Aspire Physical Recovery Center at Cahaba River
3070 Healthy Way, Vestavia, AL 35243 · Jefferson County · 120 certified beds · avg 114 residents/day · certified since Sep 29, 2016
Part of chain: NHS MANAGEMENT (43 facilities, chain avg rating 2.9★)
What health inspectors found (on-site government inspections — the most independent evidence available)
Health inspection rating: ★☆☆☆☆1/5 · CMS overall rating: 1/5
⚠ The most recent standard health inspection was more than 2 years ago — conditions may have changed.
The health inspection star above is graded on a curve within each state — a set share of each state's facilities gets each star level — so a facility can have few citations and still rate 2–3 stars if others in its state did even better. The overall rating combines that inspection score with staffing and self-reported quality measures.
Most serious findings (actual harm or immediate jeopardy)
▲ Immediate jeopardy, one-off · Jan 12, 2024 · F-0578 · triggered by a complaint
The facility did not honor residents' rights to request, refuse, or stop treatment, to decline participation in medical research, or to make an advance directive — a written statement of their wishes for future medical care.
Why it matters: Ignoring these rights means residents may receive treatments they refused, or miss having their end-of-life wishes respected.
Severity (J): Inspectors found a situation that put a resident's life or safety in immediate danger, affecting one or a few residents. The facility must fix it immediately — these citations often come with large fines.
Corrected: Feb 10, 2023 (Past Non-Compliance)
All citations in the current public record (17)
CMS publishes roughly the last three inspection cycles plus recent complaint investigations. Older surveys drop out of the record as new ones are completed.
| Date | Severity | What the facility was cited for |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 12, 2024 | ▲ J · Immediate jeopardy, one-off | The facility did not honor residents' rights to request, refuse, or stop treatment, to decline participation in medical research, or to make an advance directive — a written statement of their wishes for future medical care. · from a complaint |
| Jan 12, 2024 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not serve food and drinks that were appetizing, attractive, and at a safe and pleasant temperature. · from a complaint |
| Jan 12, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not treat residents with dignity and respect, or did not honor their rights to make their own decisions and communicate freely. This is one of the most fundamental resident rights. · from a complaint |
| Jan 12, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not let a resident help develop and carry out their own plan of care — the written roadmap of the services and support they'll receive, built around their personal goals and preferences. · from a complaint |
| Jan 12, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not allow residents to take their own medications when a clinical review showed they could do so safely. Residents have this right if their care team determines it's appropriate. · from a complaint |
| Jan 12, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not develop or follow a complete care plan for each resident — the written roadmap covering all of a resident's needs, with measurable goals and timelines. · from a complaint |
| Jan 12, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide safe and appropriate respiratory care — such as oxygen, breathing treatments, or care for residents on breathing equipment — for residents who needed it. · from a complaint |
| Jan 12, 2024 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide pharmacy services that meet each resident's needs, or did not employ or contract with a licensed pharmacist. · from a complaint |
| Sep 19, 2019 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards. |
| Sep 19, 2019 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not dispose of garbage and refuse properly. |
| Sep 19, 2019 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility's menus did not meet residents' nutritional needs, or were not prepared in advance, followed as written, kept up to date, or reviewed by a dietician. |
| Sep 19, 2019 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility used feeding tubes without a valid medical reason or the resident's agreement, or did not provide proper care to residents who have feeding tubes. |
| Sep 19, 2019 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not provide food that accounts for each resident's allergies, intolerances, and personal preferences, or did not offer appealing alternatives. |
| Sep 19, 2019 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide. |
| Aug 16, 2018 | F · Potential for harm, facility-wide | The facility did not get its food from approved, safe sources, or did not store, prepare, and serve food according to professional food safety standards. |
| Aug 16, 2018 | E · Potential for harm, repeated | The facility did not have or follow an effective program to prevent and control infections — such as proper hand washing, cleaning, and isolation practices. This is the most commonly cited deficiency nationwide. |
| Aug 16, 2018 | D · Potential for harm, one-off | The facility did not give residents proper notice about what Medicare or Medicaid covers, or about charges the resident might owe for services that aren't covered. |
Inspection trend by year
Citations from standard inspections increased between the last two inspection cycles (6 → 8).
| Year | Citations | Serious (G–L) | Worst severity that year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 0 | F |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | F |
| 2024 | 8 | 1 | J ▲ |
Counts reflect the current CMS public record (~3 inspection cycles plus complaint investigations); years with no surveys show no row. Inspection frequency varies, so compare severity as well as counts.
Fines and enforcement (last 3 years)
1 fine totaling $16,801.
| Date | Type | Amount / length |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 12, 2024 | Fine | $16,801 |
Nurse staffing (from payroll records, adjusted for how much care residents need)
| Measure | This facility | Alabama avg | U.S. avg | Where it stands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total nurse staffing (hours per resident per day) | 4.84 | 4.43 | 3.95 | top 25% in Alabama; top 16% in the U.S. |
| Registered Nurse hours | 0.92 | 0.74 | 0.69 | top 19% in Alabama; top 19% in the U.S. |
| Weekend total nurse staffing | 4.04 | 3.73 | 3.50 | top 23% in Alabama; top 22% in the U.S. |
| Weekend RN hours (not acuity-adjusted) | 0.57 | 0.36 | 0.48 | top 14% in Alabama; top 26% in the U.S. |
| Total nursing staff turnover (%) | 62.4 | 46.9 | 45.8 | bottom 11% in Alabama; bottom 13% in the U.S. |
| RN turnover (%) | 51.6 | 39.5 | 42.9 | bottom 25% in Alabama; bottom 32% in the U.S. |
Hours are per resident per day, case-mix adjusted by CMS so facilities caring for sicker residents can be compared fairly (same basis as the CMS staffing star). "Top X%" means better than most facilities: more staffing hours, or lower turnover. Raw (unadjusted) reported hours: total 4.86, RN 0.93, weekend 4.06. Staffing rating: 4/5.
Self-reported quality measures
Note: these ratings are based on data the facility reports about itself to CMS. They are not independently verified by inspectors, and can look better than inspection findings. Give more weight to the inspection results above.
Quality measures rating: 3/5 · long-stay residents: 4/5 · short-stay residents: 3/5
Who owns this facility
For profit - Limited Liability company
| Owner / manager | Type | Role | Stake | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estes, James | Individual | 5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest | 51% | 09/15/2011 |
| James N Estes Jr Family Dynasty Tr No 2 | Organization | 5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest | 18% | 12/27/2012 |
| James Norman Estes Jr Tr | Organization | 5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest | 6% | 06/30/2013 |
| Jennifer E Agee Family Dynasty Tr No 2 | Organization | 5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest | 18% | 12/27/2012 |
| Jennifer Lee Estes Tr 031093 | Organization | 5% or Greater Indirect Ownership Interest | 6% | 06/30/2013 |
| Northport Holding Operations, LLC | Organization | 5% or Greater Direct Ownership Interest | 100% | 09/15/2011 |
| Cahaba River Health Realty, LLC | Organization | 5% or Greater Security Interest | NOT APPLICABLE | 08/01/2016 |
| Estes, James | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 09/15/2011 |
| Holmes, Letchernique | Individual | Corporate Director | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/03/2022 |
| Holmes, Letchernique | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/03/2022 |
| Long, Phillip | Individual | Corporate Officer | NOT APPLICABLE | 10/01/2019 |
| Patterson, Derek | Individual | Corporate Director | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/03/2022 |
| Patterson, Derek | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 01/03/2022 |
| Rasco, Lynn | Individual | Corporate Director | NOT APPLICABLE | 07/01/2022 |
| Rasco, Lynn | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 07/01/2022 |
| Regions Bank | Organization | 5% or Greater Mortgage Interest | NOT APPLICABLE | 09/11/2015 |
| Regions Bank | Organization | 5% or Greater Security Interest | NOT APPLICABLE | 09/11/2015 |
| Wheeler, John | Individual | W-2 Managing Employee | NOT APPLICABLE | 10/14/2022 |
| Wheeler, John | Individual | Operational/Managerial Control | NOT APPLICABLE | 10/14/2022 |
Questions to ask on your visit
Generated from this facility's actual citation record — bring them to a tour and ask the administrator directly.
- "How do you record and honor each resident's treatment wishes and advance directives, and how do staff know about them?"
- "Could I join residents for a meal to see the food quality and temperature for myself?"
- "Can you give me examples of how your staff protect residents' dignity in everyday care, like bathing and dressing?"
- "How are residents and families included in care plan meetings, and how often do those meetings happen?"
- "If my family member is able to manage their own medications, would you allow it, and how is that decided?"
- "Can you show me an example care plan, and how are families included when it's created and updated?"
- "How many residents here use oxygen or breathing equipment, and who checks that equipment each shift?"
- "How does your pharmacist review residents' medications, and how quickly can you fill new or urgent prescriptions?"
- "What is your current ratio of nursing staff to residents on day, evening, and weekend shifts?"
- "Can I see the results and plan of correction from your most recent state inspection?"
Nearby facilities (within 20 miles)
| Facility | Distance | City | Overall | Inspection | Flags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elite Nursing and Rehabilitation Care Center | 3.1 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Brookdale University Park SNF (al) | 4.0 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| Aspire Physical Recovery Center at Hoover, LLC | 4.4 mi | Hoover, AL | ★☆☆☆☆ | 1/5 | |
| South Haven Health and Rehabilitation, LLC | 4.5 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★★★☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| Diversicare of Riverchase | 4.7 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★★★☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| Greenbriar at the Altamont Skilled Nursing Facilit | 5.9 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★★★☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| South Health and Rehabilitation, LLC | 6.0 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Galleria Woods Skilled Nursing Facility | 6.3 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Fair Haven | 6.5 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★★★☆☆ | 3/5 | |
| St Martin's in the Pines | 6.8 mi | Irondale, AL | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 | |
| Arlington Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center | 8.0 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★★★★☆ | 4/5 | |
| Civic Center Health and Rehabilitation, LLC | 8.1 mi | Birmingham, AL | ★★☆☆☆ | 2/5 |
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Facility data as of CMS processing date 2026-08-01. CCN 015468.