LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA

1715 N JACKSON ST, TULLAHOMA, TN 37388 (931) 455-8557
For profit - Corporation 169 Beds LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA Data: November 2025
Trust Grade
90/100
#21 of 298 in TN
Last Inspection: September 2022

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

Overview

Life Care Center of Tullahoma has received an excellent Trust Grade of A, indicating a highly recommended facility with strong overall performance. It ranks #21 out of 298 nursing homes in Tennessee, placing it in the top half, and is the best facility in Coffee County. The facility is new, with no previous inspection records, and has shown a concerning trend with two identified issues, although neither was life-threatening or caused harm. Staffing is a weakness, with only 1 out of 5 stars, but the turnover rate is relatively good at 41%, lower than the state average of 48%. Specific incidents noted by inspectors include concerns about cleanliness in resident rooms and a failure to refer residents with new mental health diagnoses to the appropriate authorities, highlighting areas for improvement despite the facility's overall strengths.

Trust Score
A
90/100
In Tennessee
#21/298
Top 7%
Safety Record
Low Risk
No red flags
Inspections
Too New
0 → 2 violations
Staff Stability
○ Average
41% turnover. Near Tennessee's 48% average. Typical for the industry.
Penalties
✓ Good
No fines on record. Clean compliance history, better than most Tennessee facilities.
Skilled Nurses
⚠ Watch
Each resident gets only 17 minutes of Registered Nurse (RN) attention daily — below average for Tennessee. Fewer RN minutes means fewer trained eyes watching for problems.
Violations
✓ Good
Only 2 deficiencies on record. Cleaner than most facilities. Minor issues only.
★★★★★
5.0
Overall Rating
★☆☆☆☆
1.0
Staff Levels
★★★★★
5.0
Care Quality
★★★★★
5.0
Inspection Score
Stable
: 0 issues
2022: 2 issues

The Good

  • 5-Star Quality Measures · Strong clinical quality outcomes
  • Full Sprinkler Coverage · Fire safety systems throughout facility
  • No fines on record
  • Staff turnover below average (41%)

    7 points below Tennessee average of 48%

Facility shows strength in quality measures, fire safety.

The Bad

Staff Turnover: 41%

Near Tennessee avg (46%)

Typical for the industry

Chain: LIFE CARE CENTERS OF AMERICA

Part of a multi-facility chain

Ask about local staffing decisions and management

The Ugly 2 deficiencies on record

Sept 2022 2 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 facility policy review, medical record review, observation and interview, the facility failed to provide a clean and ho...

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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 provide a clean and homelike environment for 2 residents (Residents #370 and #1) of 10 resident rooms observed for homelike environment. The findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Keeping a Resident's Room in Order, dated 7/28/2022, showed .resident has a right to a safe, clean .homelike environment .Housekeeping .services necessary to maintain a sanitary .interior .Place frequently used items within resident' [resident's] reach .water cups should be within reach . Resident #370 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including Aftercare Following Joint Replacement Surgery, Depression, and Anxiety Disorder. During an observation and interview on 9/26/2022 at 9:31 AM, in Resident #370's room, the resident stated concerns about the cleanliness of the bathroom. Observation of the bathroom revealed a dirty drinking glass on a shelf above the sink, dirty linen hung over the edge of the sink, dirty linen was on the floor, a brown dried substance on the toilet seat, and the garbage from the waste container overflowed onto the floor. Resident #1 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including Surgical Aftercare Following Surgery on the Skin, Unspecified Dementia, and Hypertensive Heart and Chronic Kidney Disease. During an observation and interview in Residents #1 and #370's bathroom on 9/26/2022 at 10:24 AM, LPN #1 confirmed there was a dirty drinking glass on a shelf above the sink, dirty linen hung over the edge of the sink and in the floor, feces on the toilet seat, and the garbage from the waste container overflowed onto the floor. During an observation and interview on 9/26/2022 at 10:27 AM, the Infection Preventionist confirmed a sanitary and homelike environment had not been maintained in Resident #1 and Resident #370's bathroom. During an interview on 9/26/22 at 10:30 AM, Resident #1 stated the bathroom in the room was .terribly unclean . During an interview on 9/28/2022 at 10:08 AM, the Housekeeping Supervisor stated housekeepers were expected to clean every resident room and bathrooms daily. The Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA)s should remove dirty linen from the room and place in the appropriate receptacle. The nurses and CNAs were expected to do light cleaning when necessary to maintain a clean environment in resident rooms.
CONCERN (D)

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

PASARR Coordination (Tag F0644)

Could have caused harm · This affected 1 resident

**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy, medical record review and interview, the facility failed to refer 2 residents (Residents #67 and #50),...

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**NOTE- TERMS IN BRACKETS HAVE BEEN EDITED TO PROTECT CONFIDENTIALITY** Based on facility policy, medical record review and interview, the facility failed to refer 2 residents (Residents #67 and #50), of 8 residents reviewed for Pre-admission Screening and Resident Review (PASRR), to the state-designated authority for a Level II PASRR after the residents were identified with new mental health diagnoses. The findings include: Review of the facility policy titled Pre-admission Screening and Resident Review [PASRR] dated 8/7/2021, showed .requires that .applicants .be evaluated for a serious mental disorder .be offered the most appropriate setting .Referring all level II residents and all residents with newly evident or possible serious mental disorder .A negative Level I screen permits admission to proceed and ends the .process unless a possible serious mental disorder .arises later . Resident #67 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including Major Depressive Disorder and Anxiety. A diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder was added on 2/26/2020 and a diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder on 6/29/2020. Review of a Notice of PASRR Level I Screen Outcome dated 5/20/2020, showed Resident #67's screening diagnoses included Major Depression, Anxiety Disorder, and Unspecified Mood Affective Disorder. Review of the annual MDS assessment dated [DATE], showed Resident #67 was cognitively intact and had diagnoses including Anxiety Disorder, Depression, Schizophrenia, and Borderline Personality Disorder. During an interview on 9/27/2022 at 2:05 PM, the MDS Coordinator confirmed a new PASRR had not been submitted to the state-designated authority for Resident #67 after a diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder had been added on 6/29/2020. Review of a PASRR Level I for Resident #50 dated 7/22/2021 prior to admission to the facility showed diagnoses of Dementia and Neurocognitive Disorder. Resident #50 was admitted to the facility on [DATE] with diagnoses including Dementia, Neurocognitive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder. During an interview on 9/27/2022 at 12:28 PM, the Minimum Data Set (MDS) Nurse confirmed a new PASRR had not been submitted to the state-designated authority for Resident #50 when the resident was admitted to the facility with diagnoses of Schizophrenia, Major Depressive Disorder, and Anxiety Disorder.
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 (90/100). 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 2 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 Tullahoma's CMS Rating?

CMS assigns LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA 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 Tullahoma Staffed?

CMS rates LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA's staffing level at 1 out of 5 stars, which is much below average compared to other nursing homes. Staff turnover is 41%, compared to the Tennessee average of 46%. This relatively stable workforce can support continuity of care. RN turnover specifically is 67%, which is notably high. RNs provide skilled clinical oversight, so turnover in this role can affect medical care quality.

What Have Inspectors Found at Life Of Tullahoma?

State health inspectors documented 2 deficiencies at LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA during 2022. These included: 2 with potential for harm.

Who Owns and Operates Life Of Tullahoma?

LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA 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 169 certified beds and approximately 88 residents (about 52% occupancy), it is a mid-sized facility located in TULLAHOMA, Tennessee.

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

Compared to the 100 nursing homes in Tennessee, LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA's overall rating (5 stars) is above the state average of 2.9, staff turnover (41%) is near 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 Tullahoma?

Based on this facility's data, families visiting should ask: "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?" "Can I speak with family members of current residents about their experience?" These questions are particularly relevant given the below-average staffing rating.

Is Life Of Tullahoma Safe?

Based on CMS inspection data, LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA 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 Tullahoma Stick Around?

LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA has a staff turnover rate of 41%, which is about average for Tennessee nursing homes (state average: 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 Life Of Tullahoma Ever Fined?

LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA 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 Tullahoma on Any Federal Watch List?

LIFE CARE CENTER OF TULLAHOMA 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.