Worth Considering
5
Facilities graded B or better with zero fines
Best Nursing Homes in Knoxville, Tennessee
5 of 13 nursing homes in Knoxville (38%) meet our strict criteria. The Tennessee statewide average is 29%.
5 recommended · 3 caution · 5 avoid · data
City Average
3.1
★
+0.00 vs state
Total Beds
1,730
across 13 facilities
High Risk Facilities
5
4 Grade F
$329,707 in combined fines
Zero Fines
8
/13
passed all inspections
Nurse Availability
0 min
RN time per resident daily
Below CMS recommendation
Why These 5?
The nursing home market in Knoxville, Tennessee is strong, with 5 of the 13 facilities recommended, representing 38%. Families should be aware that while the top facility, Fort Sanders TCU, boasts a 5-star rating, there are 5 facilities with a total of $318,176 in fines to consider.
Exceptional (Grade A, Trust Score 90+)
- 1 FORT SANDERS TCU (90) — Top-rated 5★ facility with an A grade and zero federal fines. As a non-profit, Fort Sanders TCU is dedicated to community-focused care, ensuring a high Trust Score of 90/100 with personalized attention in its cozy 24-bed environment.
- 2 HOLSTON HEALTH & REHABILITATION CENTER (90) — Holston Health & Rehabilitation Center boasts an excellent CMS 5★ rating and an A grade with no fines, reflecting its commitment to quality care. With a Trust Score of 90/100, this 94-bed facility offers a supportive environment for residents.
- 3 SENATOR BEN ATCHLEY STATE VETERANS' HOME (90) — Senator Ben Atchley State Veterans' Home is a premier choice with a 5★ CMS rating and an A grade, emphasizing its high standards of care. With a Trust Score of 90/100 and a focus on veterans, this government-run facility provides exceptional support for those who served.
Qualified (Grade B, Trust Score 70-79)
- 4 NHC HEALTHCARE, FARRAGUT (70) — NHC Healthcare, Farragut offers a solid care experience with a CMS 3★ rating and a B grade, though there's room for improvement. With a Trust Score of 70/100, this facility serves 106 beds, providing a decent level of care but lacking the top-tier metrics of other recommended homes.
- 5 WEST HILLS HEALTH AND REHAB (70) — West Hills Health and Rehab is a non-profit facility that prioritizes community care, reflected in its CMS 4★ rating and B grade. With a Trust Score of 70/100 and 194 beds, it strives to provide quality rehabilitation services despite the need for enhancements.
The other 8 Knoxville facilities didn't qualify — 5 carry Grade D or F ratings and 5 have fines totaling $329K.
Recommended
Top-rated 5★ facility with an A grade and zero federal fines. As a non-profit, Fort Sanders TCU is dedicated to community-focused care, ensuring a high Trust Score of 90/100 with personalized attention in its cozy 24-bed environment.
Holston Health & Rehabilitation Center boasts an excellent CMS 5★ rating and an A grade with no fines, reflecting its commitment to quality care. With a Trust Score of 90/100, this 94-bed facility offers a supportive environment for residents.
Senator Ben Atchley State Veterans' Home is a premier choice with a 5★ CMS rating and an A grade, emphasizing its high standards of care. With a Trust Score of 90/100 and a focus on veterans, this government-run facility provides exceptional support for those who served.
NHC Healthcare, Farragut offers a solid care experience with a CMS 3★ rating and a B grade, though there's room for improvement. With a Trust Score of 70/100, this facility serves 106 beds, providing a decent level of care but lacking the top-tier metrics of other recommended homes.
West Hills Health and Rehab is a non-profit facility that prioritizes community care, reflected in its CMS 4★ rating and B grade. With a Trust Score of 70/100 and 194 beds, it strives to provide quality rehabilitation services despite the need for enhancements.
Proceed with Caution
These facilities don't meet our recommendation criteria but may still be viable options.
Best Available Alternative
Staffing Comparison
Staffing levels are the strongest predictor of care quality
| Metric | Top Facility | Knoxville Avg | CMS Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| RN Hours / Resident / Day | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.75 |
| CMS Star Rating | 5 stars | 3.1 stars | — |
| Deficiencies / Inspection | 0 | 0.0 | — |
Facilities to Avoid
These facilities have significant quality concerns.
What Disqualified the Other 8?
Our criteria: Trust Grade B or better (score 70+) AND zero fines in 3 years
- Grade F facilities
- 4 Grade F — critical inspection failures
- Facilities with fines
- 5 Have fines totaling $329,707
- Low-scoring facilities
- 4 Scored below B — Trust Scores under 70
- Caution group
- 3 Had good grades but fines disqualified them
Questions Knoxville Families Should Ask
Based on what we found in local inspection data
-
1
"What is your current CMS star rating and Trust Score?"
Knoxville's city average is 3.1 stars
-
2
"Have you received any fines in the past 3 years?"
5 of 13 Knoxville facilities have fines
-
3
"How many RN hours per resident do you provide daily?"
CMS recommends 45 min; Knoxville avg is 0 min
-
4
"What were your most recent inspection findings?"
Knoxville facilities average 0.0 deficiencies per inspection
Explore Nearby Cities
Houston has strong options, but nearby cities add even more choices
Houston at a Glance
Good News
- 12 facilities meet our strict criteria—20% of the market
- 3 exceptional A-grade facilities with 5-star CMS ratings
- 24 facilities with zero fines in the past 3 years
Be Aware
- 30 facilities carry Grade F—nearly half the market
- $3.2M+ in total fines across 37 facilities
- Worst facility has $448,216 in fines alone
Key Numbers
- Average Trust Score: 48.6 (dragged down by 30 F-grades)
- 82% for-profit, 13% non-profit, 5% government
- 9.4 average deficiencies per facility
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nursing homes in Knoxville, TN are recommended?
5 of 13 nursing homes in Knoxville (38%) meet our strict criteria of excellent inspection results and a clean record with no fines.
What makes a nursing home in Knoxville "recommended"?
A facility earns our recommendation when it achieves a Trust Grade of B or better (score of 70+) AND has zero fines in the past three years. This combination indicates consistent quality care and regulatory compliance.
How should I evaluate nursing homes in Knoxville?
Look beyond star ratings. Check for recent fines, abuse citations, staffing levels (especially RN hours), and inspection deficiencies. Visit in person during different times of day to observe care quality firsthand.