During the first quarter of 2026, The Healthcare Center at Buck Creek led Shelby County’s nursing homes in size, data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) shows.
The facility offered 198 beds, surpassing the county average by 67 beds in the first quarter of 2026. On average, 186.1 residents were housed at the center throughout the period.
The Healthcare Center at Buck Creek earned a 3 out of 5 overall rating from CMS, which aligns with the 3 average rating reported for Alabama’s nursing homes.
In that quarter, Shelby Ridge Nursing Home ranked as the second largest in Shelby County with 131 beds available. Columbiana Health and Rehabilitation, LLC placed third, with 63 beds.
By the end of the first quarter of 2026, The Healthcare Center at Buck Creek had incurred $16,801 in two fines and was subject to three penalties.
Shelby County, Alabama, was home to three for-profit nursing homes in total.
Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicate that the country’s older population is increasing, while numbers for younger age groups are declining. Between 2020 and 2024, Americans 65 and older grew by 13%, and those under 18 fell by 1.7%. The older adult demographic has expanded significantly over the last century, rising from 4.9 million in 1920 to more than 61 million by 2024.
A 2021 study estimates that close to half of this older group—about 28 million people—could eventually require long-term services and support. The same report also forecasts that more than one-third may 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 organization. “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 | The Healthcare Center at Buck Creek | 3 |
| 2 | Shelby Ridge Nursing Home | 2 |
| 3 | Columbiana Health and Rehabilitation, LLC | 4 |
Information in this article was provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The underlying data is available here.
