Diversicare of Oxford: No Rehab Program for 8 Years - AL
Federal inspectors found Diversicare of Oxford had abandoned its functional maintenance program sometime around 2018, despite facility policies requiring ongoing restorative services for residents who need help sustaining mobility gains from physical therapy.
The violation came to light during an investigation of Resident 60, who had been treated by the therapy department from February 10 to March 27 for declining strength and mobility. The resident, who has muscle weakness, bipolar disorder, and paralysis on the right side from a stroke, experienced multiple falls but received no follow-up care when therapy ended.
"The facility did not have a restorative nurse and RI #60 was not being followed by an FMP," the Director of Therapy told inspectors on April 7. An FMP, or functional maintenance program, is designed to help residents maintain the gains they made during formal therapy sessions.
The Assistant Director of Nursing confirmed the same day that the resident "did not have a restorative care plan." She went further: "The facility did not have a restorative nurse, restorative program, or an FMP."
Staff interviews revealed the scope of the abandonment. The facility's own MDS Coordinator said the restorative program "had not been in place for at least eight years." She told inspectors the facility "did not have enough staff for a restorative nurse."
The Staffing Coordinator confirmed "the facility did not currently have a restorative nurse and had not had one for four years."
Yet the facility's written policy, effective as of 2024, spelled out detailed requirements for exactly the kind of program that didn't exist. The policy stated restorative services "assist the resident in sustaining function and/or continue to progress toward functional goals."
According to the policy, the Director of Care Coordination was supposed to own the restorative program. Each resident was to be screened for inclusion. Individualized care plans were to be developed with "measurable objectives and interventions." Monthly reviews were required.
None of this was happening for Resident 60 or anyone else.
The resident's December 29 assessment showed intact cognitive function, scoring 15 out of 15 on a mental status exam. This person understood what was happening and could participate in a maintenance program, if one had existed.
Instead, after six weeks of therapy to address declining strength and mobility, the resident was left with nothing. No restorative nurse. No maintenance plan. No follow-up to prevent further decline.
The facility's policy acknowledged that residents "will benefit from a Restorative Program in order to sustain function and/or to continue to progress toward functional goals after formalized therapy." It recognized that when residents experience "functional change of condition," intervention was needed.
But when inspectors asked about the consequences of ignoring these requirements, the MDS Coordinator was blunt: "a resident could get hurt or not reach their rehab potential."
The inspection report noted this failure "had the potential to contribute to decline in function and increased risk for further falls." It affected not just Resident 60, but potentially all residents requiring ongoing maintenance services.
The facility's written procedures were elaborate. The policy called for collaboration among care coordination teams. It outlined screening processes and evaluation protocols. It assigned specific roles to administrators, directors of nursing, and therapy teams.
The policy even included training requirements, stating that "nursing team members will be trained in restorative modules" and "non-nursing team members will be trained in select modules where approved."
But none of these carefully written procedures meant anything without staff to implement them.
The contradiction between policy and practice was stark. While the 2024 policy promised that "when a resident is identified as a restorative participant, an individualized care plan will be developed," staff told inspectors they hadn't had the personnel to do this work for years.
The facility's abandonment of its functional maintenance program represented what inspectors called a "deficient practice" that violated federal requirements for nursing home care. The citation noted the failure had "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" but affected multiple residents.
Resident 60's case illustrated the human cost. After suffering a stroke that left the right side paralyzed, this person had worked with therapists for six weeks to regain strength and mobility. The effort showed enough progress that formal therapy ended in late March.
But without a maintenance program, those gains were at risk. The resident had already experienced multiple falls. Without ongoing support to maintain mobility improvements, the risk of further falls and functional decline increased.
The facility's own staff recognized the problem. When asked directly about not following policy for residents with mobility decline and frequent falls, the MDS Coordinator acknowledged the dangers.
Eight years without a required program. Four years without a restorative nurse. Multiple falls for a resident with stroke-related paralysis. No follow-up care after therapy ended.
The math was simple, even if the consequences were not.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Diversicare of Oxford from 2026-04-09 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 14, 2026 · Our methodology
DIVERSICARE OF OXFORD in OXFORD, AL was cited for violations during a health inspection on April 9, 2026.
"The facility did not have a restorative nurse and RI #60 was not being followed by an FMP," the Director of Therapy told inspectors on April 7.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened at DIVERSICARE OF OXFORD?
- "The facility did not have a restorative nurse and RI #60 was not being followed by an FMP," the Director of Therapy told inspectors on April 7.
- How serious are these violations?
- Violation severity varies from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the inspection report for specific deficiency codes and scope. All violations must be corrected within required timeframes and are subject to follow-up verification inspections.
- What should families do?
- Families should: (1) Ask facility administration about specific corrective actions taken, (2) Request to see the follow-up inspection report verifying corrections, (3) Check if this represents a pattern by reviewing prior inspection reports, (4) Compare this facility's ratings with other nursing homes in OXFORD, AL, (5) Report any new concerns directly to state authorities.
- Where can I see the full inspection report?
- The complete inspection report is available on Medicare.gov's Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare). You can also request a copy directly from DIVERSICARE OF OXFORD or from the state Department of Health. The report includes specific deficiency codes, facility responses, and correction timelines. This facility's federal provider number is 015132.
- Has this facility had violations before?
- To check DIVERSICARE OF OXFORD's history, visit Medicare.gov's Care Compare and review their inspection history, quality ratings, and staffing levels. Look for patterns of repeated violations, especially in critical areas like abuse prevention, medication management, infection control, and resident safety.