Page 22 of Best Senior Care in Tennessee

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 Manchester Center for Rehabilitation and Healing

Owned by Kerry Dickerson, Manchester Center for Rehabilitation and Healing is a single-story skilled nursing community in Manchester, Tennessee. The facility is located on Interstate Drive in a car-dependent area, so most errands and visits require transportation. However, families can still conveniently access the surrounding region. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several ways to cover short-term post-acute rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care.

Residents stay an average of about 159 days, including those recovering after a hospital stay and needing ongoing skilled nursing care. The facility serves residents recovering from surgery or injury and those requiring longer-term support.

Daily care is provided by a care team. Registered nurses average 31 minutes of care per resident each day. Nurse aides provide 2 hours and 23 minutes of direct support, while licensed practical nurses contribute another 31 minutes. In total, residents receive about 3 hours and 15 minutes of nursing care each day. This staffing level supports rehabilitation goals and everyday personal care needs.

The community offers shared room accommodations and has a single-story layout. With this design, residents and families can wayfound around the building. Families considering Manchester Center should take a tour to learn more about the room setup, daily routines, and how the care team supports rehabilitation and ongoing care.

Covington Care Post Acute is an exceptional nursing home in Covington, TN, that offers skilled nursing, long-term care, and rehabilitation. With its dedication to older adults’ wellness, the community promotes a nurturing environment for their comfort. Wound care, activities, and social services are also offered to meet residents’ variety of needs. The community prioritizes residents’ well-being, providing genuine care and compassionate services.

Activities are curated weekly, ensuring residents have more opportunities to interact with their peers. A salon, spacious courtyards, and communal spaces for gatherings are also provided for residents and visitors’ lounge. Covington Aquatic Center and Tipton County Museum are located nearby, ensuring easy access to leisure and other necessities. As one of the trusted choices for nursing care in Tennessee, this senior living community is an ideal option for those with complex healthcare needs.

Operating for 33 years on East College Street in Pulaski, Tennessee, Nhc HealthCare, Pulaski is a 102-bed skilled nursing facility managed by NHC Healthcare/Pulaski, LLC under administrator Douglas Wong. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay and maintains 24-hour staffing across all shifts.

CMS rates the facility at 3 stars overall. The Health Inspection sub-rating trails the Tennessee average. The facility has received 7 citations across 2 inspections since 2019 compared with the state’s average of 15.4. Both serious citations from the October 2022 inspection were corrected with no penalties recorded in the past three years. Staffing and Quality Measures are both above the state average, with Quality Measures sub-rating 34% above Tennessee peers.

Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 22 minutes per resident per day, about 8% below the Tennessee average. Physical therapist coverage stands out at 8 minutes per resident per day, which iis 60% above the state average, a meaningful figure for a facility where nearly half of new admissions arrive on Medicare for short-term rehabilitation.

Short-stay outcomes reflect that orientation. The rehospitalization rate of 7.3% is 67% better than the Tennessee average of 22.2%, and 58.6% of short-stay residents return successfully to home or community, compared to 50.6% statewide. Occupancy is 89.2%, well above the Tennessee average of 73%, ranking 63rd out of 302 facilities in the state.

Services include short-term rehabilitation, an on-site beauty and barber shop, an outdoor relaxation area, and daily activities programming. NHC Homecare and a Caris Hospice partnership extend care options beyond the facility.

Nhc HealthCare, Pulaski is structured for short-term post-acute rehabilitation and Medicare-covered skilled nursing stays in Giles County, with a care model and discharge record oriented toward residents planning to return home.

Serving residents across Jackson County, The Waters of Gainesboro provides skilled nursing care, memory care, short-term rehabilitation, and respite care in a rural Tennessee setting. The facility is an 83-bed nursing home in Gainesboro, operated by The Waters of Gainesboro, LLC, under the administration of Rita Crabtree. Medicare and Medicaid are both accepted.

The CMS 3-star overall rating reflects a marked split across sub-ratings. Health Inspection performance is 37% above the Tennessee average, a meaningful positive signal for families weighing recent compliance history. However, staffing is the counterweight. Total nurse staffing averages 2 hours and 57 minutes per resident per day, compared with a state average of 3 hours and 40 minutes, placing the facility 150th out of 172 Tennessee SNFs on that measure.

Over five inspections since 2017, the facility has received 16 citations. A 2019 annual survey produced an Immediate Jeopardy finding related to elopement prevention. A February 2023 complaint investigation substantiated a failure to report an allegation of abuse within the required two-hour window. No fines or enforcement actions appear in the available reports.

Occupancy sits at 54%, well below the Tennessee average of 73%, which typically indicates current availability. Clinical programs include Comprehensive Wound Care and Respiratory Services, as well as the Living Well and In Motion activity and wellness tracks.

The facility serves residents requiring post-acute rehabilitation, long-term skilled nursing, or memory care support in rural Jackson County, Tennessee.

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 Wyndridge Health and Rehabilitation Center

Wyndridge Health and Rehabilitation Center is a nursing home in Crossville, Tennessee, that provides professional nursing, respiratory therapy, outpatient services, memory support, respite care, and a complete therapy program featuring physical, occupational, speech, pulmonary, and expert wound care. Licensed since July 1992, this voluntary nonprofit community stands as one of the larger clinical environments in the state, with 157 licensed beds. Medicare, Medicaid, and private payment are all accepted.

The demographic consists primarily of short-term rehabilitation guests, with Medicare accounting for 63% of admissions with a standard 21-day stay. Private pay comprises 25%, and Medicaid represents 13%, while the overarching average residency spans 177 days due to the long-term clinical population.

Personnel allocation represents the premier recorded feature of this neighborhood, with total adjusted nursing time reaching 4 hours and 3 minutes per resident daily, which surpasses the national median of roughly 3.5 hours. Registered nurse attention outpaces the state average by 14% at 42 minutes daily, while licensed practical nurse involvement beats the state baseline by 6% at 1 hour and 9 minutes. The most remarkable metric is weekend registered nurse presence, which provides 40 minutes of care per resident each day, a substantial 67% higher than the Tennessee benchmark of 24 minutes. This ensures clinical supervision remains strong through Saturdays and Sundays.

State regulatory archives from the Tennessee Department of Health cited 5 evaluations over an eight-year look-back period, totaling 13 health citations for a low overall average of 2.6 per review. 10 findings emerged from annual reviews and 3 from specific complaint-initiated reports. Crucially, zero deficiencies reached a critical or immediate jeopardy classification, while 2 were labeled serious and 11 were marked moderate. Looking at categories, 5 citations involved abuse, neglect, or exploitation protection, while 4 addressed quality of life and care. The most recent survey on June 27, 2023, also cited two moderate abuse or neglect items, which have since been resolved. Additionally, no fiscal penalties have been issued.

Wyndridge Health and Rehabilitation Center is a practical option for older adults and families requiring extensive, 24-hour nursing supervision and varied therapeutic offerings in a rural region, specifically benefiting from its one-mile distance to Cumberland Medical Center.

Overview of Ascension Living Alexian Pace

Ascension Living Alexian Pace is a one-of-a-kind community in Chattanooga, TN, offering home health care, adult day care, inpatient, and outpatient care. Older adults can rest their worries with a compassionate and well-trained team helping with their needs wherever they prefer, around the clock. The community provides all-inclusive care, striving to meet older adults’ needs.

Social events and fun recreational programs are conducted in the community’s day center, encouraging older adults to live actively and remain socially engaged. The community also provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy to enhance older adults’ living experiences. For older adults at home, the community delivers prepared meals, while those at the day center enjoy delightful and well-balanced meals. With its wide range of care and dedicated services, older adults make the most of their best years without worries.

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.

Serene Manor Medical Center sits within Knoxville’s Emory Place neighborhood, a 74-bed facility directed by Rita W. Griffin under Serene Manor Hospital, Inc. Having functioned for thirty-four years, this private entity handles the standard spectrum of rehabilitation and long-term care. Data indicates a current census of 38 residents with an average stay of 131 days. The 45% occupancy rate suggests a notable surplus of available space for new admissions.

A Walk Score of 76 characterizes the immediate environment as highly navigable without a vehicle. This urban integration is significant for logistical coordination, especially considering River Valley Health is only 1.37 miles away and downtown Knoxville is less than two miles distant. The facility avoids the isolation common in elder care by remaining physically connected to the city’s core infrastructure.

The institution operates through a framework of persistent nursing oversight and scheduled programming. Financial structures follow the typical split where Medicare facilitates short-term recovery while Medicaid supports permanent residency. The 131-day residency average implies the population is a hybrid of transient post-acute patients and those requiring more permanent clinical support.

The most compelling info is the 45% occupancy level. In a building designed for 74 individuals, approximately 36 beds remain empty. One must consider whether this underutilization stems from temporary market shifts or deeper systemic issues regarding the facility’s long-term viability and resource allocation.