Tennessee Nursing Homes: Violations, Fines and Worst Records

Nursing staff turnover in Tennessee averaged 48.9% over a year, topping the national figure of 45.8% and placing 13th highest out of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Statewide, 215 out of 302 reporting facilities recorded daily nurse staffing hours under the level CMS, the federal Medicare agency, sets out in its public nursing home data files. Each day, residents of the state's 303 licensed homes got 3.8 nurse staff hours on average; 0.6 of those hours came from a registered nurse. The national figure was 3.86 hours. Of these facilities, 248 are run by for-profit companies, while 226 are part of multi-home chains.

Over the last three inspection cycles, Tennessee inspectors cited 4,362 violations, and 386 of those citations found immediate danger or harm to residents. The federal rule on supervision and accident hazards produced 246 citations overall, 91 of them at the harm level, more than any other rule in the state. Federal regulators have issued $6,940,796 in fines at 110 facilities in the state since September 2023. A $303,310 fine given in May 2024 to Graceland Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center in Memphis was the largest single federal penalty.

The Health Facilities Commission Facility Action and Abuse Reports let families review state disciplinary records. These monthly reports list each action the state Health Facilities Commission has taken against licensed health care facilities since July 2022, Tennessee nursing homes included. A Tennessee home's full federal inspection report is its Form CMS-2567, the statement of deficiencies. Find it on the home's page at Medicare Care Compare, formerly Nursing Home Compare.

People worried about care at a Tennessee facility can call 1-877-287-0010 or file a health complaint with the state through the Tennessee Department of Health, Office of Health Care Facilities. For help with resident rights, call 877-236-0013. That number reaches the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, part of the Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging. Anyone who suspects an older adult is being abused or neglected in the state can call Tennessee Adult Protective Services at 1-888-APS-TENN (1-888-277-8366).