ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM
Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.
Arabella Health & Wellness of Birmingham has a Trust Grade of C, which means it is average and sits in the middle of the pack compared to other nursing homes. It ranks #82 out of 223 facilities in Alabama, indicating it is in the top half, and #1 out of 34 in Jefferson County, meaning it is the best local option. The facility's trend is improving, with issues decreasing from 5 in 2019 to 4 in 2022, although staffing is a concern, rated at only 2 out of 5 stars with a high turnover rate of 72%. Notably, there have been no fines recorded, which is a positive sign, and the RN coverage is average, suggesting basic oversight for resident care. However, specific incidents of concern include a failure to issue proper Medicare notices to residents and inaccuracies in medical coding for a resident's pneumonia diagnosis, which could affect care planning. Overall, while there are strengths like no fines, the high turnover and specific deficiencies highlight areas for improvement.
- Trust Score
- C
- In Alabama
- #82/223
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- Staff Stability ⚠ Watch
- 72% turnover. Very high, 24 points above average. Constant new faces learning your loved one's needs.
- Penalties ✓ Good
- No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Alabama facilities.
- Skilled Nurses ○ Average
- Each resident gets 38 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — about average for Alabama. RNs are the most trained staff who monitor for health changes.
- Violations ⚠ Watch
- 15 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
The Good
-
Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
-
No fines on record
Facility shows strength in fire safety.
The Bad
Near Alabama average (2.9)
Meets federal standards, typical of most facilities
26pts above Alabama avg (46%)
Frequent staff changes - ask about care continuity
Part of a multi-facility chain
Ask about local staffing decisions and management
24 points above Alabama average of 48%
The Ugly 15 deficiencies on record
Oct 2022
4 deficiencies
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** RI #32 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] and re-admitted [DATE].
RI #32 had a diagnosis of Pneumonia due to Methicillin Su...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0645
(Tag F0645)
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 admission CRITERIA, the facility failed to ensure a Level II e...
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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 Record review, interview and a facility policy titled Care Plans, Comprehensive Person-Centered, the facility failed to...
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CONCERN
(E)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, interview and a facility policy titled Medicare Advanced Beneficiary Notice, the facility failed to ensu...
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Dec 2019
5 deficiencies
CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, and review of a facility policy titled Cleaning and Disinfection of Environmental Surfaces, t...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0730
(Tag F0730)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on record reviews, interview, and review of a facility policy titled In-Service Training Program, Nurse Aide , the facility failed to ensure Certified Nursing Assistants received annual dementia...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0757
(Tag F0757)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interviews, record review, and facility policies titled Antipsychotic Medication Use and Behavioral Assessment, Interve...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Medication Errors
(Tag F0758)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on record review, interviews, and a facility policy titled Antipsychotic Medication Use, the facility failed to provide co...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0761
(Tag F0761)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
Based on observation and interviews, the facility failed to ensure the box that contained the controlled Lorazepam (Ativan) was permanently affixed in the medication refrigerator in the Station 2 medi...
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Nov 2018
6 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 observations, interviews and a facility policy titled, Quality of Life-Dignity, the facility failed to ensure staff did...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Deficiency F0582
(Tag F0582)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on interview and a document review of the SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility) Beneficiary Protection Notification Review, the f...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Safe Environment
(Tag F0584)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, record review and interview, the facility failed to ensure:
(1) the right arm rest on Resident Identifier...
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CONCERN
(D)
Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed
Menu Adequacy
(Tag F0803)
Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident
**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on observations, interviews, review of the 2018-2019 Fall and Winter Menus and a facility policy titled, MENUS, the facili...
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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 container of sliced dill pickles, mayonnaise, dill ...
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MINOR
(C)
Minor Issue - procedural, no safety impact
Garbage Disposal
(Tag F0814)
Minor procedural issue · This affected most or all residents
Based on observations and interviews, the facility failed to ensure the door to the dumpster was not left opened. This was observed on 10/29/18, during the initial tour of the kitchen.
This deficient ...
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Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
- "Why is there high staff turnover? How do you retain staff?"
- "Can I speak with families of current residents?"
- "What's your RN coverage like on weekends and overnight?"
Our Honest Assessment
- • 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.
- • 15 deficiencies on record. Higher than average. Multiple issues found across inspections.
- • Grade C (55/100). Below average facility with significant concerns.
- • 72% turnover. Very high, 24 points above average. Constant new faces learning your loved one's needs.
About This Facility
What is Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham's CMS Rating?
CMS assigns ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM an overall rating of 3 out of 5 stars, which is considered average nationally. Within Alabama, this rating places the facility higher than 99% of the state's 100 nursing homes. This mid-range rating indicates the facility meets federal standards but may have areas for improvement.
How is Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham Staffed?
CMS rates ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM's staffing level at 2 out of 5 stars, which is below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 72%, which is 26 percentage points above the Alabama average of 46%. High turnover can affect care consistency as new staff learn residents' individual needs. RN turnover specifically is 80%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.
What Have Inspectors Found at Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham?
State health inspectors documented 15 deficiencies at ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM during 2018 to 2022. These included: 14 with potential for harm and 1 minor or isolated issues.
Who Owns and Operates Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham?
ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM 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 ARABELLA HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 163 certified beds and approximately 87 residents (about 53% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in BIRMINGHAM, Alabama.
How Does Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham Compare to Other Alabama Nursing Homes?
Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Alabama, ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM's overall rating (3 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (72%) is significantly higher than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (3 stars) is at the national benchmark.
What Should Families Ask When Visiting Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham?
Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "How do you ensure continuity of care given staff turnover, and what is your staff retention strategy?" "Can you walk me through typical staffing levels on day, evening, and night shifts?" "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?" These questions are particularly relevant given the facility's high staff turnover rate and the below-average staffing rating.
Is Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham Safe?
Based on CMS inspection data, ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM 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 3-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 Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham Stick Around?
Staff turnover at ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM is high. At 72%, the facility is 26 percentage points above the Alabama average of 46%. Registered Nurse turnover is particularly concerning at 80%. RNs handle complex medical decisions and coordinate care — frequent RN changes can directly impact care quality. High turnover means new staff may not know residents' individual needs, medications, or preferences. It can also be disorienting for residents, especially those with dementia who rely on familiar faces. Families should ask: What is causing the turnover? What retention programs are in place? How do you ensure care continuity during staff transitions?
Was Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham Ever Fined?
ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM 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 Arabella Health & Wellness Of Birmingham on Any Federal Watch List?
ARABELLA HEALTH & WELLNESS OF BIRMINGHAM 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.