Nursing Homes in Kentucky
Kentucky has 269 Medicare-certified nursing homes across 152 cities, with 25,425 total beds. 99 facilities (37%) earn a recommended rating for family consideration. The state performs 8.3% above the national average on quality metrics.
Compare 269 nursing homes · data
See all 99 recommended nursing homes in KentuckyWorth Considering
99
facilities earn a recommended rating
State Average
+8.3% vs national
Coverage
152
cities with facilities
High Risk Facilities
67
11 with abuse citations
78 rated F grade
Cities with Best Care
269 facilities · Showing 1-10
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About Nursing Home Care in Kentucky
Kentucky's 269 Medicare-certified nursing homes serve residents across 152 cities, offering a combined capacity of 25,425 beds. The state's nursing home landscape performs notably well compared to national benchmarks, with facilities averaging 8.3% higher on quality metrics than the national average.
Of the state's facilities, 99 (37%) earn our recommended rating, indicating they meet quality thresholds across CMS star ratings, inspection results, staffing levels, and penalty history. This includes 42 five-star facilities that represent the highest tier of care quality.
However, families should exercise caution with 67 high-risk facilities in the state, including 11 with abuse citations and 78 rated F grade on our scoring system. Louisville is the state's largest market with 36 facilities. for families in the state's largest city.
Kentucky at a Glance
Good News
- 37% of facilities earn recommended status
- State averages 8.3% above national quality metrics
- 64% of facilities have no recent fines
- 42 five-star CMS-rated facilities available
- Greenville leads the state with 3 recommended facilities and an average trust score of 81.
Be Aware
- 67 facilities (25%) are high-risk
- 11 facilities have abuse citations
- $6,279,299 in total fines over 3 years
- 81% of facilities are for-profit
What's Changing
- CMS staffing mandates taking effect 2024-2026
- 28% of facilities currently meet staffing benchmarks
- Quality reporting requirements expanding
- Infection control standards strengthened post-COVID
- State inspection frequency increasing
Questions to Ask When Visiting
Based on Kentucky's nursing home data, we recommend asking these questions during facility tours:
About Staffing
- What is the RN-to-resident ratio on each shift?
- How do you handle staffing on weekends?
- What is your staff turnover rate?
- Are staff trained in dementia care?
About Quality
- Can I see your most recent inspection report?
- Have you had any abuse citations in the past 3 years?
- What is your fall prevention protocol?
- How do you handle medication management?
About Costs
- What services are included in the daily rate?
- Do you accept Medicaid? What's the waitlist?
- Are there additional fees for therapies?
- What happens if my loved one runs out of private funds?
About Daily Life
- What activities are available for residents?
- What are the visiting hours and policies?
- How do you handle dietary restrictions?
- Can residents personalize their rooms?
Fines & Penalties in Kentucky
Over the past 3 years, Kentucky nursing homes have been assessed $$6,279,299 in federal fines and penalties. Here's how that breaks down:
$$6.3M
Total Fines (3yr)
$$23,343
Avg per Facility
175
No Recent Fines
49
Facilities Fined
Note: Fines data is based on CMS enforcement actions over the past 3 years. A facility with no fines may still have deficiencies; conversely, a fined facility may have corrected issues.
Most Common Deficiencies
3,614 total deficiencies · 13.4 avg per facility
Ownership Breakdown in Kentucky
Kentucky's nursing home industry is predominantly for-profit, with 218 facilities (81%) operated by for-profit companies.
For-Profit
81%218 of 269 facilities
Non-Profit
17%45 of 269 facilities
Government
2%6 of 269 facilities
Research suggests ownership type can influence care quality, though many factors affect outcomes. Non-profit facilities may reinvest surplus into care improvements, while for-profit facilities face investor return pressures. However, excellent and poor facilities exist in all ownership categories.
Finding Quality Nursing Home Care in Kentucky
Finding the right nursing home in Kentucky requires careful research. With 269 facilities spread across 152 cities, families have options—but quality varies significantly. Our analysis shows that while Kentucky performs 8.3% above the national average, nearly one in four facilities (25%) carries a high-risk designation.
Understanding Our Trust Score System
The Trust Score is a 0-100 rating calculated from CMS's official nursing home database. The score combines five data categories:
- Health Inspection Results — Recent deficiencies, their severity, and patterns over time
- Staffing Levels — RN hours, total nursing hours, and weekend staffing
- Quality Measures — Clinical outcomes like falls, pressure ulcers, and rehospitalizations
- Penalties — Fines, payment denials, and enforcement actions
- Complaints — Substantiated complaints and their severity
In Kentucky, 99 facilities score a B grade or better, indicating they meet quality benchmarks across these categories. We recommend families prioritize these facilities and carefully research any facility rated C or below before visiting.
Regional Considerations
Quality varies significantly by region. Greenville, Owensboro, Fort Thomas lead the state in quality metrics, with higher percentages of recommended facilities and lower rates of citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kentucky has 269 Medicare-certified nursing homes across 152 cities, offering a total of 25,425 beds. Of these, 99 facilities (37%) earn our recommended rating based on quality metrics including CMS star ratings, inspection results, staffing levels, and penalty history.
The largest cities for nursing home care in Kentucky are Louisville, Lexington, Owensboro, Glasgow, Bowling Green. These cities consistently score above the state average on quality metrics.
Kentucky nursing homes score 8.3% above the national average on our Trust Score metric, with an average score of 62 compared to the national average of 53. The state has 42 five-star facilities (16%) and 64% of facilities have no recent fines.
The average cost of nursing home care in Kentucky varies by facility type and level of care. Medicare covers skilled nursing care for qualifying stays up to 100 days. Medicaid covers long-term care for eligible residents. Contact individual facilities for private pay rates and payment options.
All Medicare-certified nursing homes in Kentucky are inspected annually by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Inspections evaluate quality of care, safety, and compliance with federal regulations. Results are reported to CMS and factor into our Trust Score calculations.
Ready to Find Care?
Use our search above to filter Kentucky's 269 nursing homes by quality rating, location, and features. Start with our 99 recommended facilities for the best care options.