KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER
3605 RATLIFF ROAD, Birmingham, AL 35210
Based on 2026 CMS Data
Official Government Ratings
Health Inspections
Frequency & severity of deficiencies
Staffing Levels
Nurse hours per resident per day
Quality Measures
Clinical outcomes & care quality
Resident Council Active
Active councils indicate resident empowerment and facility transparency.
Vetting This Facility? Get Answers They Don't Volunteer
Free guide: the exact questions to ask KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER, how to pull the public records (ownership, inspections, penalties), and how to request the info that isn't online — like the medical director.
Check your inbox!
Your facility vetting guide is on its way.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Care Quality Indicators
Lower is better
Lower is better
Lower is better
Lower is better
How KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER Compares
KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER is a 61-bed nonprofit nursing facility in Birmingham, Alabama. It holds an overall CMS rating of 3 out of 5 stars, roughly in line with the Alabama average of 3.0 stars. Its strongest area is health inspections (4 stars), while staffing (1 star) is its weakest. Its rate of short-stay residents returning to the hospital (54.9%) is above the Alabama average of 24.7% — a measure worth asking the staff about. With 61 certified beds, it maintains moderate occupancy at roughly 89% occupied.
Among the 20 nursing facilities ElderVoice tracks in Birmingham, the local average is 2.4 stars.
By the numbers vs. Alabama average
- Long-stay antipsychotic medication use: 39.0% — worse than the Alabama average of 21.2% (84% higher).
- Falls with major injury: 6.2% — worse than the Alabama average of 3.3% (88% higher).
- High-risk pressure ulcers: 4.7% — better than the Alabama average of 5.4%.
- Short-stay rehospitalization: 54.9% — worse than the Alabama average of 24.7% (122% higher).
Comparisons use CMS Care Compare data (updated September 5, 2026) measured against Alabama averages across 224 facilities tracked by ElderVoice.
Questions to Ask KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER
Use these facility-specific questions when calling admissions, touring the building, or comparing KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER with other nursing homes in Birmingham.
How is KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER addressing its staffing levels rating?
CMS currently rates this category 1 out of 5 stars, so ask what specific improvements are underway and when the next survey update is expected.
What is KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER doing to reduce long-stay antipsychotic medication use?
Long-stay antipsychotic medication use is 39.0% here versus 21.2% across Alabama. Lower is generally better for this CMS measure.
What is KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER doing to reduce falls with major injury?
Falls with major injury is 6.2% here versus 3.3% across Alabama. Lower is generally better for this CMS measure.
How can a new family connect with existing councils at KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER?
Active resident or family councils can provide useful context about daily life, responsiveness, and recurring concerns.
What explains KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER's rating advantage in Birmingham?
Its 3-star overall rating is above the local average of 2.4 stars across 20 facilities. Ask which practices families can observe during a tour.
What would the first 30 days look like for a new resident at KIRKWOOD BY THE RIVER?
Ask who builds the care plan, how medication changes are communicated, how often families receive updates, and who to call after hours.
The Senior Community Around Birmingham
Birmingham sits in Jefferson County, where adults 65 and older make up about 15.8% of the population — a share of seniors in line with Alabama as a whole (16.9% statewide). The area's median household income is consistent with state averages.
- Residents 65+
- 104,327 (15.8%)
- Median age
- 37.9 years
- Median household income
- $55,088
- Median home value
- $165,000
Demographics for Jefferson County from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates. Provided as local context for families comparing care options near Birmingham.
Facility Details
Other Facilities in Birmingham
SOUTH HAVEN HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, LLC
3141 OLD COLUMBIANA ROAD
GREENBRIAR AT THE ALTAMONT SKILLED NURSING FACILIT
2831 HIGHLAND AVENUE SOUTH
ARLINGTON REHABILITATION & HEALTHCARE CENTER
1020 TUSCALOOSA AVENUE, SW
OAK KNOLL HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, LLC
824 SIXTH AVENUE WEST
EAST GLEN
53 MEDICAL PARK DRIVE EAST
DIVERSICARE OF RIVERCHASE
2500 RIVERHAVEN DRIVE
REDMONT HEALTH AND REHABILITATION CENTER
1028 BESSEMER RD
NORTHWAY HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, LLC
1424 NORTH 25TH STREET
GALLERIA WOODS SKILLED NURSING FACILITY
3850 GALLERIA WOODS DRIVE
CIVIC CENTER HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, LLC
1201 22ND STREET NORTH
SOUTH HEALTH AND REHABILITATION, LLC
1220 SOUTH 17TH STREET
FAIR HAVEN
1424 MONTCLAIR ROAD
Give Them a Daily Friend
Our AI companion calls your loved one daily for friendly conversation and wellness check-ins. We detect mood changes and alert you if something seems off.
- AI calls them daily
- Friendly conversation
- Alerts if something's wrong
Works on any phone. No app needed.