Diversicare of Oak Ridge/Briarcliff Health Care Ctr

Pros

• Diversicare of Oak Ridge is described as a wonderful facility with top-notch physical and occupational therapy and a kind, dedicated staff who treat patients with loving care.
• The rehab department is excellent and helps residents get back home.
• The staff are caring, competent, and truly attentive to residents' needs.
• The admissions team is knowledgeable and helps ease families' anxiety about going to a nursing facility.
• The facility is very clean and well kept, with a home-like atmosphere.
• The CNAs, LPNs, therapy staff, doctors, activity director, and administration are praised for being friendly and going above and beyond.
• The receptionist is welcoming and quick to address questions and needs.
• The therapy team is knowledgeable, friendly, and dedicated, helping residents regain strength.
• Overall, Diversicare is described as providing exceptional, compassionate care that makes families feel comfortable.

Cons

• The facility delays call-button responses for hours.
• The food is served cold and without condiments or choices.
• The staff is minimal and often unresponsive.
• The nursing staff is arrogant, disrespectful, and condescending.
• Residents are neglected, with missed medications and delayed vitals checks.
• Families report inconsistent or untruthful information from management.
• There are reports of patients deteriorating or dying due to neglect.
• The facility is described as dirty, with bad odors and poor cleanliness.
• The administration should be shut down due to safety concerns.
• Overall, the care is so poor that it is not recommended for a loved one.

Review

Diversicare of Oak Ridge/Briarcliff Health Care Center is clearest about its value proposition: it excels for seniors who need skilled rehab and value a strong therapy program delivered by a compassionate, engaged therapy and nursing staff. The facility often earns praise for its physical therapy and occupational therapy teams, with multiple residents and families reporting meaningful recoveries and a sense that staff care goes beyond routine tasks. The environment can feel homey and supportive when the rehab narrative is positive, and several families highlight the welcoming demeanor of therapists, CNAs, and the admissions team. This community is not a universal fit, but for those pursuing functional recovery and a warm, engaged rehab culture, it can be a solid option.

Those evaluating Diversicare should explicitly consider alternatives if reliability and predictability of daily care are paramount. A sizable share of reviews raise red flags about understaffing, variable call-button response times, and inconsistent med and care oversight. Several families describe frequent staff turnover and communication gaps that complicate discharge planning, wound care, and routine medical updates. For anyone prioritizing consistently prompt attention to needs, transparent medical management, and meals that meet everyday expectations, it is prudent to compare other local options with stronger staffing stability and more stable culinary services.

On the upside, the core therapy strengths cannot be overstated. The rehab department is repeatedly described as knowledgeable, energetic, and patient-focused, with therapists who truly push patients to regain function. When therapy is the main pathway to return home after a hospital stay, Diversicare often delivers tangible progress, with multiple accounts of residents returning to daily activities and even leaving with a higher level of independence. The admissions team and certain frontline staff are frequently praised for warmth, accessibility, and a willingness to coordinate with families to smooth transitions. Cleanliness and a homey feel in common spaces further contribute to a sense of well-being during a rehab stint.

Yet, the cons carry significant weight, especially for long-term stays or for families seeking consistent, day-to-day reliability. Reports of slow call-button responses and periods of staff unaffordably stretched thin recur across many anecdotes. Food quality is another frequent sticking point, with several reviews calling meals unappealing or served cold and lacking menu flexibility. Some residents and families recount episodes of neglect or insufficient monitoring, with a spectrum from isolated incidents to grave concerns about medical oversight and timely treatment. The facility's age and layout - smaller rooms, older furnishings, and occasional maintenance frictions - also factor into the overall experience, particularly for long-term residents.

In practical terms, the strongest pros - elite rehab therapy, a seemingly devoted therapy and CNAs team, a feeling of personal attention during recovery, and a generally clean, welcoming atmosphere - do offset some risk, but not uniformly or universally. For a short-term rehab stay, especially when therapy momentum is the primary goal and family oversight can be exercised, the positives can outweigh the negatives. For ongoing skilled nursing, or for families with high sensitivity to staffing consistency and day-to-day procedural reliability, the drawbacks may tip the balance away from choosing this center. The decision hinges on what matters most: rapid, effective rehabilitation and personal warmth, or guaranteed consistency in care delivery and routine daily operations.

For families moving forward, action steps sharpen the decision. If Diversicare is on the shortlist, insist on meeting the therapy team and requesting current staffing levels to understand how call-button coverage translates on typical shifts. Review a sample discharge plan and ask for concrete timelines and points of contact to avoid communication gaps. Probe the kitchen's current menu options and meal timing to gauge whether dietary expectations can be met. Consider a targeted short-term rehab stay first to assess whether therapy gains align with daily care quality. And alongside Diversicare, actively compare other Oak Ridge-area options that offer higher staffing ratios, more consistent med administration, and proven track records with both rehab and long-term care - so the choice rests on a balanced, evidence-based view of care quality, safety, and peace of mind for a loved one.

This part of Oak Ridge, Tennessee offers a convenient location with easy access to a variety of essential services. With several physicians' offices, pharmacies, and a sleep disorder center within a short distance, residents can easily access medical care. Additionally, there are plenty of dining options including familiar chains like McDonald's and Applebee's as well as local favorites like Gallo Loco and Kume. Places of worship are nearby for those seeking spiritual community, while cafes like Panera Bread and Starbucks provide opportunities for socializing. Milt Dickens Park offers green space for outdoor recreation, while nearby hospitals such as Turkey Creek Medical Center provide peace of mind in case of emergencies. Overall, this area provides a balance of convenience and amenities for seniors looking to make Oak Ridge their home.

Physicians

• Dr. Jeff Grabenstein, MD, FAAFP (0.2 miles)
• Dana Rust, DDS (0.8 miles)
• Parkway Sleep Disorder Center (0.8 miles)
• Tennessee Orthopaedic Clinics (0.8 miles)
• Oak Ridge Pediatric Clinic (1 miles)
• Alexander Medical Group (1 miles)
• Eye Care Optical (1.5 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.7 miles)
• Gallo Loco (0.8 miles)
• Applebee's (1.3 miles)
• Kume (1.3 miles)
• Aubrey's (1.5 miles)
• McDonald's (1.6 miles)
• El Cantarito Mexican Restaurant (1.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Munsey Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Mac's Pharmacy (5.4 miles)
• Mac's LTC Solutions (5.4 miles)
• Apple Discount Drugs (6.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (7.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• New York Avenue Church of Christ (1.3 miles)
• Glenwood Baptist Church (1.7 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (4.8 miles)
• Faith Promise Church (5.2 miles)
• Grace Baptist Church (8.8 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (9.4 miles)
• St John Neumann Catholic Church (9.4 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Nick & J's Cafe (7.5 miles)
• Starbucks (9.2 miles)
• Starbucks (9.2 miles)
• Hey Bear Cafe (9.7 miles)
• Honeybee Coffee (10 miles)

Parks

• Milt Dickens Park (1.9 miles)
• PetSafe Park (9 miles)
• Campbell Station Park (9.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Clinton Dialysis Clinic (8.3 miles)
• Turkey Creek Medical Center, Labor And Delivery (9.6 miles)
• Covenant Health (10.1 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Pinnacle ScreenX, 4DX, IMAX & RPX (9.2 miles)