Page 6 of Best Nursing Homes in Kentucky

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 197 nursing homes in KY using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in KY
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Kentucky our team has analyzed — not a count of every nursing home provider in Kentucky.
197 homes
Other senior care options in Kentucky:
Avg Overall CMS Rating: 2.8/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in Kentucky. 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: 2.7/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Kentucky. 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: 2.9/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in Kentucky. 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 Kentucky

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.
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.
Sansbury Care Center
NH
AL
HOS
SNF
Saint Catharine
59
Facility 59
KY AVG 83
Rank #240 / 340
--
7.01
Facility 7.01
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #1 / 190
+1%+87%
$5.3k
Facility $5.3k
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #134 / 194
5
Facility 5
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #19 / 190
1.7
Facility 1.7
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #9 / 190
-39-
5
Facility 5
KY AVG 43
Rank #394 / 402
Sansbury Care Center, Inc
$3.8MFiscal year ending 06/2024
Facility $3.8MFiscal year ending 06/2024
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #179 / 183
$4.6MFiscal year ending 06/2024
Facility $4.6MFiscal year ending 06/2024
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #76 / 183
119.6%Fiscal year ending 06/2024
Facility 119.6%Fiscal year ending 06/2024
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #1 / 183
185297
Bedford Springs Health and Rehabilitation
NH
SNF
Bedford
60
Facility 60
KY AVG 83
Rank #223 / 340
83.3%
Facility 83.3%
KY AVG 84.5%
Rank #118 / 168
-1%
3.07
Facility 3.07
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #126 / 190
+11%-18%
$0
Facility $0
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #1 / 194
8
Facility 8
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #47 / 190
4.0
Facility 4.0
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #88 / 190
-50-
27
Facility 27
KY AVG 43
Rank #302 / 402
Kaijon Hawley
$4.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $4.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #173 / 183
$2.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $2.2MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #173 / 183
46.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 46.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #102 / 183
185358
The Willows at Citation
NH
AL
MC
SNF
Lexington (Griffin Gate)
19
Facility 19
KY AVG 83
Rank #330 / 340
--
3.86
Facility 3.86
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #27 / 190
-12%+3%
$0
Facility $0
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #1 / 194
9
Facility 9
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #64 / 190
4.5
Facility 4.5
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #107 / 190
-51-
7
Facility 7
KY AVG 43
Rank #381 / 402
Renee Moore
$9.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $9.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #90 / 183
$5.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $5.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #48 / 183
61%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 61%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #16 / 183
185474
Owenton Healthcare and Rehabilitation
NH
SNF
North Owenton
100
Facility 100
KY AVG 83
Rank #97 / 340
100.0%
Facility 100.0%
KY AVG 84.5%
Rank #1 / 168
+18%
2.77
Facility 2.77
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #165 / 190
+9%-26%
$8.5k
Facility $8.5k
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #139 / 194
20
Facility 20
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #154 / 190
5.0
Facility 5.0
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #124 / 190
1100-
28
Facility 28
KY AVG 43
Rank #291 / 402
-
$7.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $7.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #121 / 183
$4.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $4.1MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #100 / 183
51.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 51.7%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #56 / 183
185364
Carmel Home
NH
SNF
Owensboro
115
Facility 115
KY AVG 83
Rank #63 / 340
83.5%
Facility 83.5%
KY AVG 84.5%
Rank #116 / 168
-1%- - --
$40.2k
Facility $40.2k
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #176 / 194
3
Facility 3
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #6 / 190
3.0
Facility 3.0
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #46 / 190
-96-
20
Facility 20
KY AVG 43
Rank #333 / 402
Mary Heisler
$6.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $6.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #145 / 183
$4.5MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $4.5MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #80 / 183
70.4%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 70.4%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #6 / 183
185226
River’s Bend Retirement Community
NH
AL
SNF
Kuttawa
36
Facility 36
KY AVG 83
Rank #295 / 340
--
4.09
Facility 4.09
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #20 / 190
-57%+9%
$0
Facility $0
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #1 / 194
6
Facility 6
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #28 / 190
2.0
Facility 2.0
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #16 / 190
-37-
7
Facility 7
KY AVG 43
Rank #381 / 402
Arthur Delozier
$4.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $4.0MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #177 / 183
$2.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $2.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #164 / 183
59.1%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 59.1%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #23 / 183
185410
Martin County Health Care Facility
NH
SNF
Inez
65
Facility 65
KY AVG 83
Rank #207 / 340
83.1%
Facility 83.1%
KY AVG 84.5%
Rank #121 / 168
-2%
2.73
Facility 2.73
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #173 / 190
-11%-27%
$0
Facility $0
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #1 / 194
9
Facility 9
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #64 / 190
4.5
Facility 4.5
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #107 / 190
354-
26
Facility 26
KY AVG 43
Rank #307 / 402
Lifestar Family Holdings LLC
$6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $6.8MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #136 / 183
$3.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $3.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #135 / 183
48.9%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 48.9%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #79 / 183
185379
Colonial Center
NH
SNF
Bowling Green
48
Facility 48
KY AVG 83
Rank #267 / 340
91.7%
Facility 91.7%
KY AVG 84.5%
Rank #62 / 168
+9%
3.30
Facility 3.30
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #86 / 190
+6%-12%
$56.8k
Facility $56.8k
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #177 / 194
15
Facility 15
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #116 / 190
7.5
Facility 7.5
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #173 / 190
344-
56
Facility 56
KY AVG 43
Rank #117 / 402
Management Group Eleven LLC
$4.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $4.9MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #167 / 183
$2.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $2.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #169 / 183
46.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 46.6%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #104 / 183
185048
The Springs at Oldham Reserve
NH
AL
IL
MC
SNF
Lagrange
103
Facility 103
KY AVG 83
Rank #91 / 340
--
3.54
Facility 3.54
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #65 / 190
-38%-5%
$18.9k
Facility $18.9k
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #165 / 194
---44-
80
Facility 80
KY AVG 43
Rank #12 / 402
----185488
Campbellsville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
NH
HOS
RC
SNF
Campbellsville
67
Facility 67
KY AVG 83
Rank #201 / 340
88.1%
Facility 88.1%
KY AVG 84.5%
Rank #92 / 168
+4%
3.27
Facility 3.27
KY AVG 3.75
Rank #86 / 190
-10%-13%
$0
Facility $0
KY AVG $65.4k
Rank #1 / 194
5
Facility 5
KY AVG 13.5
Rank #19 / 190
1.7
Facility 1.7
KY AVG 4.4
Rank #9 / 190
-59-
63
Facility 63
KY AVG 43
Rank #83 / 402
Amy Blair
$6.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $6.7MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $9.8M
Rank #141 / 183
$3.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $3.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG $4.8M
Rank #136 / 183
50.1%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 50.1%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
KY AVG 48.8%
Rank #66 / 183
185330

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every KY community we track that reports that metric, not just the 197 on this page.

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Overview of Creekwood Nursing & Rehabilitation

Kenneth Graves owns Creekwood Nursing & Rehabilitation, a 104-bed skilled nursing community located at 107 Boyles Drive in Russellville, Kentucky. The administrative office coordinates resident billing through standard regional pathways, accepting private pay along with Medicare and Medicaid. The immediate surrounding neighborhood carries a Walk Score of 64, making it a moderately walkable area where visiting relatives and guests can manage several local errands on foot without needing a vehicle for every trip.

The facility opened within the past year and reports an average length of stay tracking at 112 days across its 104 beds, emphasizing post-acute rehabilitation and temporary recovery. Shift logs indicate that the 24-hour care team provides an average of 3 hours and 8 minutes of direct daily nursing care per resident.

This total care time breaks down into 2 hours and 8 minutes from nurse aides, 34 minutes from licensed practical nurses, and 30 minutes from registered nurses to handle clinical charting, physical therapy setups, occupational therapy sessions, and medication management.

Interested individuals can schedule a building tour to walk the property floor plan, review the clinical shift logs, and discuss short-term recovery options with the therapy team. The front desk organizes these property visits while providing direct updates regarding room vacancies, structural features of the newer building, and admission guidelines.

Contact Creekwood Nursing & Rehabilitation

Sansbury Care Center

2625 Bardstown Road, Saint Catharine, KY 40061
Overview of Sansbury Care Center

You can find the Sansbury Care Center situated on Bardstown Road in Saint Catharine, Kentucky. This 59-bed home maintains an occupancy rate of about 78 percent and works with standard financial setups like private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Because the surrounding rural Marion County area has a Walk Score of 5, visitors and family members will need to rely on a car to get back and forth to the building.

Most people who live here remain in the facility for roughly 764 days. This extended timeline shifts the daily operational focus toward long-term residential support rather than short-term post-hospital therapy. The floor staff covers the building around the clock, providing an average of 6 hours and 11 minutes of direct nursing care for each resident daily, with nurse aides contributing an additional 4 hours and 9 minutes of hands-on help.

The daily routine centers on consistent personal attention, room maintenance, and medical monitoring. Having a lower overall bed count allows the staff to distribute their time directly across a smaller group of residents, while the countryside setting offers a quiet environment. The indoor spaces are arranged to keep individual bedrooms within a short distance of the primary nursing desks for quick communication.

Prospective representatives can see how the team manages its direct nursing hours, permanent residential schedules, and hands-on floor tracking. The community coordinates these clinical hours with regular amenities, including continuous medical supervision, personal care programs, room upkeep, and a quiet rural layout.

Contact Sansbury Care Center

Overview of Bedford Springs Health and Rehabilitation

Clearview Healthcare Management runs Bedford Springs Health and Rehabilitation, a 60-bed nursing home operating out of Shepherd Lane in Bedford, Kentucky. To handle ongoing billing, the business office processes private pay alongside standard Medicare and Medicaid options. The immediate neighborhood context scores a 27 on the Walk Score scale, pointing to a car-dependent setup where visitors will generally need a transit vehicle, though a few local services can be reached on foot.

Daily records show that the facility operates at an 83 percent occupancy rate across its 60 beds, with residents staying for an average of 119 days. This timeline shows a standard operational blend of long-term medical housing and short-term post-hospital rehabilitation. To manage these health needs, the 24-hour nursing team averages 3 hours and 9 minutes of direct care per resident each day, with registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides sharing the shifts to handle general wound care, physical therapy rotations, and recovery schedules.

Prospective residents can coordinate a building walkthrough to review the therapy rooms, check out the bedroom layouts, and evaluate the nursing schedules firsthand. The administrative team handles these property visits while providing updates on standard clinical admissions, domestic housekeeping routines, and recent life safety or emergency preparedness checks, which show the facility resolved prior notes to maintain compliance with state regulations.

Contact Bedford Springs Health and Rehabilitation

The Willows at Citation

1376 Silver Springs Dr, Lexington, KY 40511
Overview of The Willows at Citation

A member of the Trilogy Health Services group, The Willows at Citation is a trusted community where families and seniors know they made the right choice to live in the senior living community. The senior living community ensures that residents have a wonderful experience in the community. Management emphasizes the importance of connections, which is why they promote socialization for everyone in the community. The Willows at Citation is a vibrant community that is excellent at satisfying the wellness needs of every resident.

The Willows is an independent living, assisted living, and memory care community with skilled nursing and short-term stay. They ensure that, as a senior living community, they deeply emphasize and guarantee that independence is maintained for their residents. Residents can rest easy knowing that they are placed first with the list of services and amenities provided for them: ADLs, transportation, library, and private dining rooms. Skilled nursing and personalized care are also offered to the residents. 

Contact The Willows at Citation

Overview of Owenton Healthcare and Rehabilitation

Owenton Healthcare and Rehabilitation operates a 100-bed building under the management of Owenton Ky Opco along Highway 127 North in Owenton, Kentucky. The property sits in a car-dependent zone with a Walk Score of 28, making a personal vehicle necessary for most errands, though its highway location provides straightforward driving access for visitors. The home accepts standard payment structures like private funds, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Having opened within the past year, the newly established facility has already filled its layout to 100 percent capacity. Individual stays average roughly 161 days, keeping the daily routine focused on short-term physical rehabilitation alongside standard long-term recovery plans. The floor crew covers the building 24 hours a day, providing an average of 3 hours of direct nursing care per resident daily using a clinical rotation of registered nurses, practical nurses, and nurse aides.

The interior design includes shared common spaces, open visiting lounges, and specialized therapy departments. To reduce the need for outside travel, the house staff arranges regular on-site clinics for dental, hearing, vision, and podiatry needs, alongside psychological services and a therapy dog program. Daily schedules integrate room maintenance and housekeeping with custom-tailored meals, around-the-clock snack access, and organized social functions.

Prospective residents can examine how the newly formed team schedules its round-the-clock nursing shifts, specialized therapy dog visits, and on-site clinical tracking. The community pairs these medical services with standard provisions, including personalized dining menus, open common areas, and direct highway transit connections.

Contact Owenton Healthcare and Rehabilitation

Carmel Home

2501 Old Hartford Rd, Owensboro, KY 42303
Overview of Carmel Home

Carmel Home is a 115-bed nursing and skilled nursing community out on Old Hartford Rd in Owensboro, Kentucky, run by the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus, with Francis as the administrator. The building is single-story, which matters more than people think when you’re picturing a parent or grandparent getting around without stairs. It sits in a car-dependent stretch of town (Walk Score 20), so visits usually mean driving over rather than walking.

Right now the place is running at 84% occupancy, 96 of its 115 beds filled, which tells you it’s an active, steady community rather than one that’s just opened its doors or quietly emptying out. There’s personal care and skilled nursing side by side, plus short-term rehab for people bouncing back from surgery or a hospital stay. Staff are there 24 hours a day, and residents can see a physician or podiatrist, get dental work done, and have medications, medical supplies, and oxygen managed on-site instead of needing a separate trip for each one.

There’s a beautician and barber on hand, which sounds minor until you realize how much it matters to someone’s sense of self. Transportation is available when residents need to get somewhere the building can’t take them. And the place runs on dietary services, social and activity programming, and consultant pharmacy support layered under that round-the-clock nursing staff.

Carmel Home takes Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families aren’t boxed into one way of covering things. As for how the state sees it: inspections here have leaned toward staffing and staff credentials, how care gets planned and documented, and dietary and food service. This is a place built for residents who need real nursing-level support, whether that’s a short rehab stint after the hospital or something longer-term, inside a facility with steady occupancy and a long-standing religious-order operator behind it.

Contact Carmel Home

Overview of River’s Bend Retirement Community

Operating a 36-bed footprint in Kuttawa, Kentucky, River’s Bend Retirement Community provides a smaller, residential alternative to larger senior campuses. The facility is owned by Arthur Delozier and is situated in a rural area where visitors rely on a car for most regional travel, though its proximity to Bowling Green and the Louisville metro area provides an accessible driving route for regional families. To simplify financial planning, the business office routes standard accounts through Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay tracks.

Residents stay for an average of 126 days, a timeline that reflects a steady operational mix of temporary post-hospital therapy and traditional long-term care. Daily health and wellness needs are managed by a 24-hour team of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides, with aide care specifically averaging 2 hours and 16 minutes per resident each day. This floor staff oversees general recovery therapies and temporary respite tracks while the building’s domestic team coordinates daily operations, which include serving three in-house meals, housekeeping routines, laundry services, and social calendars.

Prospective residents can get in touch with the admissions office to arrange a building walk-through, look over the dining options, and check out the physical rehabilitation area. The administrative desk handles these property visits while providing updates on room availability, the on-site beauty and barber shop, and current guidelines for short-term or long-term placements.

Contact River’s Bend Retirement Community

Overview of Martin County Health Care Facility

The 65-bed building at Martin County Health Care Facility is managed by Lifestar Family Holdings LLC in Inez, Kentucky. This community processes residential billing through conventional options like private pay, Medicare, and Medicaid. Because the local rural territory has a Walk Score of 26, visiting family members and guests will need to rely on a vehicle for transit and local trips.

At present, 54 residents live in the home, which brings the occupancy rate to 83 percent. With individual stays spanning roughly six months, daily floor operations balance temporary respite care and post-hospital physical therapy with standard long-term residential setups. The nursing crew covers the floor around the clock, providing 2 hours and 37 minutes of direct care per resident daily using a clinical rotation of registered nurses, practical nurses, and nurse aides.

Inside, the community maintains dedicated therapy rooms filled with modern recovery gear alongside built-in labs, a pharmacy, and on-site clinics for dental, foot, eye, and hearing care. Daily schedules combine room cleaning and personal laundry with a recreation calendar featuring stretching classes, bingo, holiday parties, hair salon access, and chapel services. The building provides Wi-Fi throughout its furnished private and shared bedrooms, maintains a pet-friendly policy, and features an outdoor courtyard and mobile garden, while recent state oversight checks documented a deficiency rate of zero.

Prospective residents can explore how the team coordinates its 24-hour nursing shifts, multi-specialty medical clinics, and clean regulatory tracking history.

Contact Martin County Health Care Facility

Colonial Center

2365 Nashville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42101
Overview of Colonial Center

Colonial Center is a small yet exceptional senior housing community located in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This home is dedicated to providing seniors with amazing services and easy access to healthcare facilities, retail shops, and nearby residential areas. Offering a range of care options, including assisted senior living, nursing home care, independent living, memory care, and hospice care, Colonial Center ensures that residents receive comprehensive support tailored to their individual needs.

Within the community, there are a variety of amenities to boast about. Residents can enjoy the convenience of Wi-Fi access, visit the on-site salon and barbershop for personal grooming needs, stay updated with the newspaper service, and take advantage of the laundry room facilities. Each room is equipped with central air conditioning for comfort, and housekeeping services are provided to maintain a clean and inviting environment. The interdisciplinary staff at Colonial Center offers a wide scope of care, including wound care, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, medication support, dialysis care, podiatry services, cardiac care, and much more. It’s worth mentioning that Colonial Center accepts nursing home insurance, ensuring peace of mind and financial security for residents.

Contact Colonial Center

Overview of The Springs at Oldham Reserve

Opened in 2024 by Trilogy Healthcare, The Springs at Oldham Reserve is a 103-bed skilled nursing facility that provides short-term rehabilitation, memory care, and assisted living within a highly walkable neighborhood layout. Admissions primarily feature a mix of short-stay Medicare post-acute clients (53%) averaging 23 days and private-pay individuals staying roughly four months. Financial records indicate notable initial operational hurdles, including a low 52% building occupancy rate and a 2023 operating deficit of $1.6 million. Despite these commercial challenges, the operator channels 62.8% of its total revenue directly into staffing payroll, supporting a campus model equipped with a movie theater, fitness center, and active community programming.

Public records display daily nursing resources and positive short-term recovery outcomes alongside an unusual cluster of initial regulatory fines. Direct care lines feature licensed practical nurse hours that run 82% ahead of the Kentucky baseline, while dedicated physical therapy volumes track 50% above the state average. This staffing investment matches high short-term performance charts, which note a 60.9% successful community discharge rate and very low emergency room visit frequencies, though permanent resident tracking logs higher-than-average rates for physical functional decline.

On the compliance side, because of the property’s recent opening, it carries a brief public monitoring footprint containing a single April 2023 inspection report. However, state files show the facility incurred seven small federal financial penalties totaling $19,000 during its first year of operation, with zero admission payment blocks on record.

Families investigating regional post-acute rehabilitation programs or multi-level retirement communities can use these state registry summaries to evaluate the building’s early track record. A look through the official data confirms heavy daily nurse staffing presence and strong post-acute recovery numbers alongside low initial building utilization, business losses, and frequent early administrative fines.

Contact The Springs at Oldham Reserve

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 Kentucky

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 197 nursing homes in Kentucky. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right nursing home in Kentucky?

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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky?

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.