LIFE CARE CENTER OF ATHENS
Over 2 years since last inspection. Current conditions may differ from available data.
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
- In Tennessee
- #18/298
- Safety Record
- Low Risk
- Inspections
- Getting Better
- 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.
The Good
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4-Star Staffing Rating · Above-average nurse staffing levels
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5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
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Low Staff Turnover (28%) · Staff stability means consistent care
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Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
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No fines on record
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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
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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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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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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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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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 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.
- • No significant concerns identified. This facility shows no red flags across CMS ratings, staff turnover, or federal penalties.
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.