Best Nursing Homes in Kentucky

Willowbrook Healthcare is a 104-bed, privately owned skilled nursing and memory care facility at 2323 Concrete Road in Carlisle, Kentucky. Serving Nicholas County, the facility is operated by Willowbrook Healthcare Group, LLC, and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility reports direct care staffing levels significantly higher than state benchmarks. Nurse aide hours are 5 hours and 7 minutes per resident per day—110% above the Kentucky average, and LPN hours are 2 hours and 19 minutes per day, which is 184% above the state average. RN hours are recorded at 1 hour and 50 minutes per day. While these figures indicate high hands-on care capacity, a current CMS star rating was not available in recent public reports.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. Based on available records, the facility maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of 1.0. Occupancy data is not currently provided in public filings. The facility is located in a moderately walkable setting near the city center, facilitating community access for residents and families.

Service programs include short-term and long-term rehabilitation, memory care, and respite care. Amenities include private and semi-private furnished rooms, an outdoor courtyard, and a full-service beauty salon. Dining features home-cooked meals served in two communal dining rooms. Since specific monthly pricing and ancillary fees are not included in public reports, families should request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Families seeking a facility with notably high direct care staffing levels and a variety of resident programs may find this environment appropriate. Those evaluating Willowbrook Healthcare should request current inspection reports and conduct an in-person visit before making a placement decision.

Overview of Signature Healthcare at Jackson Manor Reha and Welln

Signature HealthCARE at Jackson Manor Rehabilitation and Wellness is a 51-bed facility at 96 Highway 3444 in Annville, Kentucky. Serving Jackson County, the center is operated by LP Annville, LLC and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility currently has no displayed CMS star rating, consistent with its newer status. Staffing is a relative strength; RN hours are 1 hour and 18 minutes per resident per day—70% above the Kentucky average, and physical therapy hours are 100% above the state benchmark. Conversely, LPN hours run 63% below the state average, and weekend total nursing coverage is 12% below average.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. The facility maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of 1.7. While complaint investigations in early 2025 found no deficiencies, an April 2025 recertification survey cited five isolated deficiencies involving MDS documentation accuracy and Life Safety Code issues, such as door-latching failures and unapproved power strip usage. Occupancy is 90%, which is higher than the state average of 81.3%.

Service programs include skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory care, and respite care. The facility’s model is organized around care navigation and life enrichment programming. Its smaller 51-bed scale typically supports higher staff-to-resident oversight. Since specific monthly pricing and ancillary fees are not included in public reports, families should request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Families seeking a facility with strong RN staffing and a clean complaint investigation record may find this environment appropriate. Those evaluating the center should confirm the current status of physical plant remediation following the 2025 recertification survey and conduct an in-person visit before making a placement decision.

Overview of Sam Swope Care Center

Sam Swope Care Center is a 268-bed skilled nursing facility located at 240 Masonic Home Drive in Masonic Home, Kentucky. Part of the larger Masonic Homes of Louisville campus in Jefferson County, the nonprofit community accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

Total nursing hours are 4 hours and 59 minutes per resident per day, which is 25% above the Kentucky average. RN hours are 43 minutes per day, and weekend RN coverage is 39 minutes—25% above the state average. While the facility holds an above-average quality measures rating, its CMS staffing sub-rating is categorized as 2 stars. Long-stay emergency department visits are 55% better than the state average, though falls with major injury are recorded at 1.5%.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. Sam Swope Care Center maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of 1.0. Records from 2025 show full regulatory compliance in multiple surveys, including an April re-licensure survey and a January complaint investigation. The facility has no recorded payment denials or license issues over the past three years.

The campus features an intergenerational model, including an on-site preschool and daycare. Services encompass skilled nursing, memory care, dialysis, and rehabilitation. Amenities include private rooms, walking paths, and a beauty salon. Residents have access to a care clinic and home care options. Since specific monthly pricing is not provided in public records, families should request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Families seeking a large, mission-driven facility with high staffing levels and specialized dialysis services may find this environment appropriate. Those evaluating the center should discuss the quality measures regarding resident falls and Achieving Self-Care goals with the administrator before making a placement decision.

Overview of Salyersville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

Salyersville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 143-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility at 662 Parkway Drive in Salyersville, Kentucky. Serving Magoffin County, the center is operated by Salyersville Health Operating Company, LLC, and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility currently has no displayed CMS star rating. Staffing levels show varied results: nurse aide hours align with state benchmarks, but RN hours are 15% below the Kentucky average. LPN hours run 43% below average, and physical therapy hours are 50% below the state benchmark. A notable clinical feature is the 24/7 presence of respiratory therapists, which is an uncommon specialty offering for the region.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. Salyersville Nursing and Rehabilitation maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of 2.0. Quality measures for short-stay residents show a re-hospitalization rate of 35.4%, which is 44% higher than the Kentucky average. Long-stay emergency department visit rates perform 8% better than the state average, though long-stay hospitalizations run 18% above the benchmark.

Service programs include skilled nursing, memory care, wound care, and restorative rehabilitation. Specialty services encompass disease management, nutritional counseling, and vision and dental care. The facility provides 24-hour licensed nurse staffing and includes housekeeping and laundry services. Since specific monthly pricing is not provided in public records, families should request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Families seeking specialized respiratory therapy coverage and broad clinical services may find this environment appropriate. Those considering the facility for short-term rehabilitation should carefully review the re-hospitalization and emergency department visit rates and discuss these outcomes with the administrator before making a placement decision.

Overview of Robertson County Health Care Facility

Robertson County Health Care Facility is a 60-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility at 1030 Kentontown Road in Mount Olivet, Kentucky. Serving Robertson County, the center is operated by Robertson Operations LLC and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility holds a 2-star overall CMS rating. Staffing figures are mixed against state benchmarks: RN hours are 48 minutes per resident per day, which is 4% above the Kentucky average, while nurse aide and LPN hours run 14% and 35% below the state average, respectively. Physical therapy hours are recorded at 1 minute per day, significantly below the state average of 4 minutes. Long-stay quality measures are currently rated above average by CMS.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. Robertson County Health Care Facility maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of 2.0. An April 2025 complaint investigation identified an Immediate Jeopardy condition related to resident-to-resident altercations and issued an $8,788 fine. While a follow-up survey in May 2025 found no deficiencies, a July 2025 standard report cited two additional deficiencies, including an infection control violation. Current occupancy is approximately 90%, reflecting high demand for the facility’s 60 licensed beds.

Service programs include skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, memory care, and respite care. Amenities feature an activity center, outdoor areas, and health and wellness programs. Dining includes home-cooked meals with low-sodium and healthy snack options. Since specific monthly pricing for nursing care is not included in public records, families should request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Families seeking a small, high-occupancy facility with above-average long-stay quality scores may find this environment appropriate. Those evaluating the center should review the 2025 Immediate Jeopardy findings and corrective actions regarding resident safety before making a placement decision.

Overview of River Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center

River Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is a 103-bed facility at 867 McGuire Avenue in Paducah, Kentucky. Serving McCracken County, the center is operated by Paducah Operating Company, LLC and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility holds a 1-star overall CMS rating. Staffing figures show several gaps against Kentucky benchmarks: RN hours are 41 minutes per resident per day (11% below average), and weekend nursing coverage is 2 hours and 42 minutes per day (23% below average). Long-stay quality measures are currently rated 1 star, indicating significant clinical performance challenges compared to state and national norms.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. River Haven maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of 2.0. An August 2025 complaint survey substantiated an abuse finding and cited deficiencies for mold in shower rooms and inadequate housekeeping. However, a follow-up survey in November 2025 found no deficiencies, indicating that the facility has addressed previous regulatory issues. Current occupancy is approximately 74%, which is slightly below the Kentucky average.

Service programs include skilled nursing, short-term and long-term rehabilitation, memory care, and respite care. The facility is located in a very walkable city-center area, allowing residents and visitors to access local amenities on foot. Amenities include on-site physician visits, wound care, and activity programming. Since specific monthly pricing is not provided in public records, families should request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Families seeking a conveniently located facility with an improving compliance record may find this environment appropriate. Those evaluating the center should weigh the low long-stay quality measures, the staffing gaps, particularly on weekends, and the August 2025 substantiated abuse finding alongside an in-person visit before making a placement decision.

Overview of Green Meadows Health & Rehabilitation

Green Meadows Health & Rehabilitation is a 122-bed facility located at 310 Boxwood Run Road in Mount Washington, Kentucky. Serving Bullitt County, the center is owned and operated by Green Meadows SNF Operations LLC and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility currently holds no displayed CMS overall star rating due to its newer operating status. Staffing levels show a varied profile: LPN hours are 1 hour and 4 minutes per resident per day—31% above the Kentucky average—while RN hours are 25 minutes per day, which is 46% below the state average of 46 minutes. Nurse aide hours are 1 hour and 54 minutes (22% below average), and weekend RN coverage is 26 minutes per day.

Long-stay quality measures are a significant strength, with hospitalizations at 1.03 per 1,000 resident days (45% better than the Kentucky average) and emergency department (ED) visits at 1.36 per 1,000 days (38% better than average). However, short-stay measures indicate challenges; the re-hospitalization rate of 34.3% is 40% worse than the state average of 24.5%, and the successful return-to-home rate is 45.6%, which is 10% below the state benchmark. Notably, the facility maintains a zero percent rate for falls with major injury.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. Green Meadows Health & Rehabilitation maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of zero based on its current regulatory cycle. No civil money penalties, payment denials, or license actions have been recorded in the past three years. Occupancy is currently described as in line with the Kentucky average of 81.3%.

Service programs include short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, dementia care, and respite services. The facility provides 24-hour staffing and a specialized focus on recovery potential. Amenities include modern therapeutic spaces and common areas designed for resident engagement. Since specific monthly pricing and ancillary fees are not provided in public records, request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Prospective residents seeking a newer facility with strong long-stay clinical outcomes may find this environment appropriate. Because of the elevated short-stay re-hospitalization rate and the gap in RN staffing, individuals should ask the administrator directly about clinical oversight and discharge planning protocols during an in-person visit before making a placement decision.

Overview of Bardstown Heatlh & Rehabilitation

Bardstown Health & Rehabilitation is a 100-bed facility at 120 Life Care Way in Bardstown, Kentucky. Operated by Bloomfield SNF Operations LLC (Provider #185149), the center is a recent rebrand of the former Landmark of Bardstown Rehab and accepts both Medicare and Medicaid.

Staffing levels are a primary strength, with total nursing hours significantly exceeding state benchmarks. LPN hours are 1 hour and 19 minutes per resident per day, 61% above the Kentucky average, and RN hours are 52 minutes, which is 13% above average. Nurse aide hours are 2 hours and 41 minutes (10% above average), and weekend total nursing coverage is 4 hours and 15 minutes, running 21% above the state average. Conversely, weekend RN coverage is 19 minutes per day, which is 39% below the state benchmark of 31 minutes.

Quality outcomes are mixed; the facility reports zero falls with major injury among short-stay residents, a 100% improvement over the state average. The short-stay re-hospitalization rate of 16.3% is 33% better than the Kentucky average, and long-stay emergency department (ED) visits are 37% better than average at 1.38 per 1,000 days. However, short-stay residents show a self-care ability at discharge of 36.4%, which is 32% below the state average of 53.7%, and the short-stay ED visit rate of 18.7% is 35% above average.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. Bardstown Health & Rehabilitation maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of 3.0, which is 36% better than the Kentucky average of 4.7. A July 18, 2025, recertification survey identified three deficiencies (Scope E) involving medication labeling errors on both med carts and a failure to revise care plans for a resident who experienced an 18.1% weight loss—approximately 32.6 pounds—in less than one month. A March 2025 abbreviated survey found the facility in full compliance with zero deficiencies. No civil money penalties or license actions have been recorded for the 2024–2026 period. Current occupancy is 48%.

Clinical programs include specialized tracheostomy, bariatric, and oncology care alongside orthopedic and pulmonary rehabilitation. Amenities feature an activity center, library with a computer lounge, beauty salon and barbershop, and outdoor areas. The facility provides 24-hour skilled nursing and physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Since specific monthly pricing for long-term care is not provided in public records, request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Prospective residents requiring specialty rehabilitation or high LPN staffing may find this environment appropriate. Individuals evaluating the center should ask the administrator directly about corrective measures taken for the July 2025 medication storage and nutritional status findings and observe the current meal service protocols during an in-person visit.

Overview of The Willows at Harrodsburg

Opened in 2024 as part of a Continuing Care Retirement Community, The Willows at Harrodsburg is an 81-bed facility that specializes in short-term post-acute care, personal care, and skilled nursing. The property manages brief rehabilitation placements, resulting in a 79-day average length of stay for its primarily Medicare and private-pay clientele. Financial records show a steady upward trajectory, with its profit margin narrowing to negative 2.4% in 2023 from a negative 28.1% deficit in 2018. Management allocates a stable 56.2% of its revenue to direct payroll, which funds campus features like a fitness studio, resident garden, private dining space, library, and salon.

Public health databases document solid physical rehabilitation outcomes and strong nurse staffing ratios alongside minor, corrected administrative citations. Direct nursing care lines provide 3 hours and 20 minutes of daily care per resident, maintaining a favorable 2.27:1 staff-to-resident ratio with registered nurse hours running 20% ahead of the Kentucky average. This personnel depth corresponds with high short-term performance marks, including a 65.8% successful community discharge rate and zero reported major injury falls during rehabilitation.

Permanent resident charts mirror this baseline, logging zero cases of urinary tract infections and a 91% lower rate of pressure ulcers, though recorded depression scores trend higher than the state baseline. Regulatory logs note two inspections since 2018 that generated eight total citations, with a December 2024 review flagging seven moderate items and one serious violation regarding infection control, nutrition, and pharmacy tracking. The facility carries a low historical fine total of $13,000 and zero admission payment blocks.

Interested individuals looking into regional short-stay physical therapy or continuing care senior campuses can study these state monitoring logs to evaluate the property’s clinical baseline. Because the public records verify excellent post-acute recovery metrics, strong daily nurse staffing numbers, and a low overall financial penalty count alongside a few moderate, corrected inspection findings, the documentation details a highly capable rehabilitation environment.

Providing care to military veterans since 1991, the Thomson-Hood Veterans Center is a government-operated, 285-bed skilled nursing facility managed by the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. Admissions follow a 297-day average length of stay and involve a mix of private pay (65% of admissions), Medicare, and Medicaid. Financial records reveal substantial operational strain, with the center logging a $2.6 million deficit and a negative 35% profit margin in 2024, down from a $2.8 million profit in 2023. Business logs attribute these shifts to a low 44% building occupancy rate combined with heavy payroll demands that consume 145% of incoming revenue.

Public oversight files highlight deep front-line personnel resources and a clean administrative record, though clinical logs reveal notable short-stay physical safety risks. Direct nursing care ranks 8th highest in Kentucky, providing 6 hours and 2 minutes of direct care per resident daily, with certified nursing assistant hours running 32% ahead of the state baseline. On the compliance side, state records note zero critical or serious citations over eight years and zero financial fines over the past three years.

A March 2025 health inspection logged four moderate, subsequently corrected issues regarding nutrition, care plans, and resident rights, while the property’s long-term history of 2.67 citations per inspection sits well below the state average. Clinical metrics reflect strong results for long-stay emotional wellness, with depression scores tracking 93% better than the state baseline alongside low resident hospitalization numbers. Physical safety metrics show clear challenges; long-stay urinary tract infections trend high, and short-stay rehabilitation charts reveal a 9.1% major injury fall rate compared to the 0.8% state benchmark, alongside high rates of antipsychotic medication increases.

Prospective residents seeking a specialized veterans’ care program or long-term nursing care can assess these government tracking data to balance the home’s operational strengths and weaknesses. The official paperwork records extensive daily direct care hours and a low citation history alongside low facility utilization, high operating deficits, and elevated short-term physical safety risks, meaning the documents outline a heavily staffed public facility facing significant acute-care clinical challenges.