Kirkwood By the River
Birmingham, Alabama
3605 Ratliff Rd, Birmingham, 35210
Kirkwood By the River Quality & Safety Report
Average
CMS Official Overall: 3★ / 5
CMS data as of March 2026
This score is calculated from three federally reported CMS metrics: Health Inspections (weighted 50%), Staffing levels (25%), and Quality Measures (25%). Facilities with serious safety findings receive score deductions. For centers with 5+ Google reviews, resident feedback contributes 15% of the final score. Learn more →
Safety & Inspections
- Health deficiencies
- National median: 7
CMS data as of March 1, 2026
Staffing breakdown
Average hours of nursing care each resident receives per day, by staff role. Higher numbers generally indicate more attentive care.
- Total nurse staffing
- National median: 4.12 hrs
- Registered nurse (RN) 0.59 hrs
- Licensed practical nurse (LPN) 1.36 hrs
- Certified nursing aide (CNA) 2.73 hrs
- Physical therapy 0.02 hrs
Quality rating trend
Overall rating declined from 5 to 3 stars over 18 data points.
- Overall
- Health inspection
- Staffing
- Quality measures
Facility profile
- Type
- Skilled Nursing Facility · Retirement community
- Capacity
- 61 certified beds · ~52 avg residents/day (85% occupancy)
- Ownership
- Non profit - Corporation
- Payment accepted
- Medicare (Medicare)
About
Kirkwood By the River is a non-profit, 61-bed skilled nursing facility located in Birmingham, Alabama. While it maintains four-star ratings in both staffing and health inspections, its overall CMS rating is three stars due to a one-star rating in quality measures. The facility operates as a corporate non-profit entity providing long-term care and rehabilitative services.
Location
3605 Ratliff Rd, Birmingham, 35210, Birmingham, AL
Recent reviews
- Shirley LaFon ★★★★★ February 13, 2026
Kirkwood by the River (KBTR) skilled nursing staff took extraordinary care of our Mother through her last days and we cannot thank you enough. She passed peacefully with dignity and grace. We had experiences with other assisted living and skilled nursing facilities and wholeheartedly endorse KBRR as second to none in this industry. God truly works through the hands and hearts of the KBTR staff. Thank You!
- Stephanie ★★★★★ October 31, 2025
It's a beautiful place, the staff is friendly
- R L ★☆☆☆☆ October 28, 2025
Don’t be fooled by the interior it’s all a sham. The care received in this place was shameful. We couldn’t wait to get our love one out of the memory care unit there. Please take a look at it and their Skilled nursing unit before you decided to put your love one in any of their levels. It will tell you what you need to know. Patients sleeping in wheelchairs in the hallways propped up against the walls with no interaction. Alarms going off and no one responding. The overwhelming smell of urine and infection. Staff ignores the residents. PLEASE LOOK ELSEWHERE!
- val Edge ★★★★★ September 19, 2025
Beautiful facility and wonderful staff!
- Ward Lachman ★★★★☆ September 11, 2025
Nice place. Parking a little confusing.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the overall CMS rating for Kirkwood By the River?
- Kirkwood By the River has an overall CMS rating of 3 out of 5 stars.
- How did Kirkwood By the River score on health inspections?
- Kirkwood By the River received a health inspection rating of 4 out of 5 stars from CMS.
- What is the staffing rating for Kirkwood By the River?
- Kirkwood By the River has a staffing rating of 4 out of 5 stars, based on nurse-to-resident ratios.
- How many beds does Kirkwood By the River have?
- Kirkwood By the River has 61 certified beds.
- Does Kirkwood By the River accept Medicare or Medicaid?
- Yes, Kirkwood By the River accepts Medicare.
- Where is Kirkwood By the River located?
- Kirkwood By the River is located at 3605 Ratliff Rd, Birmingham, 35210, Birmingham, Alabama.
- How can I contact Kirkwood By the River?
- You can reach Kirkwood By the River by phone at +1 205-956-2184.
Nearby facilities
- East Glen 4.1 mi
53 Medical Park Dr E, Birmingham, 35235
- Eastview Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center 5.3 mi
7755 Fourth Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35206
- Fair Haven 5.6 mi
1424 Montclair Rd, Birmingham, 35210
- Birmingham Nursing And Rehabilitation Center East 6.7 mi
733 Mary Vann Lane, Birmingham, AL, 35215
- Greenbriar At The Altamont Skilled Nursing Facilit 8.9 mi
2831 Highland Avenue South, Birmingham, AL, 35205
About this data
How to read this page
Star ratings vs. Care Quality Score: The Google star rating reflects visitor and family opinions collected from public reviews. The Care Quality Score is an independent metric derived entirely from federal inspection data — the two measure different things, and comparing them side-by-side gives a fuller picture.
Where this data comes from
All clinical data on this page originates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the federal agency that certifies and inspects every Medicare- and Medicaid-participating nursing home in the United States. Reviews are imported verbatim from public Google business listings.
What to do next
Data is a starting point, not a final answer. We encourage families to visit facilities in person, observe daily routines, and speak with staff and residents. See our guide: Questions to Ask When Visiting →
Listing data sourced from CMS provider records and public Google business data. ACD-HUB independently aggregates and never accepts paid placement.