Best Nursing Homes in Covington, KY

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 8 nursing homes in Covington, KY using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in KY
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We analyzed These are the facilities in Covington, KY our team has analyzed — not a count of every nursing home provider in Covington, KY.
8 homes
Other senior care options in Covington:
Avg Overall CMS Rating: 2.0/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in Covington, KY. Ratings combine health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.2/ 5
Avg Staffing Rating: 2.0/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Covington, KY. Reflects nursing staff hours per resident per day (including RNs), adjusted for residents' care needs. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.4/ 5
Avg Health Insp. Rating: 2.3/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Covington, KY. Based on each facility's recent inspections and complaint investigations, weighing the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 3.0/ 5

Compare Nursing Homes around Covington

Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the KY Cabinet for Health & Family Services (CHFS), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment. PC (Palliative Care): Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The Kentucky average is: 48.8% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
Carespring – Barrington of Fort Thomas
NH
AL
IL
RC
SNF
Fort Thomas
110
Facility 110
KY AVG 83
Rank #70 / 340
--
3.46
Facility 3.46
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #65 / 190
-23%-8%
$0
Facility $0
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #1 / 194
10
Facility 10
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #76 / 190
3.3
Facility 3.3
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #62 / 190
-135A+
48
Facility 48
KY AVG 43
Rank #175 / 402
Carespring Health Care Holdings LP
$15.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $15.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #17 / 183
$7.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $7.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #21 / 183
47.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 47.2%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #94 / 183
185383
Rosedale Green
NH
HOS
MC
PC
SNF
Covington
191
Facility 191
KY AVG 83
Rank #7 / 340
--
3.62
Facility 3.62
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #60 / 190
-58%-3%
$0
Facility $0
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #1 / 194
10
Facility 10
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #76 / 190
3.3
Facility 3.3
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #62 / 190
2169--Londa Knollman
$18.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $18.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #8 / 183
$7.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $7.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #15 / 183
42.3%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 42.3%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #136 / 183
185225
The Pavilion at Kenton
NH
AL
SNF
Covington (Wallace Woods)
82
Facility 82
KY AVG 83
Rank #160 / 340
96.3%
Facility 96.3%
KY AVG 84.5%
Rank #20 / 168
+14%
2.61
Facility 2.61
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #180 / 190
+12%-30%
$0
Facility $0
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #1 / 194
8
Facility 8
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #47 / 190
2.7
Facility 2.7
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #36 / 190
-79-
54
Facility 54
KY AVG 43
Rank #134 / 402
Wildcat Holding LLC
$9.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $9.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #99 / 183
$4.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $4.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #92 / 183
47.9%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 47.9%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #88 / 183
185038

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every KY community we track that reports that metric, not just the 8 analyzed for Covington.

Overview of Carespring – Barrington of Fort Thomas

The Carespring Community in Northern Kentucky is an ideal place that provides programs and activities that are enjoyable and nurturing. Offering assisted living, memory care, long-term care, and rehabilitation– their approach to modern senior living promotes a lifestyle centered on growth. Residents are able to learn to love life through the staff’s encouragement of purposeful living.

At a Carespring community, residents are able to feel comfortable and safe because of the welcoming environment that is balanced with the urban and vibrant atmosphere.

Contact Carespring – Barrington of Fort Thomas

Overview of Rosedale Green

Rosedale Green operates a 191-bed home in Covington, Kentucky, managed under the direction of Londa Knollman. The facility processes residents’ billing through standard pathways like private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Because the surrounding neighborhood scores a 1 for walkability, visitors and family members will find a personal vehicle entirely necessary for travel and local errands.

The community runs at an 89 percent occupancy rate, with residents staying for an average of 413 days. This timeline shows that the daily floor routine combines long-term residential stays with short-term post-hospital therapy. The nursing crew covers the floor around the clock, providing an average of 4 hours and 22 minutes of direct care per resident each day through a team of registered nurses, practical nurses, and nurse aides.

The interior layout accommodates a variety of clinical tracks, including standard rehabilitation, memory units, short-term skilled care, and palliative or hospice services. General operations manage everyday chores like laundry, housecleaning, and room maintenance. For families reviewing the building’s historical files, past state inspections identified issues with infection control and resident safety, though follow-up surveys confirmed that these deficiencies were corrected.

Families can evaluate how the facility manages its daily nursing schedules, specialized memory support units, and clinical correction protocols.

Contact Rosedale Green

Overview of The Pavilion at Kenton

The Pavilion at Kenton is located on East 20th Street in Covington, Kentucky. Wildcat Holding LLC operates this recently opened 82-bed building, which accepts standard payment options like private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. The local neighborhood has a moderate walkability layout, meaning visitors can handle some small tasks on foot, though a personal vehicle is still helpful for general travel across the area.

The facility runs at a 96 percent occupancy rate, with residents staying for an average of 157 days. This timeline keeps the daily workflow focused on short-term physical rehabilitation and post-hospital recovery, backed by 24-hour floor coverage. The nursing team averages 2 hours and 54 minutes of direct care per resident daily, dividing tasks between registered nurses, practical nurses, and nurse aides to maintain continuous medical monitoring.

The first floor features a restaurant-style dining area, an on-site café, and a private dining room for family visits. The building also houses the historical Majestic Chapel for scheduled religious services, while the staff handles daily room maintenance, security protocols, and laundry. For families reviewing the home, state inspection reports have highlighted historical compliance issues regarding medication management, food safety, and infection prevention.

Individuals can check out how the building manages its daily nursing shifts, short-term rehab tracks, and regulatory compliance records.

Contact The Pavilion at Kenton

Overview of Villaspring of Erlanger

Nineteen years in, Villaspring of Erlanger is a fixture in its corner of Kenton County, Kentucky, just outside Cincinnati. Villaspring Health Care Center, LLC operates the 140-bed nursing home, and Amber Reilly serves as administrator. The neighborhood is moderately walkable (Walk Score 67), so a family visiting can knock out a quick errand on foot, though a car handles most of the rest.

The numbers point to a facility built around recovery. Residents stay an average of 83 days, a window that fits post-hospital rehabilitation more than long-term custodial care, and nursing staff put in roughly three hours of direct nursing care per resident each day. At 91% occupancy, with 127 of 140 beds filled, demand here runs steady.

Rehabilitation services and respite care sit alongside 24-hour staffing as the core of what Villaspring offers, and religious services round out the weekly calendar. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted, which opens up a few different routes for families sorting out how to pay for care.

State inspection findings at Villaspring have touched on infection prevention and control. Between the short average stay and the staffing hours on the books, this looks like a facility oriented toward residents recovering from a hospitalization, with room for those who need steadier, longer-term nursing care too.

Contact Villaspring of Erlanger

Overview of Rosedale Green

Rosedale Green is an assisted living community dedicated to offering exceptional resident-directed living solutions such as long-term nursing home care and short-term assistance, focusing on maintaining residents’ independence and individuality. This community’s philosophy is rooted in nurturing personal preferences and empowering residents to embrace each day to the fullest.
With a range of on-site, professional services, they ensure tailored and resident-directed living while upholding the utmost comfort and respect for residents’ dignity. The community provides a comprehensive level of care, encompassing both short-term and long-term options. After a thorough evaluation by a qualified team member and in collaboration with attending physicians, the appropriate level of care is determined for each individual. 

Contact Rosedale Green

Overview of Carmel Manor

Nestled in Covington, Kentucky, Carmel Manor is a place where the importance of life quality and compassionate care harmoniously intertwine. This assisted living community offers a comprehensive array of skilled nursing and long-term care services, ensuring a holistic approach that caters to the unique needs of each individual. The Nursing Care wing at Carmel Manor is designed to accommodate residents in need of long-term skilled nursing care, including support with essential daily activities like dressing, bathing, eating, and mobility. Additionally, residents may benefit from specialized therapies such as physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
The dedicated team at Carmel Manor collaborates closely with residents and their families to create tailored care plans, guaranteeing that every resident receives the highest quality of care. With round-the-clock skilled nursing assistance, residents can experience a sense of security and comfort. The community offers both private and semi-private room options, allowing residents to choose what suits them best. Participation in a rich variety of activities is a cornerstone of life at Carmel Manor. From engaging in crafts, entertainment, and pet therapy to being a part of book clubs, trivia sessions, and bingo games, residents have ample opportunities for recreation. The amenities also include a beauty salon, picnics, seasonal celebrations, and worship services, fostering a vibrant and dynamic environment. Carmel Manor is dedicated to ensuring that each resident’s journey is met with compassion, excellence, and a commitment to enhancing their overall well-being.

Contact Carmel Manor

Overview of Baptist Life Communities

Baptist Life Communities has been part of Northern Kentucky’s senior care landscape since 1952. Located in Covington, it offers a full spectrum of care, nursing home, assisted living, independent living, memory care, and skilled nursing, under one roof. A resident who starts in independent living can move into higher levels of care without relocating to a different community entirely.

The neighborhood carries a Walk Score of 46, which puts it in “somewhat walkable” territory. A few errands are doable on foot, but most trips still require a car, worth knowing for family members who might visit often or residents who value walkable access to nearby services.

On the care side, Baptist Life Communities provides short term rehab and outpatient therapy, useful for residents recovering from surgery, illness, or injury who need structured therapy without leaving the building. Respite care is also available, giving family caregivers a way to step back temporarily while their loved one stays in a familiar, supervised setting.

For a Covington family navigating a parent or spouse’s care needs, the draw here is continuity. A single community that spans independent living through skilled nursing, backed by more than seven decades of operation in the area, offers a kind of long-term stability that’s harder to find in a facility built around one care level alone.

Contact Baptist Life Communities

Overview of The Pavilion at Kenton for Nursing and Rehabilitation

Covington, Kentucky serves as the setting for The Pavilion at Kenton for Nursing and Rehabilitation, an 82-bed skilled nursing community built for medical recovery and long-term care. The business office processes resident billing through typical regional accounts, while the physical property sits in an area with a Walk Score of 50. This mid-range score means traveling family members can complete several quick errands on foot, though standard transit through the broader city requires a personal vehicle.

Clinical shift logs indicate a multi-tiered workforce that divides hands-on assistance across the 82 certified beds. Daily averages show residents receive 1 hour and 44 minutes of direct help from nurse aides, 45 minutes of care from licensed practical nurses, and 29 minutes of technical monitoring from registered nurses. This staffing structure distributes regular medication delivery, medical chart documentation, and mobility assistance across a 24-hour cycle.

Private quarters and shared lounges make up the building’s floor plan, offering spaces for quiet rest alongside common areas for family visits. The household crew manages standard domestic systems, including kitchen prep, laundry loops, and room cleaning, to keep the institutional footprint orderly and clean. Because specific internal guidelines and programming variables can adjust over time, the administrative staff routes detailed operational questions directly through the main office.

Interested individuals can set up an appointment to inspect the physical floor layouts, review the daily clinical logs, and verify the localized driving setup. The management team coordinates these basic property inquiries alongside standard services.

Contact The Pavilion at Kenton for Nursing and Rehabilitation

Ranking Methodology

How we rank these nursing homes

Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports.

  • CMS data
  • 5 weighted categories
  • Updated quarterly
Full methodology

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Care Quality
  • 20%
    Staffing
  • 20%
    Regulatory
  • 20%
    Operational
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Care Quality 35%

The largest single share of every ranking. CMS star ratings and quality measures that reflect actual care delivered to residents.

  • Includes
  • Overall Rating
  • Health Inspection
  • QM Rating
  • Long-Stay QM
  • Short-Stay QM
02

Staffing Adequacy 20%

The strongest predictor of resident outcomes. Volume and stability of nursing care, drawn from CMS Payroll-Based Journal.

  • Includes
  • Nurse Hrs/Res/Day
  • RN vs State
  • Total Nurse Staff Hrs vs State
  • RN Turnover
03

Regulatory & Safety Record 20%

Inspection patterns that star ratings can mask. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • Citations
  • Citations/Inspection
  • Severe Citations
  • Fines
  • Accreditations
04

Operational & Financial Stability 20%

Stable operations and sound finances are leading indicators of consistent care over time.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy vs State
  • Avg Length of Stay
  • Revenue
  • Payroll %
  • Years in Operation
  • Admin Tenure
05

Environment & Accessibility 5%

Context that matters to families but doesn't directly measure clinical care. Weighted lower for nursing homes than for assisted or independent living.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • BBB Rating
No paid rankings Facilities cannot pay to influence placement.
How we're paid: If we help you find a home and you move in, that home may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
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Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in Covington, KY

What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in Kentucky?

Assisted living in Kentucky is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.

Does Kentucky Medicaid cover nursing home care?

Yes — Kentucky Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet income, asset, and medical-need eligibility requirements. Most CMS-certified nursing homes accept Medicaid as a primary payer once long-term-care eligibility is established.

What is nursing home care?

Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses, rehabilitation services, and long-term custodial care for residents with significant health or functional needs.

How many nursing homes are listed on this page?

This page features 8 nursing homes in Covington, KY. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right nursing home in Covington, KY?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Covington, KY, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting nursing homes in Covington, KY?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.