Nursing home safety in Alabama
Alabama has 149 Medicare-certified nursing homes. They average 2.73 out of 5 CMS stars (0.25 worse than the national average), carry 11.5 health-inspection citations each, and 7 are flagged in the records analyzed by CMS for abuse. Federal penalties total $2,452,262. Every flagged and top-rated home is named below.
Source: CMS Care Compare records in Haven’s directory, which may lag CMS updates. Free to cite with attribution to Haven.
Staffing in Alabama averages 3.81 nurse hours per resident per day (0.08 worse than the national average). Citations average 11.5 per home (18.9 better than the national average)— though citation counts reflect how aggressively a state's survey agency inspects, so they compare poorly across state lines.
Alabama homes CMS currently flags for abuse
CMS applies this icon when a facility was cited for abuse-related deficiencies on a recent inspection. It is a serious signal, not a verdict — read the specific citations, which are on each facility's page, and ask the administrator directly.
- Cordova Health and Rehabilitation, LLC — Cordova · 1★
- Birmingham Nursing and Rehabilitation Ctr LLC — Birmingham · 1★
- Magnolia Ridge — Gardendale · 1★
- Walker Rehabilitation Center, INC — Carbon Hill · 1★
- The Health Center at Research Park — Huntsville · 1★
- Merry Wood Lodge — Elmore · 1★
- NHC Healthcare, Anniston — Anniston · 2★
Special Focus Facilities in Alabama
CMS's own list of homes with a persistent record of poor care. They are inspected about twice as often as other facilities and can be terminated from Medicare and Medicaid if they do not improve.
- Magnolia Ridge — Gardendale · SFF Candidate
- Walker Rehabilitation Center, INC — Carbon Hill · SFF Candidate
- Knollwood Healthcare — Mobile · SFF
- Merry Wood Lodge — Elmore · SFF Candidate
- Falkville Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center — Falkville · SFF Candidate
Highest-rated nursing homes in Alabama
Four and five-star homes with no abuse flag and no Special Focus status, ordered by Haven's Scout Score (federal ratings, staffing, and inspection history). Rankings cannot be purchased.
| Community | City | CMS stars | Nurse hrs/day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piedmont Health Care Center | Piedmont | 5 | 4.92187 |
| Aliceville Manor Nursing Home | Aliceville | 5 | 3.88289 |
| Lauderdale Christian Nursing Home | Killen | 5 | 4.54428 |
| Willowbrooke Ct Skilled Care Ctr at Magnolia Trace | Huntsville | 5 | 4.05144 |
| Crowne Health Care of Citronelle | Citronelle | 5 | 4.5516 |
| Palm Gardens Health and Rehabilitation, LLC | Mobile | 5 | 3.84454 |
| Arbor Woods Health and Rehab | Reform | 5 | 5.07429 |
| Keller Landing | Tuscumbia | 5 | 3.27302 |
| Athens Health and Rehabilitation LLC | Athens | 5 | 3.86111 |
| Little Sisters of the Poor Sacred Heart Residence | Mobile | 5 | 4.39124 |
Largest federal penalties in Alabama
Civil monetary penalties follow serious deficiencies. A large fine history is a question to raise, not an automatic disqualification — some homes correct course, and the citations tell you which.
- Magnolia Ridge · Gardendale$392,125
- Knollwood Healthcare · Mobile$318,070
- Windsor House · Huntsville$266,231
- Walker Rehabilitation Center, INC · Carbon Hill$235,127
- Northside Health Care · Gadsden$221,520
- Merry Wood Lodge · Elmore$182,968
- Falkville Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center · Falkville$146,615
- Diversicare of Oxford · Oxford$111,900
- Cordova Health and Rehabilitation, LLC · Cordova$76,242
- The Health Center at Research Park · Huntsville$69,011
Browse Alabama by area
Alabama nursing homes: common questions
How many nursing homes in Alabama have been flagged for abuse?
7 of 149 CMS-certified nursing homes in Alabama (4.7%) carry the federal abuse icon in the records analyzed, which CMS applies when a facility has been cited for abuse-related deficiencies on a recent inspection. The national rate is 9.9%. Every flagged home is named on this page.
What is the average nursing home rating in Alabama?
Alabama nursing homes average 2.73 out of 5 on the CMS overall star rating, across 148 rated facilities. The national average is 2.98. Staffing averages 3.81 total nurse hours per resident per day versus 3.89 nationally.
Which nursing homes in Alabama are on the Special Focus list?
5 Alabama facilities are designated a Special Focus Facility or candidate — CMS's list of homes with a persistent record of poor care, which face roughly double the normal inspection frequency and possible termination from Medicare and Medicaid. They are listed by name on this page.
How much have Alabama nursing homes been fined?
Federal civil monetary penalties against Alabama nursing homes total $2,452,262 in the current CMS release. Fines follow serious deficiencies, so a large penalty history is worth asking a facility about directly — they are required to discuss their inspection record with you.
Worried about a specific home in Alabama?
Every facility page shows that home's own inspection record — what inspectors found, how severe, and when — alongside staffing and pricing. If you need help sorting real options fast, a Haven advisor is free to your family.