High Country Times

Smoky Ridge Health and Rehabilitation boasted an overall rating of four in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). That's higher than the average of 2.6 recorded for nursing homes in North Carolina.

The nursing center had a total of 140 beds available, 36 more than the average in North Carolina as of the fourth quarter of 2023. They aided an average of 86.4 residents during that period.

As of the fourth quarter of 2023, Smoky Ridge Health and Rehabilitation achieved a zero-incident record for fines and penalties.

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.”

Rank	Nursing Home	Overall Rating
1	Smoky Ridge Health and Rehabilitation	4