LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS

1234 FRYE STREET, ATHENS, TN 37371 (423) 745-8181
For profit - Corporation 128 Beds LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA Data: November 2025
Trust Grade
93/100
#18 of 298 in TN
Last Inspection: August 2023

Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.

Overview

Life Care Center of Athens has received an impressive Trust Grade of A, indicating it is an excellent facility that is highly recommended for families considering nursing home options. It ranks #18 out of 298 facilities in Tennessee, placing it well within the top half of all state facilities, and is ranked #1 out of 4 in McMinn County, meaning only one local option is better. The facility is on an improving trend, having reduced its issues from four in 2019 to zero in 2023. Staffing is a strong point, with a rating of 4 out of 5 stars and a low turnover rate of 28%, which is significantly better than the state average of 48%. Additionally, there have been no fines recorded, which suggests good compliance with regulations, and the facility offers more RN coverage than 95% of Tennessee facilities, ensuring quality care. However, past inspector findings revealed concerns such as delays in feeding for some residents and issues with medication administration practices, highlighting areas for improvement despite the overall positive ratings.

Trust Score
A
93/100
In Tennessee
#18/298
Top 6%
Safety Record
Low Risk
No red flags
Inspections
Getting Better
4 → 0 violations
Staff Stability
✓ Good
28% annual turnover. Excellent stability, 20 points below Tennessee's 48% average. Staff who stay learn residents' needs.
Penalties
✓ Good
No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Tennessee facilities.
Skilled Nurses
✓ Good
Each resident gets 57 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — more than average for Tennessee. RNs are trained to catch health problems early.
Violations
✓ Good
Only 4 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
★★★★★
5.0
Overall Rating
★★★★☆
4.0
Staff Levels
★★★★★
5.0
Care Quality
★★★★★
5.0
Inspection Score
Stable
2019: 4 issues
2023: 0 issues

The Good

  • 4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
  • 5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
  • Low Staff Turnover (28%) · Staff stability means consistent care
  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover is low (28%)

    20 points below Tennessee average of 48%

Facility shows strength in staffing levels, quality measures, staff retention, fire safety.

The Bad

Chain: LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA

Part of a multi-facility chain

Ask about local staffing decisions and management

The Ugly 4 deficiencies on record

Nov 2019 4 deficiencies
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0554 (Tag F0554)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure medications...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on review of facility policy, medical record review, observation, and interview, the facility failed to ensure medications were administered according to professional standards as well as the facility policy for 1 resident (#75) of 4 residents reviewed for medication administration. The findings include: Review of the facility policy .Self Administration of Medication . reviewed date 4/15/19 revealed .If the resident desires to self-administer medication, an order for self-administration will be obtained from the physician, and an assessment is conducted .the resident's cognitive, physical, and visual ability to carry out this responsibility . Medical record review revealed Resident #75 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including Hydronephrosis with Renal and Uretheral Obstruction, Need for Assistance with Personal Care, and Major Depressive Disorder. Medical record review of the current physician's recapitulation orders dated 11/1/19 revealed .Ipratropium- Albuterol Solution (type of orally inhaled breathing treatment) .inhale orally via nebulizer (type of delivery device) .every 12 hours . Continued review of the physician's recapitulation orders revealed no documentation of an order to self-administer the medication. Medical record review of an admission Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE] revealed a Brief Interview of Mental Status (BIMS) score of 5 on the BIMS indicating severe cognitive impairment. Observation of Registered Nurse (RN) #1 on 11/13/19 at 7:41 AM, on the east wing hallway, revealed the RN entered Resident #75's room and started the breathing treatment for the resident and left the room. Continued observation revealed the RN then proceeded to administer other resident's medications not in view of the resident. Interview with RN #1 on 11/13/19 at 8:03 AM, on the east wing hallway, revealed the resident did not have an order for self-administration and had not been assessed for self-administration of medications. Interview with the Director of Nursing (DON) and the MDS Coordinator on 11/13/19 at 8:40 A.M., in the facility conference room, confirmed the resident had not been assessed for self-administration of medications and the resident would not be unable to self-administer medications due to her cognitive status.
CONCERN (D)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0657 (Tag F0657)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, medical record review, observation, and interview the facility failed to revise a care plan for...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy review, medical record review, observation, and interview the facility failed to revise a care plan for wandering behavior for 1 resident (#96) of 32 residents reviewed. The findings include: Review of the facility policy, Assessments & Care Plans revised 4/29/19, revealed .The Care Plan includes measure objectives, timeframes to meet the patient's, cultural, nursing, mental, and psychosocial needs including services being provided to meet those needs . Medical record review revealed Resident #96 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including Dementia with Behavioral Disturbance, Anxiety Disorder, Osteoarthritis and Falls. Medical record review of the Quarterly Minimum Data Set (MDS) dated [DATE], revealed Resident #96 is rarely/never understood, required supervision for locomotion and exhibited wandering behaviors daily. Medical record review of the comprehensive care plan dated 11/8/19 revealed .has a potential behavior problem r/t [related to] advanced dementia, wandering in w/c, hollering out at staff, very repetitive kicking back of others w/c to tell them to move. Disruptive to others at times. Turns off office lights, may wander into others rooms hollering .Hurry, Hurry, go on go on. Staff to continue to monitor and attempt to redirect to best of staff ability .revised 3/25/19 . Observation of Resident #96 on 11/12/19 at 12:26 PM, seated in a w/c self- propelling into the dining room, yelling loudly Open the door. Observation of Resident #96 on 11/12/19 at 12:30 PM, seated in a w/c, redirected by staff out of the dining room. Observation of Resident #96 on 11/13/19 at 2:40 PM sitting in a w/c in the hallway yelling at staff. Continued observation revealed a staff member offered the resident gum. Interview with Certified Nursing Assistant #1 on 11/13/19 at 2:05 PM, at the 100 nursing station, confirmed Resident #96 wanders in other resident's room frequently and is very difficult to redirect. Interview with Licensed Practical Nurse #1 on 11/13/19 at 2:15 PM, at the 100 nursing station, confirmed Resident #96 wanders. Continued interview confirmed staff redirect the resident .That's all we can do . Interview with the DON on 11/13/19 at 3:20 PM, in the conference room, revealed new interventions to offer chewing gum and take the resident outside had been implemented. Continued interview confirmed the new interventions had not been added to the care plan until 11/13/19.
CONCERN (E)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Resident Rights (Tag F0550)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

Based on observation and interview the facility failed to maintain dignity during the dining observation for 14 of 24 residents reviewed for dining services. The findings include: Observation of the ...

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Based on observation and interview the facility failed to maintain dignity during the dining observation for 14 of 24 residents reviewed for dining services. The findings include: Observation of the main dining room on 11/12/19 from 11:15 AM to 12:35 PM revealed 10 residents sitting at 3 tables received their food trays at 11:22 AM. Continued observation revealed 2 staff members assisted the resident's with their meals. Further observation revealed the 14 additional residents did not receive a tray until 12:27 PM, 1 hour and 5 minutes later. Interview and observation with the Director of Nursing (DON) on 11/12/19 at 12:25 PM, in the main dining room, revealed the 10 residents which received their trays first at 11:22 AM, were residents which received restorative services. Continued interview revealed the residents which received restorative dining services used to be in a separate dining area which is now occupied by therapy. Further interview revealed the DON stated .It is normal for the 14 additional residents to come to the dining room at the same time as residents which received restorative dining. Continued interview confirmed the 14 residents had to wait to be fed 1 hour and 5 minutes after the other 10 residents residents were fed in the dining room by facilty staff.
CONCERN (E)

Potential for Harm - no one hurt, but risky conditions existed

Deficiency F0920 (Tag F0920)

Could have caused harm · This affected multiple residents

Based on observation and interview the facility failed to ensure proper space during the dining observation for 14 of 24 residents reviewed for dining services. The findings include: Observation of t...

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Based on observation and interview the facility failed to ensure proper space during the dining observation for 14 of 24 residents reviewed for dining services. The findings include: Observation of the main dining room on 11/12/19 from 11:15 AM to 12:35 PM revealed 10 residents sitting at 3 tables received their food trays at 11:22 AM. Continued observation revealed 2 staff members assisted the resident's with their meals. Further observation revealed the 14 additional residents did not receive a tray until 12:27 PM, 1 hour and 5 minutes later. Interview and observation with the Director of Nursing (DON) on 11/12/19 at 12:25 PM, in the main dining room, revealed the 10 residents which received their trays first at 11:22 AM, were residents which received restorative services. Continued interview revealed the residents which received restorative dining services used to be in a separate dinning area which is now occupied by therapy. Further interview revealed the DON stated .It is normal for the 14 additional residents to come to the dining room at the same time as residents which received restorative dining. Interview with the DON confirmed .we just have an older building not enough room for separate dining area .
Understanding Severity Codes (click to expand)
Life-Threatening (Immediate Jeopardy)
J - Isolated K - Pattern L - Widespread
Actual Harm
G - Isolated H - Pattern I - Widespread
Potential for Harm
D - Isolated E - Pattern F - Widespread
No Harm (Minor)
A - Isolated B - Pattern C - Widespread

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

Strengths
  • • Grade A (93/100). Above average facility, better than most options in Tennessee.
  • • No major safety red flags. No abuse findings, life-threatening violations, or SFF status.
  • • No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Tennessee facilities.
  • • Only 4 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
Concerns
  • • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
Bottom line: Generally positive indicators. Standard due diligence and a personal visit recommended.

About This Facility

What is Life Of Athens's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars, which is considered much above average nationally. Within Tennessee, 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 Life Of Athens Staffed?

CMS rates LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS's staffing level at 4 out of 5 stars, which is above average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 28%, compared to the Tennessee average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care.

What Have Inspectors Found at Life Of Athens?

State health inspectors documented 4 deficiencies at LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS during 2019. These included: 4 with potential for harm.

Who Owns and Operates Life Of Athens?

LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS 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 LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA, a chain that manages multiple nursing homes. With 128 certified beds and approximately 89 residents (about 70% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in ATHENS, Tennessee.

How Does Life Of Athens Compare to Other Tennessee Nursing Homes?

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Tennessee, LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (28%) is significantly lower than the state average of 46%, and health inspection rating (5 stars) is much above the national benchmark.

What Should Families Ask When Visiting Life Of Athens?

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 Life Of Athens Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS 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 5-star overall rating and ranks #1 of 100 nursing homes in Tennessee. While no facility is perfect, families should still ask about staff-to-resident ratios and recent inspection results during their visit.

Do Nurses at Life Of Athens Stick Around?

Staff at LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS tend to stick around. With a turnover rate of 28%, the facility is 18 percentage points below the Tennessee average of 46%. Low turnover is a positive sign. It means caregivers have time to learn each resident's needs, medications, and personal preferences. Consistent staff also notice subtle changes in a resident's condition more quickly. Registered Nurse turnover is also low at 10%, meaning experienced RNs are available to handle complex medical needs.

Was Life Of Athens Ever Fined?

LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS 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 Life Of Athens on Any Federal Watch List?

LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS 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.