Worst Nursing Homes in Kentucky
When choosing a nursing home in Kentucky, you might feel overwhelmed by the many available options. You want a place that treats your loved ones with respect and care, but how do you know which ones to trust?
We’ve all heard stories about nursing homes that fall short, where residents aren’t getting the high-quality care they deserve. Maybe you’ve even encountered a few places that didn’t seem right in your search.
In this article, we’ll review the minor details by using real data from reliable news sources, health inspections, and data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Whether comparing nursing home ratings or planning a tour, knowing which places to avoid is as important as finding the right one.
How a Nursing Home or Rehabilitation Center is Rated
Figuring out which nursing home or rehab center to trust can be tricky. Rating facilities involves more than a quick look through the building. There’s a specific process involving the federal government, health inspections, and the opinions of those who matter most – the nursing home residents themselves.
Government Inspections Through the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
This organization works hard to determine a nursing home’s performance. It performs thorough inspections to see if nursing homes are meeting safety standards and providing the care they’re supposed to.
These check-ups are a big part of the federal agency’s scoring system and can make or break a facility’s rating. It’s not just about cleanliness, either. CMS checks whether the nursing home prioritizes the needs of its residents.
Resident Surveys
Resident surveys allow residents to share their experiences. These surveys ask about everything from how good the food is to how quickly staff respond to a call button.
Resident feedback is crucial because it gives an inside look at daily life in Kentucky nursing homes. When comparing nursing homes in Kentucky, these surveys can be real eye-openers because they can show you where residents feel safe and cared for.
Other Factors
Other factors, like health inspection reports and citations, also contribute to a place’s rating. A place with a history of serious violations or frequent complaints will have a lower rating.
On the other hand, nursing homes reviewed with fewer issues tend to score higher. When planning a nursing home tour or just looking at their ratings, remember these factors. They tell you a lot about what you might expect from that facility.
List of the Worst Kentucky Nursing Homes
According to RIO-Net, unlike facilities that received five stars, like Thomson-Hood Veterans Center, some offer inferior quality of care. According to the CMS online directory, only 43 nursing homes were rated five stars. These are the facilities to watch out for:
- Landmark of Louisville Rehabilitation and Nursing
- Hazard Health and Rehabilitation Center
- Landmark of Iroquois Park Rehab and Nursing Center
- Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation
- Regency Center
- Elliott Nursing and Rehabilitation
- Ridgeway Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility [1]
Government Ratings
When it comes to Kentucky nursing homes, not all are doing their best. The federal government has given some facilities pretty low marks through the CMS. These nursing homes have struggled with quality measures and might not be putting residents first. Here are some of the lowest-rated ones:
- Belmont Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
- Carter Nursing and Rehabilitation
- Lyndon Woods Care & Rehab, LLC
- Good Shepherd Health and Rehabilitation
- Clifton Oaks Care and Rehab Center, LLC
- Dover Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
- Highlands Nursing and Rehabilitation
- Liberty Care and Rehabilitation Center
- Nicholasville Nursing and Rehabilitation
- Ridgeway Nursing & Rehabilitation Facility [2]
Health Inspection Citations
According to the data from the CMS online directory, here are a few nursing homes with health violations:
- Laurel Heights Home for the Elderly – resident assessment and care planning deficiencies
- Spring Creek Post-Acute Rehabilitation Center – resident rights deficiencies
- Morgantown Care & Rehabilitation Center – pharmacy service deficiencies
- Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital LTC – freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation deficiencies
- Hillside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center – quality of life and care deficiencies
- Brighton Cornerstone Group, LLC – infection control deficiencies
- Madisonville Health and Rehabilitation, LLC – nutrition and dietary deficiencies
- Louisville KY OPCO, LLC – environmental deficiencies
- The Pavilion at Kenton – resident assessment and care planning deficiencies
- The Grandview Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility – nutrition and dietary deficiencies
Factors Contributing to Nursing Home Abuse
Several factors can lead to poor care and nursing home abuse. Various problems can turn what should be a safe place into a troubling one. Understaffing, inadequate training, and cutting costs can all contribute to nursing home abuse.
Understaffing
Understaffing is a big problem in nursing homes. When there aren’t enough healthcare providers, the staff gets stretched thin. This can lead to residents not getting the attention they need, which can cause serious issues, from neglected primary care to more severe outcomes.
If you compare nursing homes, you’ll see that those with better staff ratios generally offer better care. It’s not just about comfort – preventing severe issues that can arise when residents are overlooked, especially in rehabilitation and nursing centers where proper care is essential.
Inadequate Training
Inadequately trained staff often leads to poor care. Medicare-certified nursing homes should follow strict quality measures, but improperly trained staff might not know how to handle certain situations, which can put residents at risk. For example, they may not know how to properly use a lift to lift patients, which can result in severe injuries.
Proper training is key to ensuring residents are cared for safely and respectfully in rehabilitation and nursing centers. Without it, even basic tasks can become dangerous.
Financial Pressures
Money can also be a significant factor. Kentucky nursing homes might try to cut corners to save costs, which often means less spending on staff or necessary resources, such as staffing or equipment maintenance.
When the budget gets tight, the quality of care can suffer. Staff might be overworked, and important equipment might not get the upkeep it needs, which can put residents at risk. Financial pressures can directly impact the level of care residents receive, making it harder for every nursing center to provide the safe and comfortable environment people deserve.
Corporate Ownership
Corporate-owned Kentucky nursing homes focus more on profits than on people. When big companies own multiple facilities, the focus can shift from providing the best care to keeping the business profitable. Cutting costs may include low-quality medical supplies, reducing staff, or not maintaining the building.
Call a Kentucky Nursing Home Abuse Attorney Today!
If you’re worried about the care your loved one is getting in a nursing home, it’s time to talk to someone who can help. At the Nursing Home Law Center, we’ve helped thousands of families like yours nationwide. We know how tough it can be to deal with situations involving Medicare-certified nursing homes and potential abuse, but you don’t have to go through it alone.
Call (800) 926-7565 for a free consultation. Our experienced attorneys are ready to listen and help you take the next steps. We’re here to support you every step of the way.