Hamilton County, Tennessee · Nursing home
Life Care Center of East Ridge
3 of 5 overall from CMS
1502 McDonald Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412
At a glance
- Overall rating 3 of 5 Same as the state average of 3.0
- Nurse time per resident, per day 4.43 hours Above the state average of 3.80
- Nursing staff who left in a year 48.0% Below the state average of 48.9%
- Health citations, last 3 inspection cycles 14 None at the harm level or above
- Fines in 3 years None None listed by CMS
- Certified beds in use 77.7% of 108 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 East Ridge is a 108-bed nursing home in Chattanooga, Tennessee (Hamilton County). CMS rates it 3 of 5 stars overall as of Sep 2026. It reports 4.43 nurse staffing hours per resident per day, above the Tennessee average of 3.80. CMS lists no fines in the past three years.
- Certified beds
- 108
- Residents per day (average)
- 83.9
- Certified since
- 2017 (9 yrs)
For profit - Corporation Participates in MedicarePart 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 East Ridge
Chosen from this home's public data.
- CMS counts 5 health deficiencies in the latest inspection cycle (the standard inspection on Aug 21, 2025 plus complaint and infection-control inspections); the Tennessee average is 4.4. Which have been corrected?Inspection results in CMS data
- What is the daily private-pay rate, and are Medicaid beds available now?CMS does not publish prices
- Can we visit at a mealtime and again on a weekend?General
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 4 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 4.43 h Tennessee average 3.80
- Nurse aides 2.37 h Tennessee average 2.12
- Licensed practical nurses 1.25 h Tennessee average 1.09
- Registered nurses 0.81 h Tennessee average 0.60
- All staff, weekends 4.07 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 turnover48.0%
- 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 | 8.7% | 14.0% | 13.9% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | 11.4% | 6.1% | 5.2% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | 0.0% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | 0.0% | 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 | 7.3% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 98.8% | 89.4% | 93.6% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | Too few residents or stays to report | 17.2% | 14.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | 36.6% | 31.7% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Too few residents or stays to report | 94.5% | 95.5% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | 5.1% | 5.0% | 4.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | 30.2% | 20.0% | 19.0% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | 40.0% | 16.8% | 15.4% |
| ★ Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days | Too few residents or stays to report | 1.67 | 1.90 |
| ★ Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days | Too few residents or stays to report | 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 | 86.5% | 79.3% | 82.0% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | 2.2% | 1.7% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 87.0% | 79.8% | 79.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission | 20.4% | 22.6% | 23.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit | 5.4% | 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 14 health deficiencies in the three most recent inspection cycles. None was graded as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
| Standard inspection | Health | Fire safety |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 21, 2025 | 5 | 2 |
| Jun 5, 2024 | 5 | 3 |
| Jul 20, 2022 | 4 | 0 |
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 (14)
-
FPotential for more than minimal harm, widespread
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 12, 2025)
-
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 (Sep 12, 2025)
-
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 (Sep 12, 2025)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Infection Control · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 12, 2025)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Develop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
Infection Control · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Sep 12, 2025)
Show 9 more
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Resident Assessment and Care Planning · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 12, 2024)
-
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 (Jul 12, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
PASARR screening for Mental disorders or Intellectual Disabilities
Resident Assessment and Care Planning · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 12, 2024)
-
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 (Jul 12, 2024)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jul 12, 2024)
-
EPotential for more than minimal harm, pattern
Provide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 26, 2022)
-
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 (Aug 26, 2022)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Provide appropriate care for residents who are continent or incontinent of bowel/bladder, appropriate catheter care, and appropriate care to prevent urinary tract infections.
Quality of Life and Care · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 26, 2022)
-
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 (Aug 26, 2022)
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
CMS lists no fines or payment denials for this home in the past three years.
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
- Size167 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 councilResident
- Homes in Chattanooga6
- Homes in Hamilton County11
Common questions
What is the CMS star rating for Life Care Center of East Ridge?
Life Care Center of East Ridge has an overall rating of 3 of 5 stars from CMS as of Sep 2026. Its health inspection rating is 3, staffing is 4 and quality measures is 4.
How many beds does Life Care Center of East Ridge have?
Life Care Center of East Ridge has 108 certified beds. It averages 83.9 residents per day, about 77.7% of its certified beds.
How much nursing care do residents get at Life Care Center of East Ridge?
The home reports 4.43 hours of nurse staffing per resident per day, including 0.81 hours from registered nurses. The Tennessee average is 3.80 hours and 0.60 hours from registered nurses.
Has Life Care Center of East Ridge been fined?
CMS lists no fines for this home in the past three years.
Does Life Care Center of East Ridge accept Medicare or Medicaid?
CMS lists its participation as "Medicare". 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 NHC Healthcare Ft Oglethorpe 135beds 90.8%in use 3.31nurse hours a day
- 3 of 5 Pruitthealth - Fort Oglethorpe 120beds 83.8%in use 2.70nurse hours a day
- 4 of 5 NHC Healthcare, Chattanooga 200beds 87.5%in use 3.66nurse hours a day
Sorted by straight-line distance. This is not a ranking or a recommendation. Compare all homes in Hamilton 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 445528. 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.