All states › Georgia › Athens › Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage
960 Hawthorne Avenue Athens, GA 30606 · Clarke County
All 5 nursing homes in Athens, GA (4 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 115509 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage 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 Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the Georgia average of 2.7.
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.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 3.93 hours per resident per day at Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage, above the Georgia median of 3.47 (US median: 3.72). About 0.68 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.24 hours, 18% below its all-week average. Ask how weekends are staffed. 53.2% of nursing staff left within a year (Georgia median 45.8%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage: Medicare and Medicaid
Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet Georgia's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
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 September 4, 2025 and found 4 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 30 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 30 citations at Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage across 4 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on January 9, 2024. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (9) and resident rights (9). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents" (tag F0689, level G, January 9, 2024). 1 citation was under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
September 4, 2025 · 4 citations
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DHonor 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.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
May 16, 2024 · 8 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
EDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DReasonably accommodate the needs and preferences of each resident.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide appropriate foot care.
DEnsure each resident receives and the facility provides food that accommodates resident allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as well as appealing options.
January 9, 2024 · 4 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
FHonor the resident's right to voice grievances without discrimination or reprisal and the facility must establish a grievance policy and make prompt efforts to resolve grievances.
FSet up an ongoing quality assessment and assurance group to review quality deficiencies and develop corrective plans of action.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
October 2, 2022 · 14 citations
FProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
FPost nurse staffing information every day.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DHonor the resident's right to request, refuse, and/or discontinue treatment, to participate in or refuse to participate in experimental research, and to formulate an advance directive.
DImmediately tell the resident, the resident's doctor, and a family member of situations (injury/decline/room, etc.) that affect the resident.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DNotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DPlan the resident's discharge to meet the resident's goals and needs.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DEnsure that feeding tubes are not used unless there is a medical reason and the resident agrees; and provide appropriate care for a resident with a feeding tube.
DProvide safe, appropriate dialysis care/services for a resident who requires such services.
DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Questions to ask on a tour of Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on January 9, 2024 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on October 2, 2022. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- There were 3 infection-control citations. Who leads infection prevention, and what is the current outbreak policy?
- Weekend staffing is 18% below the all-week average. Who is on duty on Saturday nights?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- 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
3 penalties in the last three years, including $16,801 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 9, 2024 | Fine | $4,017 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | Fine | $6,284 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | Fine | $6,500 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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1.1 mi
Athens Regional Medical Center AthensEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 3m for patients treated and sent home
-
1.6 mi
St Mary's Hospital AthensEmergency room ★☆☆☆☆ Medicare overall 1 of 5Median ER visit 2h 10m for patients treated and sent home
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17.0 mi
Barrow Regional Medical Center WinderEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 2h 14m 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
More nursing homes near Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage › All nursing homes in Athens ›
Compare Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Pruitthealth - Grandview · Athens · 5 stars · 1.2 mi
Other Pruitthealth nursing homes in Georgia
- Pruitthealth - Franklin · Franklin · 5 stars
- PruittHealth - Jasper · Jasper · 5 stars
- Pruitthealth - Augusta Hills · Augusta · 5 stars
- Pruitthealth - Blue Ridge · Blue Ridge · 5 stars
- Pruitthealth - Sylvester · Sylvester · 5 stars
- Pruitthealth - Moultrie · Moultrie · 5 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 97 Pruitthealth nursing homes ›
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.