All states › Georgia › Athens › University Nursing & Rehab Center
180 Epps Bridge Road Athens, GA 30606 · Clarke County
All 5 nursing homes in Athens, GA (4 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 115467 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is University Nursing & Rehab Center 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 University Nursing & Rehab Center as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall, below 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 2.95 hours per resident per day at University Nursing & Rehab Center, below the Georgia median of 3.47 (US median: 3.72). About 0.15 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.66 hours, 10% below its all-week average. 69.6% of nursing staff left within a year (Georgia median 45.8%). High turnover can mean residents see unfamiliar caregivers; ask how long the nurses on the unit have worked there.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at University Nursing & Rehab Center: Medicare and Medicaid
University Nursing & Rehab Center 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 May 14, 2026 and found 6 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 23 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 23 citations at University Nursing & Rehab Center across 3 inspection dates, 11 of them from complaint investigations. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 23 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (6) and resident rights (6). 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, May 14, 2026).
May 14, 2026 · 6 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DCreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DDevelop and implement policies and procedures for flu and pneumonia vaccinations.
DEducate residents and staff on COVID-19 vaccination, offer the COVID-19 vaccine to eligible residents and staff after education, and properly document each resident and staff member's vaccination status.
April 3, 2025 · 3 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EHonor 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.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
December 9, 2023 · 14 citations · includes complaint inspection
FProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
FImplement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
EProvide timely notification to the resident, and if applicable to the resident representative and ombudsman, before transfer or discharge, including appeal rights.
EEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DPrepare residents for a safe transfer or discharge from the nursing home.
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.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DEnsure necessary information is communicated to the resident, and receiving health care provider at the time of a planned discharge.
DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DProvide medically-related social services to help each resident achieve the highest possible quality of life.
DEnsure medication error rates are not 5 percent or greater.
DProvide routine and 24-hour emergency dental care for each resident.
Questions to ask on a tour of University Nursing & Rehab Center
- CMS rates staffing 1 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Nursing staff turnover was 69.6% a year. How many of the staff come from agencies?
- 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?
- 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
CMS reports no fines or payment denials for this home in the last three years.
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near University Nursing & Rehab Center
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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1.4 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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2.2 mi
Athens Regional Medical Center AthensEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 3h 3m for patients treated and sent home
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16.6 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 University Nursing & Rehab Center › All nursing homes in Athens ›
Compare University Nursing & Rehab Center with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Higher-rated nursing homes within 10 miles
- Pruitthealth - Grandview · Athens · 5 stars · 3.0 mi
- Pruitthealth - Athens Heritage · Athens · 4 stars · 2.0 mi
- High Shoals Health and Rehabilitation · Bishop · 4 stars · 7.7 mi
- Presbyterian Village - Athens · Athens · 2 stars · 0.6 mi
Other Cypress Skilled Nursing nursing homes in Georgia
- Cedar Valley Nursing & Rehab Center · Cedartown · 5 stars
- Social Circle Nursing & Rehab Center · Social Circle · 3 stars
- Chestnut Ridge Nursing & Rehab Center · Cumming · 2 stars
- Haralson Nursing & Rehab Center · Bremen · 1 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 5 Cypress Skilled Nursing 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.