Nursing Homes in Tennessee
Tennessee is home to 282 nursing homes tracked by Clear Care Connect, part of 363 senior care providers statewide, making it a mid-sized senior care market with real choice in most metro areas. Families comparing nursing homes in Tennessee weigh the same three questions: how safe is the building, how well is it staffed, and what will it really cost each month. Coverage is deepest around Memphis, Knoxville, Nashville, while smaller towns among the state's 160 communities often have one or two options within a reasonable drive. Clear Care Connect answers those questions with official federal inspection data, CMS star ratings and real cost estimates instead of sponsored listings.
What nursing homes in Tennessee provide
Nursing Homes in Tennessee provide round-the-clock licensed nursing, medication management, rehabilitation therapy and help with every activity of daily living. We track 282 nursing homes statewide, alongside 81 other providers — nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health — that families often compare before deciding.
Every Medicare-certified nursing home in Tennessee is surveyed by state inspectors on behalf of CMS roughly once a year, and those survey results feed the star ratings shown on each profile. That makes nursing homes the most transparent care type in Tennessee: you can see deficiencies, staffing hours per resident per day and penalty history before you ever tour.
Typical pricing for nursing homes in Tennessee runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Expect the higher end of that range in Memphis and other high-cost metros, and the lower end in rural counties.
How to choose a nursing home in Tennessee
With 282 nursing homes in Tennessee, families need a repeatable way to narrow the list. These six steps work in any county.
1. Check the government inspection reports first
Every Clear Care Connect profile shows the real CMS inspection record — deficiencies cited, their scope and severity, and how fast they were corrected. Read that before any brochure.
2. Compare star ratings across a shortlist, not in isolation
A three-star facility reads differently next to the Tennessee average of 2.96. Line up four or five nursing homes side by side instead of judging one alone.
3. Visit at least three facilities, including one unannounced
Tour options in Memphis plus one nearby community, then drop in once outside tour hours to see normal staffing and resident engagement.
4. Ask about staff-to-resident ratios and turnover
Ask for nursing hours per resident per day and annual turnover in writing. High turnover is the strongest predictor of inconsistent care in Tennessee facilities.
5. Understand exactly what the monthly price includes
Get the base rate, care-level surcharges, medication fees and past annual increases. Two Tennessee communities quoting the same headline number can differ by thousands once care tiers apply.
6. Read the most recent inspection findings, not just the score
One old citation matters far less than a repeated pattern. Clear Care Connect publishes the full history so you can compare Tennessee providers on that record in one place.
Top cities for nursing homes in Tennessee
Senior care in Tennessee clusters around its largest population centers. These 8 cities hold the highest concentration of nursing homes statewide, and each links to a local directory with ratings and costs.
- Memphis — 20 facilities, 13 of them nursing homes, averaging 2.5 CMS stars.
- Knoxville — 19 facilities, 11 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.1 CMS stars.
- Nashville — 17 facilities, 10 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.3 CMS stars.
- Chattanooga — 11 facilities, 6 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.0 CMS stars.
- Jackson — 8 facilities, 6 of them nursing homes, averaging 2.2 CMS stars.
- Murfreesboro — 8 facilities, 4 of them nursing homes, averaging 3.0 CMS stars.
- Johnson City — 7 facilities, 5 of them nursing homes, averaging 4.0 CMS stars.
- Clarksville — 6 facilities, 5 of them nursing homes, averaging 2.2 CMS stars.
Understanding CMS ratings for nursing homes in Tennessee
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services scores certified facilities from one to five stars using three inputs: on-site health inspections, payroll-reported staffing levels, and clinical quality measures. Five stars means much above average within that state's peer group; one star means much below.
In Tennessee, 298 of the 363 providers we track carry a published CMS rating, and 115 — roughly 39% — hold four or five stars. The statewide average is 2.96 stars. That average is close to the national midpoint, so quality varies widely from one provider to the next and comparing individual facilities matters more than comparing states.
Weight the health inspection component most heavily: it is the only piece built from unannounced on-site visits by state surveyors. Staffing is the next best signal, and quality measures are partly self-reported. Clear Care Connect shows all three sub-scores, the inspection date and any penalties on every Tennessee profile.
Nursing Homes costs in Tennessee
Nursing Homes in Tennessee typically runs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent. Pricing tracks local housing and wage costs closely, so expect Memphis to price above the Tennessee median while rural counties come in below it.
For comparison, Tennessee families budget $7,900–$11,200 a month for a nursing home, $4,500–$7,500 for assisted living, $6,000–$9,000 for memory care, and little to nothing for Medicare-covered home health or hospice. Clear Care Connect publishes an estimated monthly range on each facility page so you can sanity-check any quote.
Frequently asked questions
How many nursing homes are in Tennessee?
Clear Care Connect tracks 282 nursing homes in Tennessee, out of 363 senior care facilities statewide spanning nursing homes, assisted living, memory care, hospice and home health.
What is the average cost of nursing homes in Tennessee?
Nursing Homes in Tennessee typically costs $7,900 to $11,200 per month. Semi-private rooms sit at the low end of that range and private rooms typically add 15 to 25 percent.
How do I find the best nursing home in Tennessee?
Use Clear Care Connect to compare Tennessee providers on official government star ratings, inspection findings, staffing data and estimated monthly cost, then tour your top three in person. 115 rated Tennessee facilities currently hold four or five stars.
Does Medicare cover nursing homes in Tennessee?
Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing after a qualifying hospital stay in Tennessee, not long-term custodial care. Longer stays are paid privately, through long-term care insurance, or by Tennessee Medicaid once assets are spent down.
Ready to find the right nursing home in Tennessee?
Clear Care Connect shows real government inspection data, CMS star ratings and cost information for all 282 nursing homes in Tennessee. Compare them side by side, see what inspectors found, and choose the right care for your loved one without a sales call.
Other care types in Tennessee
- Assisted Living in Tennessee
- Memory Care in Tennessee
- Hospice Care in Tennessee
- Home Health Care in Tennessee
Browse every Tennessee senior care facility profile · Tennessee Medicaid eligibility estimator · Tennessee senior care costs