Nursing Homes and Senior Care in Kentucky

Nursing Homes by City in Kentucky

The Kentucky cities with the most CMS-certified nursing homes. All 153 cities are listed below the table. Homes in Kentucky average 4.0 hours of nursing care per resident per day; the national median is 3.7 hours.

5-Star Nursing Homes in Kentucky

Homes with CMS's top overall rating, ordered by inspection rating. See all highest-rated nursing homes in Kentucky.

Assisted Living in Kentucky

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Health Care licenses assisted living in Kentucky. License types: Assisted Living Community (ALC), Assisted Living Community with Basic Health Care (ALC-BH) and Assisted Living Community with Dementia Care (ALC-DC). Use the state's search to check a community's license and inspection history.

• Kentucky assisted living facility search
• Kentucky assisted living rules
• Kentucky assisted living licensing (Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Health Care)

Memory Care Rules in Kentucky

Kentucky's term is "Assisted Living Community with Dementia Care (ALC-DC)", a separate license or certification. Facilities must give families a written disclosure of their dementia care services.

• An ALC with dementia care (ALC-DC) license is required for any facility that provides assisted living services and dementia care services in a secured dementia unit (902 KAR 20:480 Section 2).
• If an assisted living community operates a secured dementia unit in addition to another assisted living licensure level on the same campus, the cabinet issues a separate license for the ALC-DC and for the ALC or ALC-BH (902 KAR 20:480 Section 5).
• The manager (director) of an ALC-DC shall complete at least ten (10) hours of annual dementia-specific training (902 KAR 20:480 Section 16(3)).
• An ALC-DC shall develop dementia care policies and procedures and provide a copy to the resident and the resident's designated contact person or legal representative at the time of move-in (902 KAR 20:480 Section 16(4)).
• Only dementia-trained staff may care for residents on the secured dementia unit unless a temporary emergency situation exists (902 KAR 20:480 Section 16(5); KRS 194A.7203).
• All staff on the secured dementia care unit shall receive at least eight (8) hours of dementia-specific orientation within the first thirty (30) days of working in the unit (KRS 194A.7205(1)).
• Direct care staff shall complete a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of specialized training in dementia care within the first thirty (30) days of working independently with residents with Alzheimer's or other dementia, and a minimum of eight (8) hours of specialized training in dementia care annually thereafter (KRS 194A.7205(3)).
• Staffing levels shall be sufficient to meet the scheduled needs of residents; during nighttime hours, staffing levels shall be based on the sleep patterns and needs of residents (KRS 194A.7203(3)).
• An ALC-DC shall evaluate each resident on its secured dementia unit for engagement in activities, develop an individualized activity plan, and provide a selection of daily structured and non-structured activities (902 KAR 20:480 Section 16(6)).
• An ALC-DC shall offer support services to the families of residents on its secured dementia unit at least every six (6) months (902 KAR 20:480 Section 16(6)(e)).
• Dementia care units constructed after July 14, 2022 shall offer access to secured outdoor space (902 KAR 20:480 Section 16(6)(f)).
• An ALC-DC shall comply with KRS 216.595, the statute on facilities that provide special care for persons with Alzheimer's disease or other brain disorders, including a description of dementia-specific staff training (902 KAR 20:480 Sections 7 and 16).

• Kentucky memory care rules

Medicaid Long-Term Care in Kentucky

Kentucky's Medicaid program is Kentucky Medicaid. For nursing home Medicaid (2026), the state lists an income limit of Special Income Standard is $2,982 (effective 1/1/2026) and an asset limit of $2,000 (aged, blind, or disabled individual, family size 1). Residents keep a personal needs allowance of Nursing Facility (NF) is $60 (this amount does not change).

• Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver: adult day, in-home care and respite. For people age 65 or older and/or with a physical disability who meet the requirements for residence in a nursing facility (907 KAR 1:022) and the financial qualifications for Medicaid. Currently, there is a waiting list for HCB services and supports; placement on the waiting list is determined by the date the completed application is received. Services can be self-directed through Participant Directed Services (PDS).

• Kentucky Medicaid nursing facility coverage
• Kentucky Medicaid long-term care limits

Nursing Home Inspections and Complaints in Kentucky

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Health Care inspects nursing homes in Kentucky for CMS. To file a complaint, call Northern Branch 502-595-4958; Eastern Branch 859-246-2301; Southern Branch 606-330-2030; Western Branch 270-889-6052 or use the state's complaint page.

• Kentucky nursing home inspection lookup
• File a nursing home complaint in Kentucky

Kentucky Long-Term Care Ombudsman

The Kentucky Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman) is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living. Ombudsmen help with complaints, residents' rights and problems with care. Call 1-800-372-2991.

• Contact the Kentucky Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman)

Aging Services and Caregiver Support in Kentucky

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL) runs Kentucky's aging services, delivered through local Area Agencies on Aging. Family caregivers can get help through National Family Caregiver Support Program (and the Kentucky Family Caregiver Program for grandparent caregivers). Adult day services are licensed or certified by Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Office of Inspector General, Division of Health Care (Adult Day Health Center licensure).

• Kentucky aging services: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Department for Aging and Independent Living (DAIL)
• Area Agencies on Aging in Kentucky
• Caregiver support in Kentucky: National Family Caregiver Support Program (and the Kentucky Family Caregiver Program for grandparent caregivers)
• Kentucky adult day services

Guides for Your Next Step

See how to choose a nursing home, what memory care is, how Medicaid pays for nursing home care and what Medicare covers. For local help, call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.

Frequently Asked Questions