All states › Tennessee › Dayton › Life Care Center of Rhea County
10055 Rhea County Highway Dayton, TN 37321 · Rhea County
All 2 nursing homes in Dayton, TN (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 445494 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Life Care Center of Rhea County 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 Life Care Center of Rhea County as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall, above the Tennessee average of 3.1.
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 3.50 hours per resident per day at Life Care Center of Rhea County, below the Tennessee median of 3.66 (US median: 3.72). About 0.42 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.13 hours, 11% below its all-week average. 29.3% of nursing staff left within a year (Tennessee median 48.7%). That is lower than most homes in Tennessee, a sign of a steadier team.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Life Care Center of Rhea County: Medicare and Medicaid
Life Care Center of Rhea County 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 Tennessee'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 April 8, 2026 and found 5 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 16 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 16 citations at Life Care Center of Rhea County across 3 inspection dates. None were at the actual-harm or immediate-jeopardy levels; 16 were "potential for more than minimal harm" (D–F) and 0 were minimal (A–C). The most common areas cited were nutrition and dietary (3) and resident assessment and care planning (3). 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, April 8, 2026). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
April 8, 2026 · 5 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
DProvide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
DEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
September 21, 2022 · 5 citations
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 a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DEnsure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
DCoordinate assessments with the pre-admission screening and resident review program; and referring for services as needed.
DProvide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
August 28, 2019 · 6 citations
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DProtect each resident from all types of abuse such as physical, mental, sexual abuse, physical punishment, and neglect by anybody.
DTimely report suspected abuse, neglect, or theft and report the results of the investigation to proper authorities.
DDevelop the complete care plan within 7 days of the comprehensive assessment; and prepared, reviewed, and revised by a team of health professionals.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Questions to ask on a tour of Life Care Center of Rhea County
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on August 28, 2019. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- 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 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| August 2026 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Life Care Center of Rhea County
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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0.7 mi
Rhea Medical Center DaytonEmergency room ★★☆☆☆ Medicare overall 2 of 5Median ER visit 2h 50m for patients treated and sent home
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13.4 mi
Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital PikevilleEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 36m for patients treated and sent home
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21.8 mi
Athens Regional Medical Center AthensEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 2h 28m 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 Life Care Center of Rhea County › All nursing homes in Dayton ›
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Other Life Care Centers of America nursing homes in Tennessee
- Life Care Center of Ooltewah · Ooltewah · 5 stars
- Life Care Center of Hickory Woods · Antioch · 5 stars
- Life Care Center of Sparta · Sparta · 5 stars
- Lynchburg Nursing Center · Lynchburg · 5 stars
- Life Care Center of Bruceton-Hollow Rock · Bruceton · 5 stars
- Life Care Center of Morristown · Morristown · 5 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 194 Life Care Centers of America 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.