The Sorry State of Nursing Homes in Tennessee

Dan Frith

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What in the world is going on in Tennessee? Either they have some of the worst nursing homes in America or investigators are just beginning to do a thorough job! In just the first 11 months of 2007 Tennessee has suspended admissions at 20 nursing homes this year -- that's double the number in 2006 and more than triple the 2005 amount!
Talk about widespread abuse and neglect!

This is an alarming number of nursing homes which are not only providing substandard care but such poor care directly results in injury and suffering by the residents.

Donna DeStefano, executive director of the Tennessee Disability Coalition, an advocacy group for disabled people, said she doesn't know why the number of suspensions has more than doubled, but she called it "cause for grave concern." "These violations mean that bad things are happening and vulnerable people are getting hurt," DeStefano said. "For the individuals in those 20 facilities and their families it really matters."

The Tennessee Department of Health, the commissioner may suspend admissions to a nursing home when conditions are determined to be, or are likely to be, detrimental to the health, safety or welfare of the residents. The 20 nursing homes are:

1. Bells Nursing Home -- Bells
2. Dyersburg Manor Nursing Home -- Dyersburg
3. Hermitage Health Center -- Elizabethton
4. Lincoln & Donalson Care Centers -- Fayetteville
5. Gallaway Healthcare Center -- Gallaway
6. Huntsville Manor -- Huntsville
7. Beech Tree Manor -- Jellico
8. Hillcrest North -- Knoxville
9. Mitchell Manor -- Lebanon
10. Overton Park Healthcare Center -- Memphis
11. Douglas Nursing Home -- Milan
12. NHC Healthcare Milan -- Milan
13. The Bridge at Monteagle -- Monteagle
14. Adams Place Nursing Home-- Murfreesboro
15. Tennessee State Veterans' Home -- Murfreesboro (twice)
16. Bordeaux Long-term Care -- Nashville
17. The Cornelia House -- Nashville
18. Ripley Healthcare Center -- Ripley
19. Rivermont Care and Rehabilitation Center -- South Pittsburg
20. Reelfoot Manor -- Tiptonville

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Nursing Home and Elder Abuse.