Life Care Center of Athens
1234 Frye Street PO Box 786, Athens, TN 37371
2 out of 5 in Medicare’s overall rating
Summary
Life Care Center of Athens is a nursing home in Athens, Tennessee, in Mc Minn County. According to Medicare (CMS), it has 128 certified beds and it cares for an average of 95 residents a day. It has been certified by Medicare and Medicaid since 1992. It is a privately owned, for-profit home. It belongs to Life Care Centers of America, an organization with 194 nursing homes. Residents’ families have an organized family council, a good way to learn what life is like there. The closest hospital with an emergency room is Starr Regional Medical Center Athens, about 0.7 miles away in a straight line.
What it offers
- Resident council
- Yes, residents have an organized council
- Family council
- Yes, families have an organized council
- Residents counted on a certification survey date
- 98 (61 on Medicaid and 22 on Medicare), on August 2, 2023
- Nurse aide training program
- Yes, it has an approved program
Public data from CMS — Long-Term Care Facility Characteristics (Form 671), 2nd quarter of 2026, CMS — Nursing Homes: Provider Information, September 30, 2026. Confirm the details when you call.
Medicare ratings
Medicare (CMS) rates certified nursing homes from 1 to 5 stars. Life Care Center of Athens has 2 out of 5 in the overall rating.
- Overall
- 2/5
- Health inspections
- 1/5
- Staffing
- 4/5
- Quality measures
- 5/5
- Long-stay residents
- 4/5
- Short-stay residents (rehab)
- 5/5
Star ratings are a useful reference, not a final verdict: it’s best to visit, meet the staff and ask your questions. Source: CMS, September 1, 2026.
Key facts
- Ownership
- For-profit (corporation)Part of Life Care Centers of America (194 nursing homes)
- Certification
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Resident or family council
- Resident and family councils
- Certified since
- September 1, 1992
- CMS certification number (CCN)
- 445298
What certification means. A certified nursing home meets the federal requirements of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to receive payments from Medicare, as a skilled nursing facility, or from Medicaid, as a nursing facility. Federal rules require it to have enough nursing staff 24 hours a day, and the state agency inspects it without advance notice. Medicare covers only short stays for skilled care (nursing or therapy), usually after an inpatient hospital stay of at least 3 days, for up to 100 days per benefit period. For long stays, ask whether your family member qualifies for Medicaid.
Services and features
Life Care Center of Athens hasn’t shared information about its services, prices, languages or availability yet. When you call, ask who they serve, what the rate includes, whether any staff speak Spanish and whether they have an opening now. Use our checklist.
Questions to ask when you call
Marisol’s tip: a ten-minute call clears up a lot. Keep these questions handy and write down the answers so you can compare with other places.
- Do you have a bed available now, and for what kind of stay: rehab after the hospital or long-term care?
- Do you accept Medicaid from admission, or only after a period of private pay? Do you take my relative’s Medicare plan?
- Is there staff who speaks Spanish on every shift, including nights?
- What therapies do you offer (physical, occupational, speech), and how many days a week?
- How do you keep the family informed, and when is the care plan meeting?
- What are the visiting hours, and can several family members visit at once?
Location and what’s nearby
The map loads as you scroll.
- Address
- 1234 Frye Street PO Box 786, Athens, TN 37371Mc Minn County
- Closest hospital with an emergency room
- Starr Regional Medical Center Athens1114 W Madison Ave, Athens · 0.7 miles in a straight line · source: CMS Hospital General Information
Ask which hospital they send residents to and who goes with them.
Medicare inspections
Like every certified nursing home, Life Care Center of Athens gets regular inspections that the state carries out on Medicare’s behalf. We show you the public summary so you have the full picture. Each place can tell you how it works and what improvements it has made: it’s a good conversation to have during your visit.
- Last standard inspection
- March 28, 2026 · 12 deficiencies cited
- Fines (last 3 years)
- 1 · $19,145
- Resident protection
- Medicare shows its abuse icon for this home, which means it was cited for abuse or neglect in recent inspections. Ask the staff how those issues were addressed.
See the full reports on Medicare Care Compare. Source: CMS, September 1, 2026. Do you run this nursing home? Add your information so families can learn about your work.
Who to call in Tennessee
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman
- Tennessee State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging). A free, confidential service that advises residents and families of nursing homes and assisted living and helps resolve concerns with the facility.(877) 236-0013 · Official website
- Free Medicare counseling (SHIP)
- Tennessee State Health Insurance Assistance Program (TN SHIP). They explain what Medicare covers and how to compare plans, without selling insurance.(877) 801-0044 · Official website
- Medicaid (TennCare)
- Division of TennCare (Tennessee Medicaid). Long-term care programs: TennCare CHOICES.(855) 259-0701 · Official website
- Licensing and inspections
- Tennessee Health Facilities Commission (HFC) – Division of Licensure and Regulation.Look up a license
- Services for older adults
- Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging – Area Agencies on Aging and Disability (AAAD).(866) 836-6678 · Official website
- Eldercare Locator (nationwide)
- A free national line that connects you with your local Area Agency on Aging.(800) 677-1116 · Official website
Contact information checked against official sources on October 15, 2026. These are free public services; hogaresparamayores.com is not affiliated with them.
Official data and sources
- CMS — Nursing Homes: Provider Information, updated September 30, 2026
See a mistake? Let us know and we’ll fix it. Being listed in an official registry doesn’t mean hogaresparamayores.com knows or recommends the place.
Frequently asked questions
Does Life Care Center of Athens accept Medicaid?
Where is Life Care Center of Athens located?
What is Life Care Center of Athens’s Medicare rating?
What hospital is near Life Care Center of Athens?
How much does Life Care Center of Athens cost?
Other places nearby
-
Starr Regional Health & Rehabilitation
886 Hwy 411 North, Etowah, TN 37331
5/5 MedicareMedicareMedicaid -
Etowah Health and Rehabilitation
409 Grady Road PO Box 957, Etowah, TN 37331
1/5 MedicareMedicareMedicaid
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