SE Tennessee News

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Laurelbrook Nursing Home stood out as the third largest nursing home in Rhea County, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Data shows that the nursing center had a total of 50 beds available, 42 less than the average in Rhea County as of the fourth quarter of 2023. They aided an average of 47.4 residents during that period.

Laurelbrook Nursing Home had an overall rating of 1 from the CMS, which lags behind the average of 2.7 recorded for nursing homes in Tennessee.

During the quarter, Spring City Care and Rehabilitation Center stood out as the largest nursing home in Rhea County, with 138 beds available. Life Care Center of Rhea County came in second place, with 89 beds available.

As of the fourth quarter of 2023, Laurelbrook Nursing Home has already spent a total of $177,798 in two fines and suffered two penalties.

In total, there was one non-profit nursing home in Rhea County, Tennessee.

According to US Census data, in 2020, nearly 1 in 6 Americans were aged 65 years or older. Since 1920, the older population skyrocketed from 4.9 million to 55.8 million, reflecting a growth rate of roughly 1,000%, five times higher than the average growth for the overall U.S. population.

A 2021 study suggests that nearly half of this age group, roughly 28 million individuals, may require long-term services and support. Additionally, the study projects that over a third of them may eventually need nursing home care.

“Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an insurance education group. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. But when you need that type of care, there are limited options.”

Rank	Nursing Home	Overall Rating
1	Spring City Care and Rehabilitation Center	2
2	Life Care Center of Rhea County	2
3	Laurelbrook Nursing Home	1