facebook tracking Kirkwood by the River, Birmingham AL: CMS Ratings
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Kirkwood by the River

All states › Alabama › Birmingham › Kirkwood by the River

3605 Ratliff Road Birmingham, AL 35210 · Jefferson County

(205) 956-2184

All 20 nursing homes in Birmingham, AL (17 take Medicaid)

Accepts Medicare 61 certified beds Non profit Continuing care retirement community

CMS certification number 015457 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare

Ratings come from CMS and are updated monthly; these are from October 2026. Check the latest inspection report and visit in person before you decide.

Is Kirkwood by the River a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record

There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Kirkwood by the River as of October 2026.

CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as the Alabama average of 3.0. Inspectors issued 8 citations in the last three years. CMS reports no fines or payment denials in that time. For short-term rehab patients CMS rates quality 1 out of 5; for long-term residents, 4 out of 5. Those results differ a lot, so ask about the unit your family member would be on.

Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.

Next steps

Compare with the 3 closest homes

Staffing

42.4% of nursing staff left within a year (Alabama median 46.2%).

Nursing care per resident per day — hours Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides combined, from payroll records.
Registered nurse hours — per resident a day RNs handle assessments, medications and changes in condition.
Weekend nursing care — hours Per resident a day. A big drop from weekdays can mean thin weekend staffing.
Nursing staff turnover 42.4% a year Share of nursing staff who left over a year. Lower usually means steadier care.
Registered nurse turnover 33.3% a year Share of registered nurses who left over a year.
Administrators who left — Frequent leadership changes are worth asking about on a visit.

About this nursing home

Certified beds61
Residents per day 54 About 89% of beds filled, on average
OwnershipNon profit - Corporation
Payment acceptedMedicare
Certified sinceSeptember 2006
Legal business namePRESBYTERIAN RETIREMENT HOMES OF BIRMINGHAM, INC.

Paying for care at Kirkwood by the River: Medicare and Medicaid

Kirkwood by the River is certified for Medicare but not Medicaid. It can provide short-term skilled nursing and rehab covered by Medicare Part A, but if long-term care is needed and Medicaid becomes the payer, a move to a Medicaid-certified home would be needed. 17 other homes in Birmingham accept Medicaid. Nursing homes that accept Medicaid in Alabama.

In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.

Health inspections

The most recent standard inspection was on October 7, 2021 and found 1 deficiency. CMS notes that this home's most recent inspection was more than two years ago. In total, inspectors issued 8 citations in the last three years.

Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.

What the inspections found

Over the last three years, inspectors issued 8 citations at Kirkwood by the River across 3 inspection dates. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 8 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were infection control (3) and resident assessment and care planning (2). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards" (tag F0812, level F, March 28, 2019).

October 7, 2021 · 1 citation

DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Nov 11, 2021)

March 28, 2019 · 2 citations

FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Nutrition and Dietary Deficiencies · Tag F0812 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 2, 2019)

DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (May 2, 2019)

March 22, 2018 · 5 citations

DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Rights Deficiencies · Tag F0550 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 2018)

DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0658 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 2018)

DProvide care by qualified persons according to each resident's written plan of care.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Resident Assessment and Care Planning Deficiencies · Tag F0659 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 2018)

DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Quality of Life and Care Deficiencies · Tag F0686 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 2018)

DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.

Potential for more than minimal harm · Infection Control Deficiencies · Tag F0880 · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Apr 24, 2018)

Questions to ask on a tour of Kirkwood by the River

  1. CMS rates staffing 1 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
  2. CMS rates short-stay quality 1 out of 5. How often do rehab patients go back to the hospital, and how many therapy sessions a week are typical?
  3. The last standard inspection was more than two years ago. Can I see any recent complaint inspection results?
  4. When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?

Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.

Fines and payment denials

CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.

Rating history

CMS monthOverallInspectionStaffingQuality
October 2026 3/5 4/5 1/5 2/5
August 2026 3/5 4/5 1/5 2/5
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Location

Hospitals near Kirkwood by the River

The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.

  • 4.2 mi
    St Vincent's East Birmingham
    Emergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5
    Median ER visit 2h 38m for patients treated and sent home
  • 5.3 mi
    Hill Crest Behavioral Health Birmingham
    No ER listed in Medicare data
  • 6.6 mi
    Grandview Medical Center Birmingham
    Emergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5
    Median ER visit 2h 54m for patients treated and sent home

Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.

Nearby nursing homes

East Glen Birmingham · 3.9 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 4/5 108 beds · Medicaid
St Martin's in the Pines Irondale · 4.6 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 3/5 128 beds · Medicaid
The Healthcare Center of Eastview Birmingham · 5.0 mi away ★★☆☆☆ Inspection 2/5 · Staffing 3/5 92 beds · Medicaid
Fair Haven Birmingham · 5.2 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 3/5 · Staffing 3/5 259 beds · Medicaid
Cavalier Healthcare of Trussville Trussville · 5.4 mi away ★★★☆☆ Inspection 4/5 · Staffing 1/5 125 beds · Medicaid

More nursing homes near Kirkwood by the River ›   All nursing homes in Birmingham ›

Compare Kirkwood by the River with the 3 closest homes side by side ›

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.

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https://www.nursinghomesineachstate.com/alabama/birmingham/kirkwood-by-the-river/ · Data: CMS, October 2026 · Nursing Homes In Each State, not affiliated with CMS or Medicare.