BROWN NURSING HOME
Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.
Brown Nursing Home in Alexander City, Alabama has a Trust Grade of B+, indicating it is above average and recommended for potential residents. Ranking #38 out of 223 facilities in Alabama places it in the top half, and at #2 of 4 in Tallapoosa County, only one other local option is better. The facility is improving, having reduced issues from seven in 2018 to none by 2020. Staffing received a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars, although the turnover rate is 53%, which is about average for the state. While there are no fines on record, which is a positive sign, the facility has had some concerns, such as staff not properly securing a resident's pants while walking, which could lead to dignity issues, and dietary staff not fully covering their hair while handling food, risking food safety. Overall, while there are strengths in the staffing and no fines, attention to specific care practices remains important.
- Trust Score
- B+
- In Alabama
- #38/223
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 53% turnover. Above average. Higher turnover means staff may not know residents' routines.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Alabama facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ✓ Good
- Each resident gets 44 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Alabama. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
- Violations ○ Average
- 7 deficiencies on record. Average for a facility this size. Mostly minor or procedural issues.
The Good
-
4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in staffing levels, fire safety.
The Bad
Near Alabama avg (46%)
Higher turnover may affect care consistency
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
The Ugly 7 deficiencies on record
Nov 2018
4 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Resident Rights
(Tag F0550)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observation, interviews and record review, the facility failed to ensure the staff properly secured Resident Identifier...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Assessment Accuracy
(Tag F0641)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to ensure Resident Identifier (RI) #19's Significant Change (SC) Minim...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview, record review and review of a facility policy titled, Care Planning Policy and Procedure, the facility faile...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observations, interviews and review of the 2017 U.S. (United States) Public Health Service Food Code, the facility failed to ensure:
1) a styrofoam cup was not stored in the sugar bin;
2) du...
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Feb 2018
3 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Comprehensive Care Plan
(Tag F0656)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, interview and a facility policy titled, Care Planning Policy and Procedure, the facility failed to ensur...
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CONCERN
(F)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Food Safety
(Tag F0812)
Could have caused harm · This affected most or all residents
Based on observations, interviews and a review of a policy titled, Food Safety and Sanitation, the facility failed to ensure that dietary staff wore a hair restraint properly while working in the kitc...
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MINOR
(B)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Minor procedural issue · This affected multiple residents
Based on observation, a facility document titled, Housekeeper Job Overview and interview, the facility failed to keep Room Locator (RL) #1 free of an unknown odor and the carpet on RL#'s 1 -7 free of ...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • Grade B+ (80/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Alabama.
- • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
- • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Alabama facilities.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
About This Facility
What is Brown's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns BROWN NURSING HOME an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, which is considered above average nationally. Within Alabama, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This rating reflects solid performance across the metrics CMS uses to evaluate nursing home quality.
How is Brown Staffed?
CMS rates BROWN NURSING HOME's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 53%, compared to the Alabama average of 46%.
What Have Inspectors Found at Brown?
State health inspectors documented 7 deficiencies at BROWN NURSING HOME during 2018. These included: 6 with potential for harm and 1 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Brown?
BROWN NURSING HOME is owned by a for-profit company. For-profit facilities operate as businesses with obligations to shareholders or private owners. The facility is operated by CROWNE HEALTH CARE, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 68 certified beds and approximately 64 residents (about 94% occupancy), it is a smaller facility located in ALEXANDER CITY, Alabama.
How Does Brown Compare to Other Alabama Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Alabama, BROWN NURSING HOME's overall rating (4 stars) is above the state average of 3.0, staff turnover (53%) is near the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (4 stars) is above the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Brown?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "Can I visit during a mealtime to observe dining assistance and food quality?" "How do you handle medical emergencies, and what is your hospital transfer rate?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?"
Is Brown Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, BROWN NURSING HOME has a clean safety record: no substantiated abuse findings (meaning no confirmed cases of resident harm), no Immediate Jeopardy citations (the most serious violation level indicating risk of serious injury or death), and is not on the Special Focus Facility watch list (a federal program monitoring the lowest-performing 1% of nursing homes). The facility has a 4-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Alabama. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.
Do Nurses at Brown Stick Around?
BROWN NURSING HOME has a staff turnover rate of 53%, which is 7 percentage points above the Alabama average of 46%. Moderate turnover is common in nursing homes, but families should still ask about staff tenure and how the facility maintains care continuity when employees leave.
Was Brown Ever Fined?
BROWN NURSING HOME has no federal fines on record. CMS issues fines when nursing homes fail to meet care standards or don't correct problems found during inspections. The absence of fines suggests the facility has either maintained compliance or corrected any issues before penalties were assessed. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review recent inspection reports for the full picture.
Is Brown on Any Federal Watch List?
BROWN NURSING HOME is not on any federal watch list. The most significant is the Special Focus Facility (SFF) program, which identifies the bottom 1% of nursing homes nationally based on persistent, serious quality problems. Not being on this list means the facility has avoided the pattern of deficiencies that triggers enhanced federal oversight. This is a positive indicator, though families should still review the facility's inspection history directly.