reachable on foot, but most trips need transportation.

To verify compliance with state and federal regulations, Tennessee’s Department of Health, Division of Health Care Facilities oversees the Center on Aging and Health and conducts regular inspections.

Oakwood Community Living Center is a tightly-knit elder care home that provides healthcare services.  The center boasts a modest, warm, and welcoming atmosphere for its residents. The home-like atmosphere creates a comfortable and well-managed resident-focused nursing and rehabilitation services environment.

Oakwood Community Living provides comprehensive inpatient therapy with full support and care delivered by medical professionals. They have licensed practitioner nurses, certified nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and an activity director on-site. Essential amenities include housekeeping, laundry, medication management, nutritional meals served daily, and transportation services available.

Overview of Nhc HealthCare, Smithville

Nhc HealthCare, Smithville is a nursing home on Fisher Avenue in Smithville, Tennessee, with 114 beds. Ryan Vaden owns the facility, which has been operating for 55 years, making it a long-standing part of the community. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families have options to cover both short-term rehabilitation stays and longer-term nursing care. Residents stay an average of 110 days, which are mostly under post-acute rehabilitation and are receiving ongoing care.

Short-term rehabilitation and recovery are its clinical focus. Each resident receives daily nursing support averaging 3 hours and 31 minutes, which is the backbone of direct care. Through its partnership with Caris Hospice, it provides support to those nearing the end of life. At the same time, it offers respite care and home care services for families managing care at home. With 24-hour staffing, the home can accommodate residents’ needs around the clock.

The neighborhood is moderately walkable, with a Walk Score of 53. Some errands can be done on foot, but most trips require a short drive. The location is easy to access and navigate for families planning to visit.

Residents stay comfortable and engaged daily. Every room is equipped with high-speed wireless internet and cable television. Plus, there is an on-site beauty and barber shop for grooming, and daily activities and entertainment keep residents engaged.

Other available services include housekeeping and laundry, an outdoor area for relaxation, and a dining room. Meals are prepared by a dietitian and are chef-approved to meet nutritional needs. Families considering placement will find it beneficial, particularly those concerned about appetite and health.

Overview of Cordova Wellness and Rehabilitation Center

Cordova Wellness and Rehabilitation Center is a nursing home in Cordova, Tennessee, that offers skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, specialized dementia programming, and on-site dialysis therapies. Owned by Cordova Operating Group, LLC, this 240-bed community stands as one of the larger skilled nursing settings within the Memphis metropolitan area.

Operational and clinical evaluations from June 2022 state records and CMS metrics reveal noticeable staffing variations, with registered Nurse coverage averaging 19 minutes per resident each day, marking a significant 49% deficit beneath the Tennessee state average. Conversely, licensed practical nurse time spans 1 hour and 8 minutes, modestly outperforming the state average, while nurse aide hours align closely with regional benchmarks at 2 hours and 6 minutes. However, total nursing time over the weekend stays slightly under typical state levels at 3 hours and 15 minutes, while direct physical therapist interaction matches the Tennessee standard exactly at 5 minutes per day.

When assessing care outcomes, CMS rates long-term residency measures above average overall, and the community maintains an excellent 0% rate for falls resulting in major injury. However, families considering permanent placement may want to note that long-stay hospitalization rates and emergency department visits exceed state averages by 44% and 55%, respectively. Short-stay metrics also indicate some clinical vulnerabilities, with rehospitalization patterns reaching 32.3% and short-term emergency room return rates at 16.1%.

The residential experience features private and semi-private rooms, dedicated veteran suites, Wi-Fi, and a secure courtyard area. The presence of an in-house dialysis program offers a clear logistical and clinical advantage, removing the need for external transportation for those managing kidney disease. Furthermore, the community incorporates interactive amenities like resident iPads, a beauty salon, 24-hour coffee services, an à la carte dining menu, and an active life enrichment program.

Cordova Wellness and Rehabilitation Center provides a highly comprehensive clinical environment well-suited for older adults navigating complex medical demands. The exceptional breadth of on-site therapies and advanced accreditations establishes this community as a notable regional resource. Due to the lowered daily RN availability and higher acute care return rates, families are encouraged to discuss transition protocols and clinical oversight with management during their initial visit.

Overview of Life Care Center of Blount County

Life Care Center of Blount County is a 120-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility administered by Maria Farmer in Louisville, Tennessee that’s owned by Blount Medical Investors, Inc. Licensed in 2015 serving Blount County, the facility accepts Medicare and private pay. It runs primarily as a short-stay destination, with an average stay of 34 days and occupancy of 83.4 percent, above Tennessee’s 73 percent average.
CMS scores the facility 3 stars, with quality measures 34 percent above Tennessee’s average and a staffing rating 22 percent above the state benchmark. Long-stay quality measures are rated significantly above average: hospitalizations at 0.78 per 1,000 resident days are 51 percent better than Tennessee’s 1.58 average, and ED visits at 0.85 per 1,000 days are 46 percent better than the state figure. Pressure ulcer rates at 1.8 percent are 67 percent below Tennessee’s average. Short-stay self-care at discharge reaches 75.1 percent, 40 percent above the state benchmark, and the community return rate of 56.3 percent is 11 percent better than Tennessee’s 50.6 percent average. Short-stay re-hospitalization at 25.2 percent is 14 percent worse than the state average, worth discussing with facility leadership for residents at higher clinical risk. The health inspection rating runs 31.5 percent below Tennessee’s average. 20 total health citations since 2020 include 1 serious citation and 3 abuse, neglect, and exploitation deficiencies across six years, with 6 of the 20 citations arising from complaint investigations. A $8,000 civil money penalty was assessed in July 2024. RN hours at 49 minutes per resident per day are 32 percent above Tennessee’s 37 minutes average, and weekend RN hours at 39 minutes per day are 63 percent above the state benchmark of 24 minutes. Physical therapist hours at 9 minutes per day are 80 percent above Tennessee’s average, supporting the facility’s rehabilitation focus.
Amenities are an Alzheimer’s and dementia care program, a fine dining program, a Community Re-Entry Program, and landscaped grounds and courtyards.
Life Care Center of Blount County suits Blount County families seeking post-acute rehabilitation with strong long-stay clinical outcomes and above-average therapy staffing. Families should review the abuse and neglect citations, complaint investigation history, and the worse-than-state-average short-stay re-hospitalization for residents at higher clinical risk before finalizing placement.