During the first quarter of 2026, University Nursing & Rehab Center was identified as Clarke County’s second largest nursing home, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reported.
Facility statistics indicate 122 beds were available at the center, exceeding the Clarke County average by 10 as of the first quarter of 2026. The center averaged 98.6 residents cared for during the quarter.
The CMS gave University Nursing & Rehab Center an overall quality rating of 2 out of 5, which is lower than the Georgia nursing home average of 2.7.
The Oaks – Athens Skilled Nursing was the largest nursing home in Clarke County for the period, offering 148 beds. The third spot went to Pruitthealth – Athens Heritage, with 104 beds available.
University Nursing & Rehab Center recorded no incidents of fines or penalties as of the first quarter of 2026.
Altogether, there were four for-profit nursing facilities in Clarke County, Georgia.
U.S. Census Bureau estimates show the nation’s population of older adults continues to rise as younger age groups decrease. Americans age 65 and older increased by 13% between 2020 and 2024, while the under-18 population dropped by 1.7%. Over the last century, the nation’s older adult population has risen sharply, growing from 4.9 million in 1920 to more than 61 million by 2024.
A 2021 analysis estimates that roughly half of adults in this demographic, about 28 million people, will require some form of long-term services and support. It also projects that more than a third may ultimately move into nursing home care.
“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 education group focused on insurance. “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 | The Oaks – Athens Skilled Nursing | 1 |
| 2 | University Nursing & Rehab Center | 2 |
| 3 | Pruitthealth – Athens Heritage | 4 |
| 4 | Pruitthealth – Grandview | 4 |
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provided the information in this article. Original source data is available here.
