When it comes time for your loved one to enter into a nursing home, determining the safest facility for them in Kentucky can be a challenge. With nearly 300 facilities in the state, you may feel overwhelmed when researching locations. Fortunately, there are a number of resources available to families that can help you make the right decision for your loved one.
In order to come to a confident decision regarding your family member’s nursing home, let’s take a look at what the facilities are like in Kentucky, what happens when a facility is cited for abuse or neglect and where you can find that information, and how to ultimately decide which facility is safest.
Accessing Reports for Nursing Homes in Kentucky
When a nursing home resident suffers abuse or neglect and that incident is reported and investigated, the incident is documented. The circumstances will have an impact on where you can access the information. It’s important to note, however, that the resources we’ll be discussing are only as accurate as what has been reported. Unfortunately, it’s likely the majority of nursing home abuse and neglect go unreported.
When you access a nursing home report or inspection, you’ll find information regarding the type of surveys that have been conducted, what a facility’s compliance status is, and examples of violations or corrections.
CMS Nursing Home Compare
The Medicare Nursing Home Care tool gives users information about facilities through a rating system. For each category, there’s the potential for the facility to receive up to five stars. The categories include health inspections, staffing, quality measures, and an overall rating.
According to the tool for facilities in Kentucky, 58 have received a five-star rating—indicating an overall rating of much above average. The majority of the facilities fall in the two to four-star range. In regard to the facilities that have an overall rating of much below average, or one star, there are 61.
To learn more about why a facility has received a certain rating, the tool lets users view health inspections, fire safety inspections, staffing issues, quality of resident care, and information on any penalties a facility has been cited with.
ProPublica Nursing Home Inspect
ProPublica is a database that gathers information from the federal government on nursing home inspections and reports. This tool provides information regarding homes with serious deficiencies, homes with infection-related deficiencies, homes with at least one case of COVID-19, payment suspensions, and the amount of fines any given facility has been hit with.
In regard to the facilities in Kentucky, ProPublica has collected the following:
- 72 homes with serious deficiencies
- 213 homes with infection-related deficiencies
- 179 homes with at least one case of COVID-19
- 39 payment suspensions
- A statewide total of $9.35 million in penalties
Kentucky Nursing Home Health Inspections
Through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, you can access state health inspections for nursing home facilities. This resource is the most challenging of the three to use because not only do you need to know the registered name of the facility to access any information, but the reports are often long and challenging to read.
If you get in touch with a lawyer, however, they will be able to help you decipher what a report means and whether or not the information included on it can help your loved one with their situation.
Choosing the Right Facility for Your Loved One
Because nursing homes provide a wide range of health and personal care services, it’s important to find a facility that specializes in providing the care your loved one needs the most. Talk to your loved one about what they are looking for when it comes to living in a nursing home and ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of their medical needs.
Once you have a list of facilities you and your loved one are interested in, schedule visits with the directors. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If possible, make a second visit without calling ahead. This will give you a better idea of how the facility is run when only residents are present.
If you and your loved one believe you’ve found the safest nursing home for them, make sure to read the contract carefully. Be sure to review current inspection reports and certifications of any facility you’re considering.
Protect Your Loved One With Golden Law Office
Even if you are confident in the facility you’ve chosen for your loved one, there’s no way you can be with them all of the time. In the event you are concerned about your loved one’s wellbeing and safety, you’ll want to consider getting in touch with a nursing home abuse lawyer.
If our Kentucky trial lawyers determine your loved one is being abused or neglected in their nursing home, we can help you take legal action to protect them and hold the facility accountable for their negligence. While pursuing a claim can seem overwhelming at first, we’ll guide you through the process and build a claim that proves your loved one was mistreated and deserves compensation to aid in their recovery. To get started, schedule a consultation with our firm today. We’ll review your loved one’s situation and advise on how best to proceed.
