Carter County, Tennessee · Nursing home
Life Care Center of Elizabethton
3 of 5 overall from CMS
1641 Highway 19e, Elizabethton, TN 37643
At a glance
- Overall rating 3 of 5 Same as the state average of 3.0
- Nurse time per resident, per day 3.44 hours Below the state average of 3.80
- Nursing staff who left in a year 53.3% Above the state average of 48.9%
- Health citations, last 3 inspection cycles 11 3 at the harm level or above
- Fines in 3 years $10,036 1 fine
- Certified beds in use 77.4% of 158 beds, on an average day
Arrows only show whether a figure is above or below the state average. They are not a judgment of the home.
Life Care Center of Elizabethton is a 158-bed nursing home in Elizabethton, Tennessee (Carter County). CMS rates it 3 of 5 stars overall as of Sep 2026. It reports 3.44 nurse staffing hours per resident per day, below the Tennessee average of 3.80. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $10,036 in the past three years.
- Certified beds
- 158
- Residents per day (average)
- 122.3
- Certified since
- 1993 (33 yrs)
For profit - Corporation Participates in Medicare and MedicaidPart of Life Care Centers of America (194 homes)
Bed use is this site's calculation: average residents per day divided by certified beds. It is an average, so it does not show today's openings.
Terms used on this page
- CMS
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that publishes the ratings, staffing figures, inspection results and penalties shown here.
- Certified beds
- The number of federally certified beds CMS lists for the home.
- Deficiency or citation
- A federal requirement that inspectors found the home did not meet. Each one gets a letter from A to L for how serious it was and how many residents were affected. What the letters mean
- Actual harm
- Letters G, H and I: actual harm to a resident that is not immediate jeopardy.
- Immediate jeopardy
- Letters J, K and L: the problem caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a resident.
- Inspection cycle
- A standard inspection plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to it. This page shows the three most recent cycles.
- Special Focus Facility (SFF)
- A home CMS has placed under closer oversight because of its inspection record. More about the program
Questions to ask Life Care Center of Elizabethton
Chosen from this home's public data.
- CMS lists 1 fine totaling $10,036 in the past three years. What changed after the most recent one?Penalties in CMS data
- CMS counts 7 health deficiencies in the latest inspection cycle (the standard inspection on Nov 14, 2023 plus complaint and infection-control inspections); the Tennessee average is 4.4. Which have been corrected?Inspection results in CMS data
- Nursing staff turnover is 53.3%, above the Tennessee average of 48.9%. How often would the same aides care for my relative?Turnover in CMS data
More in what to ask on a nursing home tour.
CMS star ratings
- Overall 3 of 5 Tennessee average 3.0
- Health inspections 3 of 5 Tennessee average 3.0
- Staffing 2 of 5 Tennessee average 2.5
- Quality measures 4 of 5 Tennessee average 3.6
The vertical line marks the Tennessee average. Ratings run from 1 to 5. How to read CMS star ratings
Nurse staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, as the home reported to CMS.
What these roles do
Nurse aides give most hands-on daily care, such as help with bathing, dressing and meals. Licensed practical nurses give medications and routine nursing care. Registered nurses assess residents and direct their care.
- All nursing staff 3.44 h Tennessee average 3.80
- Nurse aides 2.18 h Tennessee average 2.12
- Licensed practical nurses 0.85 h Tennessee average 1.09
- Registered nurses 0.40 h Tennessee average 0.60
- All staff, weekends 2.82 h Tennessee average 3.31
How much nurse staffing is enough? All bars share one scale, 0 to 8 hours. The vertical line marks the Tennessee average; the national average for all nursing staff is 3.86 hours.
- Nursing staff turnover53.3%
- Tennessee average48.9%
- Registered nurse turnover47.1%
- Tennessee average43.2%
- Administrators who left0
Quality measures
CMS calculates these from residents' assessments and Medicare claims. They are shown as published, next to the Tennessee and national averages. marks the measures CMS uses in its quality star rating; for those, the rating gives more points for a lower rate.
Long-stay residents
| Measure | This home | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased | 5.3% | 14.0% | 13.9% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | 6.5% | 6.1% | 5.2% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | 0.2% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | 2.3% | 1.8% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms | 0.0% | 13.8% | 12.8% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 82.4% | 89.4% | 93.6% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | 6.5% | 17.2% | 14.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | 41.9% | 31.7% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 90.4% | 94.5% | 95.5% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | 4.0% | 5.0% | 4.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | 22.9% | 20.0% | 19.0% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | 15.0% | 16.8% | 15.4% |
| ★ Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days | 2.32 | 1.67 | 1.90 |
| ★ Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days | 1.39 | 1.56 | 1.78 |
Short-stay residents
| Measure | This home | Tennessee | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 25.9% | 79.3% | 82.0% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | 0.6% | 1.7% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 31.5% | 79.8% | 79.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission | 18.0% | 22.6% | 23.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit | 9.0% | 11.2% | 12.0% |
Measure periods: April 2025 to March 2026 for most measures; July 2024 to June 2025 for the flu vaccine measures; January to December 2025 for the hospital and emergency department measures, which CMS risk-adjusts. See the measures on Medicare.gov
Inspection history
Inspectors cited 11 health deficiencies in the three most recent inspection cycles. Of these, 3 were at the immediate jeopardy level; the rest were graded as no actual harm. 3 were cited in connection with a complaint investigation. The most recent citation at the harm level or above was on Feb 29, 2024: Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
| Standard inspection | Health | Fire safety |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2023 | 7 | 0 |
| Dec 10, 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| Nov 15, 2018 | 4 | 1 |
Tennessee homes averaged 4.4 health deficiencies in the latest cycle; the national average is 9.2. Each cycle's health count covers the standard inspection on that date plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to that cycle.
Health citations, three most recent inspection cycles (11)
-
JImmediate jeopardy, isolated
Provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
Complaint investigation · Quality of Life and Care · Past Non-Compliance (Dec 5, 2023)
-
JImmediate jeopardy, isolated
Ensure the resident's doctor reviews the resident's care, writes, signs and dates progress notes and orders, at each required visit.
Complaint investigation · Nursing and Physician Services · Past Non-Compliance (Dec 5, 2023)
-
JImmediate jeopardy, isolated
Ensure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
Complaint investigation · Pharmacy Service · Past Non-Compliance (Dec 5, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Honor the resident's right to and the facility must promote and facilitate resident self-determination through support of resident choice.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 28, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Honor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Resident Rights · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 28, 2023)
Show 6 more
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Timely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
Freedom from Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 28, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 28, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 28, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Post nurse staffing information every day.
Nursing and Physician Services · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 28, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Safeguard resident-identifiable information and/or maintain medical records on each resident that are in accordance with accepted professional standards.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 28, 2023)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Coordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Dec 7, 2018)
What severity letters A to L mean
Each sentence above is the requirement that was not met, in CMS's wording. For the inspection results as Medicare publishes them, open this home's page on Medicare.gov and look under "Health inspections".
Penalties, past three years
| Date | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 29, 2024 | Fine | $10,036 |
Tennessee homes averaged 0.5 fines and $22,907 in fine amounts; the national averages are 0.9 and $30,972.
Cost
Not in the public data. CMS does not publish what a nursing home charges.
Ask the home for its daily private-pay rate and whether a bed is open for your coverage. See what Medicare covers and how Medicaid pays for a nursing home.
Compared within Tennessee
- Size48 of 303 by certified beds
- Tennessee average residents per day84.0
- ChainLife Care Centers of America
- Chain average overall rating3.4 of 5
- Resident or family councilBoth
- Homes in Elizabethton5
- Homes in Carter County6
Common questions
What is the CMS star rating for Life Care Center of Elizabethton?
Life Care Center of Elizabethton has an overall rating of 3 of 5 stars from CMS as of Sep 2026. Its health inspection rating is 3, staffing is 2 and quality measures is 4.
How many beds does Life Care Center of Elizabethton have?
Life Care Center of Elizabethton has 158 certified beds. It averages 122.3 residents per day, about 77.4% of its certified beds.
How much nursing care do residents get at Life Care Center of Elizabethton?
The home reports 3.44 hours of nurse staffing per resident per day, including 0.40 hours from registered nurses. The Tennessee average is 3.80 hours and 0.60 hours from registered nurses.
Has Life Care Center of Elizabethton been fined?
Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $10,036 in the past three years.
Does Life Care Center of Elizabethton accept Medicare or Medicaid?
CMS lists its participation as "Medicare and Medicaid". Ask the home whether a bed is open for your coverage.
Guides for families looking at this home
- Understanding the recordWhat to ask on a nursing home tourQuestions that turn a home's public record into a useful conversation when you tour, plus what to look for yourself.
- Understanding the recordInspection severity letters A to LHow inspectors grade each deficiency by harm and by how many residents were affected.
- Understanding the recordHow to read CMS star ratingsWhat the overall, health inspection, staffing and quality measure ratings cover, and what they leave out.
Nearest nursing homes
- 5 of 5 Ivy Hall Nursing Home 101beds 83.5%in use 4.37nurse hours a day
- 5 of 5 Signature Healthcare of Elizabethton Rehab & Welln 94beds 72.4%in use 3.89nurse hours a day
- 5 of 5 Hermitage Health Center 70beds 76.7%in use 3.63nurse hours a day
Sorted by straight-line distance. This is not a ranking or a recommendation. Compare all homes in Carter County
Who to call in Tennessee
These offices serve residents of every nursing home in Tennessee.
- Long-term care ombudsman Tennessee Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program 877-236-0013 (Toll-free; routes callers to the District Ombudsman program for their area. State office: 615-253-5412.) An advocate for residents and their families.
- File a complaint about a nursing home Health Facilities Commission complaint intake (Division of Licensure and Regulation) 1-877-287-0010 (Toll-free; Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Complaints can also be filed through the Commission's online Public Records & Complaints Portal.) The state agency that inspects nursing homes.
Tennessee staffing, bed-hold and Medicaid rules · Residents' rights in every state
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Sep 1, 2026. CMS Certification Number 445302. See this home's official record on Medicare.gov
See something shown incorrectly? Tell us. This site shows each record as CMS publishes it and cannot change the underlying record.