High Shoals Health and Rehabilitation was Oconee County’s largest nursing home in the first quarter of 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
The facility provided 100 beds, exceeding the county average by 30 during that period. On average, 85 residents were served at the location in Q1 2026.
The CMS awarded High Shoals Health and Rehabilitation an overall rating of 5 out of 5, significantly outpacing the statewide average of 2.7 for Georgia nursing homes.
Presbyterian Village – Athens was the county’s second largest nursing home that quarter, offering 40 available beds.
As of Q1 2026, High Shoals Health and Rehabilitation recorded no fines or penalties.
Oconee County, Georgia, had two non-profit nursing homes in total during this reporting period.
Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show that the nation’s older adult population is rising, while figures for younger groups are declining. The number of Americans 65 and older grew by 13% from 2020 to 2024, as the under-18 population dropped by 1.7%. Over the last century, the nation’s older adult population has surged from 4.9 million in 1920 to more than 61 million by 2024.
According to a 2021 study, nearly half of Americans in this age group—about 28 million people—could require long-term services and supports, and over a third are expected to need nursing home care eventually.
“Living a long life is something that many of us want and could get,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an insurance education group. “But when we live a long life, the chances of us needing long-term care increase exponentially. But when you need that type of care, there are limited options.”
| Rank | Nursing Home | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | High Shoals Health and Rehabilitation | 5 |
| 2 | Presbyterian Village – Athens | 2 |
Information in this article was obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The source data can be found here.
