Published on September 2, 2026
Rating reflects the independent voice of the families Alive has served, placing the nonprofit among a distinguished few hospice providers in Middle Tennessee to be recognized this way.
Alive has earned a 5-star Family Caregiver Survey Rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the highest rating available, placing Middle Tennessee’s oldest and largest nonprofit hospice organization among a distinguished few hospices in Tennessee with this rating.
The rating is based on the CAHPS Hospice Survey, which CMS administers to family caregivers following a patient’s death. Responses address communication with the care team, help with pain and symptoms, emotional and spiritual support, and how well families were prepared to care for their loved one. CMS publicly reports the rating for hospices with at least 75 completed surveys and updates it twice each year.
“This rating comes directly from the families we served, which is what makes it meaningful,” said Amir Hamad, CEO, Alive. “It reflects the work of our nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, and volunteers who are with these families in the hardest moments of their lives.”
“Good hospice care is largely about anticipating problems before they become crises: getting ahead of pain, explaining what to expect, making sure a family isn’t guessing. Five stars means the families we serve told CMS directly that our teams are doing that reliably across a lot of homes and facilities located in all 12 counties we serve,” said Sylvia Jones, Vice President of Quality and Compliance, Alive.
Founded in 1975, Alive serves patients and families across 12 Middle Tennessee counties, providing hospice care, palliative care, and grief support in homes, nursing facilities, and at its inpatient locations.
The rating comes as Alive prepares to host its inaugural Alive & Legacy Breakfast on September 23 at Geodis Park.
About Alive
Alive is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing loving care for people with life-threatening illnesses, support to their families, and service to the community in a spirit of enriching lives. Through hospice care, palliative care, and grief support services, Alive serves patients in their homes, nursing facilities, and at its inpatient facilities, with service to 12 Middle Tennessee counties. This includes in-home and inpatient hospice care, grief support, advance care planning, outreach, support to underserved communities, education about the end of life, financial assistance, a robust volunteer program, and clinician training. For 50 years, Alive has remained true to its founding vision: offering dignified care that enables patients with life-limiting illnesses to live fully until their final breath. Alive sustains its mission through the generous support of community donors and volunteers.