Hamblen County Nursing Homes: Who’s behind The Heritage Center?

As of the fourth quarter of 2023, The Heritage Center was owned by Forrest Preston, according to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The nursing home, located in Hamblen County, has been owned by Forrest Preston since Jan. 6, 1976.

The Heritage Center is registered as a for-profit facility.

During that period, the nursing home had an overall rating of three from the CMS, which is higher than the average of 2.6 recorded for nursing homes in Tennessee. CMS ratings evaluate nursing homes based on critical aspects such as health inspection outcomes, staffing levels, and the quality of care provided to residents.

According to the data, The Heritage Center aided an average of 115.3 residents per day during the fourth quarter of 2023, with a total of 197 beds available. Currently, the nursing home is not located within a hospital.

As of the fourth quarter of 2023, The Heritage Center achieved a zero-incident record for fines and penalties.

In total, there were two for-profit nursing homes in Hamblen County, Tennessee.

According to US Census data, in 2020, nearly 1 in 6 Americans were aged 65 years or older. Since 1920, the older population skyrocketed from 4.9 million to 55.8 million, reflecting a growth rate of roughly 1,000%, five times higher than the average growth for the overall U.S. population.

A 2021 study suggests that nearly half of this age group, roughly 28 million individuals, may require long-term services and support. Additionally, the study projects that over a third of them may eventually need 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 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.”