All states › Ohio › The Plains › Hickory Creek of Athens
51 East 4th Street The Plains, OH 45780 · Athens County
CMS certification number 365589 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Hickory Creek of Athens 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 Hickory Creek of Athens as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the Ohio average of 3.2.
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 3.48 hours per resident per day at Hickory Creek of Athens, about the same as the Ohio median of 3.58 (US median: 3.72). About 0.55 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.10 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 39.1% of nursing staff left within a year (Ohio median 48.9%).
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Hickory Creek of Athens: Medicare and Medicaid
Hickory Creek of Athens 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 Ohio'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 August 11, 2025 and found 3 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 24 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 24 citations at Hickory Creek of Athens across 4 inspection dates, 1 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on August 11, 2025. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (11) and resident assessment and care planning (4). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals" (tag F0684, level G, August 11, 2025).
August 11, 2025 · 3 citations
GProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DEnsure each resident’s drug regimen must be free from unnecessary drugs.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
August 5, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure each resident must receive and the facility must provide necessary behavioral health care and services.
June 6, 2024 · 8 citations
EProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DDevelop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
DAssist a resident in gaining access to vision and hearing services.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
DEnsure a licensed pharmacist perform a monthly drug regimen review, including the medical chart, following irregularity reporting guidelines in developed policies and procedures.
DImplement a program that monitors antibiotic use.
October 4, 2022 · 12 citations
FHave a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
EProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
EImplement 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.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
DProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
DProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
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.
DTry different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
Questions to ask on a tour of Hickory Creek of Athens
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on August 11, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- 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 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Hickory Creek of Athens
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
- 2.3 mi
-
2.4 mi
O'bleness Memorial Hospital AthensEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 3h 22m for patients treated and sent home
- 20.8 mi
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
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Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 64 Foundations Health Solutions 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.