Diversicare of Oak Ridge/Briarcliff Health Care Ctr

Pros

• The staff are kind, understanding, and attentive to residents.
• The facility is clean, welcoming, and feels like a home away from home.
• The therapy team is knowledgeable, caring, and dedicated to helping patients recover.
• The administrative and admissions staff are supportive and make families feel at ease.
• Activities are engaging and well-organized, with residents enjoying bingo and outings.
• Residents are treated with respect and dignity, creating a comforting, family-like atmosphere.
• Families report positive transitions and care, with staff going above and beyond.

Cons

• The facility is disgusting and dirty, with a strong odor reported by visitors.
• It smelled like human waste, which made people gag as they entered.
• The staff were arrogant, disrespectful, and lacking compassion toward residents.
• Residents reportedly did not receive basic care, such as timely showers or medications.
• Call bells often went unanswered for hours, indicating slow or absent responses.
• The food was served cold and unappetizing, with few or no condiment choices.
• Understaffing and high turnover were repeatedly cited as causes of neglect and rushed care.
• Residents were left in their own excrement for extended periods.
• There were claims of mismanagement and unsafe conditions, including medication errors and delays in treatment.
• Some reviewers said the place should be shut down due to safety concerns and poor care, with allegations of harm or death resulting from neglect.

Review

Diversicare of Oak Ridge/Briarcliff Health Care Center is best suited for families seeking a rehab-forward skilled-nursing option with a distinctly home-like feel, where a strong therapy program and hands-on, friendly staff can drive meaningful recovery and smoother transitions back home. The community tends to shine for short- to mid-term residents who prize practical progress in physical and occupational therapy and who value a close-knit, attentive staff culture. Those whose primary need is steady, highly regulated medical oversight, consistently rapid response times to every call light, or premium dining and amenities may want to consider alternatives. Prospective families should come with clear expectations about staffing patterns and daily routines, and be prepared to engage actively in discharge planning and care coordination.

On the upside, the rehab engine here is frequently described as excellent. Several families point to top-tier physical and occupational therapy as the standout feature, with therapists who push for real gains and keep families informed about progress. The unit also earns consistent praise for its warm, personable staff across CNAs, LPNs, and therapy aides, many of whom are cited as going above and beyond in challenging days. Cleanliness and a homey atmosphere further reinforce the sense that Diversicare is a place where residents are treated like people who matter. The discharge team, particularly through contacts like the discharge specialist and the admissions liaison, has been repeatedly highlighted for removing the friction from transitions, coordinating logistics, and explaining next steps in a reassuring, practical way. Overall, when the rehabilitation trajectory is the priority, Diversicare can deliver tangible gains and a smoother path back to daily life.

The flip side presents a more uneven reality. Across reviews, staffing consistency appears to be the hinge point: many families report moments of prompt, compassionate care, while others describe delayed call-button responses, gaps in routine nursing oversight, and even pockets of neglect or miscommunication. Some accounts mention meals served cold or with limited choices, and there are persistent reminders that under-staffing can color every shift, from housekeeping to clinical care. A few families describe sharp changes in management and turnover that ripple through daily operations, complicating communication and the continuity of care. Occasional but grave allegations regarding patient neglect and medical mismanagement surface in the cheaper end of the spectrum, though other families insist those experiences are not representative of the overall culture. The repeated theme is a facility with real strengths in therapy and warmth, but variable reliability in medical and daily operations.

These pros can meaningfully offset the cons for the right candidate. For a resident who enters with a clear rehab goal and a family that remains actively involved, the combination of skilled therapy, dedicated caregivers, and a collaborative discharge process can translate into substantial functional improvements and a safer, faster return home. A smaller, more intimate setting often translates into a more responsive feel when staff are present, and several long-term or frequently-present families note that the therapy team and nurses can become genuinely trusted partners in recovery. However, when staffing is thin or leadership gaps widen, the same strengths are at risk of being undercut by slower med administration, inconsistent routines, or less-than-stellar meal quality. In those cases, the advantages fade quickly, underscoring the need for prospective residents to probe staffing levels, shift coverage, and the transparency of communication during tours and pre-admission conversations.

For families moving forward, there are concrete steps to separate the good fits from the less reliable ones. First, insist on observing a therapy session and asking to meet the primary nursing team assigned to the resident, preferably across a few shifts, to gauge consistency. Second, request a candid briefing on med management: who orders, who transcribes, and how quickly medications are dispensed when pain or other needs arise. Third, press for a clear, written plan for discharge, including timelines, home-health needs, and transportation logistics. Fourth, seek a transparent explanation of staffing schedules, call-light response targets, and daily meal variations to ensure expectations align with reality. And finally, tour during peak activity times to witness how staff balance rehab, medical needs, and daily living tasks, because the reality often depends on the specific shift and the team on duty.

In the end, Diversicare Oak Ridge/Briarcliff Health Care Center emerges as a pragmatic choice for those prioritizing rehabilitation success, caregiver warmth, and a homelike environment, with a strong likelihood of excellent outcomes when the care team is well-staffed and well-led. For anyone focused on seamless, consistently prompt medical responsiveness, or who expects uniformly outstanding dining and amenities, alternatives with steadier staff coverage and stronger clinical oversight may offer greater peace of mind. The decision should hinge on the resident’s primary goal (rehab vs. long-term stability), the family’s capacity to stay engaged with care planning, and the facility’s ability to demonstrate reliable staffing and communication on the day of a visit. When these elements align, Diversicare can be a place where recovery feels tangible and care feels personal; when they do not, the experience can drift into inconsistency despite some outstanding individual caregivers and therapists.

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)