Best Nursing Homes in Louisville, KY

Overview of The Altenheim Senior Health Care Community

The Altenheim Senior Health Care Community opened in 1906, which makes it one of the longest-running senior care facilities in Louisville. It sits at 936 Barret Ave in the Germantown neighborhood, a genuinely walkable area with a Walk Score of 85. Kindred Hospital Louisville is 0.28 miles out. The facility covers a wide range of care: nursing home, assisted living, independent living, memory care, hospice, and respite, all within one address.

The program structure is organized into four named tracks: Personal Care & Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing & Memory Care, Transitional Care, and Support Services. Rehabilitation services, personal care, hospice, and respite care are available on-site. Mrs. Mary Ann Bond serves as Director of Social Services.

Day-to-day life includes seasonal menus in the dining program, a hair salon, on-site pharmacy services, and housekeeping and laundry. The combination of care levels means residents can move through independent or assisted living, into memory care or transitional care, and ultimately into hospice support without relocating.

The Altenheim is a state-licensed facility and is not currently listed as a CMS-certified Medicare or Medicaid provider. For a community with this breadth of care and more than a century of operating history in a walkable Louisville neighborhood, the picture that emerges is a long-tenured, multi-level community oriented toward aging in place rather than short-stay rehabilitation.

Overview of Nazareth Home

Nazareth Home is tucked away at 2000 Newburg Road in Louisville. It’s a 168-bed nursing home and assisted living community that’s been around since 1976. One big plus is that UofL Health Peace Hospital is practically right next door; only 0.16 miles away, which is a huge relief when you’re dealing with post-acute discharge stuff. The neighborhood’s got a Walk Score of 49, so you’ll definitely need a car to get around.

Right now, they have about 104 residents, filling up 62% of the facility. The average stay is about 84 days. When you look at that alongside all their therapy options from physical, occupational, speech, to respiratory, it’s pretty obvious this place is set up to handle short-term recovery, even though they do have long-term residents too.

The nursing care here is solid. Residents get about 5 hours and 3 minutes of attention every day, divided between nurse aides, RNs, and LPN/LVNs. It’s cool that they run their own state-approved Nurse Aide Training program on-site, and they have pastoral care if that’s your thing. They’ve got some nice perks, too, like a hair salon, resident iPads, and full-service dining.

They accept Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. If you’re a family trying to figure out where to go for post-acute care near central Louisville, the data really points to Nazareth Home as a smart choice for short-term rehab, mostly because of the strong staffing, therapy access, and how close they are to the hospital.

Overview of Parkwood Health & Rehabilitation

Parkwood Health & Rehabilitation is a 120-bed facility at 900 Gagel Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. Serving Jefferson County, the center is operated by Parkwood SNF Operations LLC and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

MeasuresTotal nursing hours are 2 hours and 48 minutes per resident per day, which is below the Kentucky average of 3 hours and 31 minutes. RN coverage is 43 minutes per day, and weekend RN presence is 17 minutes, 45% below the state weekend benchmark. Quality measures are mixed: long-stay outcomes for hospitalizations align with state averages, but short-stay residents experience a 26.6% re-hospitalization rate and a 4% rate of falls with major injury, which is significantly higher than the Kentucky average of 0.8%. Inspection and Compliance Record

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. Parkwood Health & Rehabilitation maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of zero based on its most recent standard survey. A July 2024 report previously cited five deficiencies, including an infection control violation, resulting in a $10,209 fine. Current occupancy aligns with the state average of 81.3%.

Service programs include specialized tracheostomy care, wound care, and orthopedic rehabilitation alongside standard physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The facility also provides bariatric and oncology care. Amenities include 24-hour staffing and respite services. Since specific monthly pricing and ancillary fees are not provided in public records, families should request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Those seeking specialized clinical programs and stable long-term care outcomes may find this environment appropriate. Due to the high rate of major injury falls for short-stay residents and significant RN staffing gaps, an in-person visit is recommended to evaluate current fall prevention protocols and clinical oversight before making a placement decision.

In Louisville’s Audubon neighborhood, Little Sisters of the Poor operates as a 50-bed Catholic nonprofit nursing facility licensed in April 2025. The Medicaid-focused community (97% of census) serves 32 residents with an average stay of six months. Administrator Linda Deardeuff leads a mission-oriented operation. The location ranks very walkable (Walk Score 74, ranked 36th statewide) and sits 2.7 miles from downtown Louisville.

Residents access memory care, respite services, volunteer programming, pastoral care, and a complimentary Senior Day Center.

Staffing intensity defines the operation. Little Sisters invests 97.7% of revenue into payroll, the second-highest proportion in Kentucky, fielding 125 personnel (56 employees, 69 contractors) for 32 residents. The staff-to-resident ratio of 3.91:1 exceeds the state average by 127%. Total nursing hours clock in at 6h 31m daily per resident, ranking 5th statewide and 89% above Kentucky’s median.

The CMS staffing rating reflects this commitment at 4 stars; the overall rating lands at 3 stars.

Inspection data reveals rapid-scale challenges. January’s renewal survey found zero deficiencies when the facility held 8 residents. Four months later, following expansion to 32 residents, a May 2025 re-inspection identified four moderate-severity deficiencies: failed discharge notifications (1 of 1 resident sampled), expired medications in 3 of 6 medication carts, lapsed expiration-date checks before administration, and gaps in infection prevention protocols (hand hygiene, food service).

No critical or serious citations exist in the record. Zero fines, payment denials, or substantiated complaints appear over three years.

Quality outcomes split markedly. Walking ability decline (33.5%) and functional decline (28.8) run 71 and 52% worse than state benchmarks, respectively; antipsychotic use runs 27% higher. Pressure ulcers (3.0%, 48% better), weight loss (3.4%, 50% better), and depressive symptoms (9.4%, 34% better) outperform state averages. Vaccine coverage, influenza 100%, pneumococcal 93%, aligns with state norms.

The facility is brand-new, mission-driven, and heavily staffed.

The May deficiencies coincided with rapid census growth from 8 to 32 residents in four months, suggesting operational scaling challenges in medication management and infection control rather than baseline capacity issues.

Overview of Hazelwood Center

Hazelwood Center is a 201-bed state-operated facility located at 1800 Bluegrass Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. Opened in 1971 and owned by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, this large-scale campus provides comprehensive residential support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID), Hazelwood operates under a distinct regulatory framework and does not carry a CMS nursing home star rating. The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. For its most recent focused survey, the facility maintained a citations-per-inspection rate of zero. This setting focuses on long-term habilitation and active treatment rather than the elder care or post-acute models typical of standard nursing homes.

The program is organized around four core domains: wellness, community living, work, and leisure. Services include 24-hour residential care, day services, and vocational training designed to foster independence. The campus provides a structured environment for “active treatment,” which includes social, behavioral, and therapeutic services tailored to individual goals. Medicaid is the primary funding mechanism for these placements.

The center emphasizes community integration, offering supported employment opportunities both on and off campus. Residents benefit from proximity to Louisville’s urban resources, healthcare providers, and employment centers. The facility also features an on-site specialty clinic to support the complex medical and dental needs of its population. Since residential placement and per diem rates are managed through state administrative channels, families should request current cost details directly from the facility.

Individuals evaluating residential options for intellectual or developmental disabilities in the Louisville area should contact the administration and the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID) to discuss eligibility, current unit availability, and community-based waiver alternatives.

Overview of Eastway Health & Rehabilitation

Eastway Health & Rehabilitation is a 252-bed facility at 1155 Eastern Parkway in Louisville, Kentucky. Serving Jefferson County, the center is operated by Eastway SNF Operations LLC and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility holds an above-average quality measures rating. Clinical outcomes are a notable strength: long-stay hospitalization rates are 42% better than the Kentucky average, and long-stay emergency department visits are 51% better than the state benchmark. Additionally, the facility maintains a zero percent rate for falls with major injury among short-stay residents. Despite these outcomes, RN staffing is 16 minutes per resident per day, 65% below the state average, and physical therapy hours are 75% below the state benchmark.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. Eastway Health & Rehabilitation maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of 2.0 based on its 2024–2025 reporting cycle. No civil money penalties or enforcement actions have been recorded in the past three years. While official 2026 star ratings for this specific entity are not currently displayed in the standard CMS format, the facility’s historical compliance record shows no substantiated complaint investigations in recent windows.

Service programs include 24-hour staffing, memory care, and a wide array of specialty clinical services such as tracheostomy care, bariatric care, and orthopedic rehabilitation. The facility features two in-house therapy gyms and dining rooms on every floor. Additional amenities include post-surgical care and pulmonary rehabilitation. Since specific monthly pricing for long-term care is not provided in public records, request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Strong documented clinical outcomes and a broad specialty service menu make this a notable option for those with complex medical needs. Because of the significant gaps in RN and therapy staffing, it is recommended that individuals evaluate the level of clinical oversight and weekend coverage during an in-person visit before making a placement decision.

Overview of Eastern Star Home in Ky

Eastern Star Home in Kentucky is a 42-bed nonprofit facility at 923 Eastern Star Court in Louisville, Kentucky. Affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star, this community provides skilled nursing, memory care, and rehabilitation within a secure residential setting.

The facility emphasizes a low staff-to-resident ratio, a feature supported by its 42-bed scale. While a full CMS star rating breakdown is not currently displayed in recent public reports, its nonprofit model often aligns with mission-driven staffing levels. The center provides 24-hour nursing coverage and a secured perimeter for residents with cognitive impairments. Specific clinical quality outcomes for short-stay and long-stay residents are not publicly reported at this time.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversees inspections. Eastern Star Home maintains a citations-per-inspection rate of zero based on its most recent regulatory filings. No civil money penalties, payment denials, or license actions have been recorded in the past three years, reflecting a consistent history of regulatory compliance.

Service programs include 24-hour staffing, memory care, and rehabilitation services. Amenities feature fully air-conditioned rooms, a chapel, and a garden courtyard. Residents have access to a beauty salon, wireless internet, and regular social events. Since specific monthly pricing is often managed through nonprofit or fraternal administrative channels, request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Those seeking a small, mission-driven community with a secure environment and a clean compliance record may find this environment appropriate. Contacting the administrator to request the most recent internal quality reports and observing the staff-to-resident interactions during an in-person visit is recommended before making a placement decision.

Overview of Chestnut Ridge Health & Rehabilitation

Chestnut Ridge Health & Rehabilitation is a 92-bed facility at 1015 West Magazine Street in Louisville, Kentucky. Located in the Old Louisville neighborhood, the center is operated by Chestnut SNF Operations LLC and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility currently has no displayed CMS star rating, consistent with its newer status. Staffing levels show gaps across several categories: RN hours are 31 minutes per resident per day (33% below the Kentucky average), and nurse aide hours are 1 hour and 55 minutes (21% below average). Weekend total nursing coverage is 2 hours and 52 minutes, which is 18% below the state benchmark.

Quality measures for long-stay residents align with state peers, with hospitalizations at 1.94 per 1,000 resident days and emergency department (ED) visits at 2.17. A positive safety signal is the zero percent rate of falls with major injury among short-stay residents, which is 100% better than the Kentucky average.

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

The clinical program includes specialized wound care, tracheostomy care, bariatric care, and orthopedic rehabilitation. Amenities feature three daily meals with 24-hour snacks, concierge services, and a beauty salon. The campus includes a library, walking paths, and garden courtyards. Since specific monthly pricing is not provided in public records, request a current fee schedule during a facility tour.

Prospective residents seeking a central location and a broad specialty clinical menu may find this environment appropriate. Individuals should weigh the staffing figures against the complexity of care needs and request a current inspection history from the administrator during an in-person visit before making a placement decision.

Signature Healthcare at Jefferson Place Rehab and Wellness Center is a 95-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility operated by LP Louisville Herr Lane, LLC at 1705 Herr Lane in Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky. Accepted are Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, with an average stay length of 29 days which is among the shortest in Kentucky, and a resident mix oriented entirely toward short-term post-acute recovery.

CMS rates the facility 4 stars, 43.4 percent above Kentucky average, with all four sub-ratings above state mean. Staffing runs 63.9 percent above Kentucky average, nurse hours reach 3h 59m per resident per day, ranked 33rd out of 184 Kentucky facilities, with physical therapist hours double the state figure, a meaningful mark for rehabilitation intensity. Quality measures run 72.4 percent above Kentucky average. Across 3 inspections since 2019, the facility totaled 12 citations, all moderate in severity with no critical or serious findings, complaint investigations, and fines or payment denials. The facility has availability at 74.8 percent occupancy that’s below Kentucky’s 81.3 percent average.

All accommodations are private. Amenities include private baths and chef-prepared meals,
with an active resident council in place.

Signature Healthcare at Jefferson Place is best for short-term post-acute rehabilitation in Louisville. Its above-average staffing, physical therapy intensity, and all-private accommodations make the community stand out.