10 Best Nursing Homes in Lexington, KY

Paying for a senior care facility may feel daunting, but there are resources that can help. Seniors and families often use a variety of income streams when paying for a senior living facility, such as VA benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare. Each method has its benefits and limitations. In this section, you’ll learn more about how these funding options can cover senior living expenses.

Nursing home facilities, as well as assisted living communities and memory care facilities, must be licensed by the Department for Aging and Independent Living, which is under the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Licensing ensures facilities meet standards of care, staffing, and safety.

Different types of facilities must follow certain regulations. There are many laws to follow, but key rules for skilled nursing homes include:

• Staff members must be trained to provide care in specific areas, such as wound care and infection control.
• Facilities must have processes to prevent and control infections.
• Staff must be trained to safely administer medications.

In addition to Kentucky laws and regulations, nursing homes are federally regulated as well. The state ensures both state and federal requirements are being met.

Assisted living communities also must follow specific rules, including:

• There must be adequate 24-hour staffing.
• Units must include certain features such as a phone jack, a private bathroom with a bathtub or shower (unless built before 2000), and an unfurnished room with a lockable door.
• Staff must be trained in certain areas like adult first aid, the aging process, residents’ rights, and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Memory care facilities are often included in an assisted living community. This means that they follow assisted living rules and regulations. However, they do have specific regulations, including the following:

• The environment must include orientation cues and alarms to reduce confusion.
• The facility must offer activities to improve the quality of life for residents with memory loss.
• There must be a personalized care plan for each resident.

Learn more about Kentucky’s long-term care regulations and status on the Division of Health Care’s website.

Nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care facilities are inspected annually by the Division of Health Care, also a part of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. For an inspection, a surveyor comes to the facility unannounced and makes certain checks to ensure the location is compliant with regulations. Inspections also happen if a complaint is received. Unfortunately, nursing home records and inspection reports for Kentucky assisted living and nursing home facilities are hard to find online. To obtain information regarding Kentucky senior communities, including access to records, please refer to the Office of Inspector General Open Records Request.

Kentucky Department of Health contact information

Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
275 E. Main St.
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: 502-564-3970

COVID-19 regulations for Lexington nursing homes

There are currently no COVID-19 mandates in place in Lexington for senior care facilities. Staff at long-term care facilities, such as skilled nursing homes, memory care facilities, or assisted living communities, must take precautions, as with other diseases, by following basic infection control guidance. This includes hand washing, wearing a mask if necessary, and wearing protective equipment if recommended for the situation.

The COVID-19 details below are from the Kentucky Department of Health. Some nursing homes, assisted living communities, or memory care facilities may have their own guidance, so ask about this when looking at different options.

On average, the assisted living communities and memory care facilities A Place for Mom partners within Lexington receive nearly five-star reviews. Seniors and their loved ones often highlight the “comfort of home” the communities offer while remaining in a safe, secure location. Reviewers also rave about the caring staff at communities across Lexington, so families know their loved ones are being well taken care of.

Understanding the difference between skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care

Although they may appear similar, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and memory care communities offer distinct services.

• Skilled nursing facilities offer specialized medical care to seniors who need 24/7 medical care at a level just under what one would receive in a hospital.
• Assisted living facilities are suitable for individuals who require assistance with daily activities. These communities offer medication management, personal care, meal service, and more.
• Memory care facilities are designed for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. They offer services designed to protect and engage patients with memory impairments, as well as all the services offered in assisted living.

Senior living options in Lexington

A Place for Mom doesn’t partner with stand-alone nursing homes. However, we do partner with 11 assisted living and memory care facilities in Lexington. Here’s a summary of the different communities in our network:

• Two standalone assisted living facilities
• One standalone memory care facility
• Three combined assisted living and memory care facilities
• Five combined assisted living, independent living, and memory care facilities

Lots to do and see for visitors

Lexington is known as the Horse Capital of the World, but the area has even more to offer than its famous horse farms and race tracks. The city is also known for its bourbon distilleries and historic sites and for being the home of the University of Kentucky. This means that there is plenty to do for families when they come to visit their loved ones.

For visitors who like to get outside with their loved ones, Lexington is also known for its beautiful scenery. Some facilities have outdoor walking paths on site so seniors and their loved ones can enjoy the fresh air without venturing far.

Easy access to the state’s top health care

No one plans for an unexpected trip to the hospital, but it’s nice to know health care is nearby should an emergency arise. Lexington has the highest-rated hospital in Kentucky, the University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital, so residents at a nursing home, assisted living community, or memory care facility can get quality health care when they need it.

Health care for seniors in Lexington

Transportation for seniors in Lexington

Most of our partner facilities in Lexington (91%) offer complimentary transportation for residents, and 55% offer at-cost transportation, both of which can be safer options for seniors.

For families visiting Lexington, a car is the most commonly preferred mode of transportation. However, drivers should keep traffic in mind when planning trips at peak times.

There are also public transportation options for seniors when families visit. But please remember a senior living in a skilled nursing home or a senior with memory loss should never use public transit without a caregiver.

Transportation options for seniors include:

• Lextran – With buses running every 30 minutes, Lextran is Lexington’s public transport system. People 62 or older, as well as veterans, Medicare cardholders, and people with disabilities, can get a reduced fare.
• Wheels – As a partnership between Lextran and the Bluegrass Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, Wheels is a transportation service specifically for people with disabilities. You must apply via ADA Ride to be eligible, so call 877-232-7433 or visit the website for more information.
• Independent Transportation Network (called iTNBluegrass) – Similar to a taxi service, iTNBluegrass is a nonprofit transportation system for the aging population and the visually impaired. Users must be members so journeys can be booked using a prepaid account.

For seniors who prefer private transportation options in Lexington, Able Care Transportation, Barbara Care, and Helping Hands Transportation specialize in senior care and provide non-emergency medical transportation or other trips.

Senior activities in Lexington

Lexington is a Southern city famous for its scenery, bourbon, and horse country. Known as the Horse Capital of the World, one activity families can do with a senior loved one is visit the area’s horse farms. Blue Grass Tours, for instance, can create a custom tour based on a family’s needs.

If your loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, a good activity to do with seniors with memory loss is to spend time outside. For a nice day in the fresh air, visit the Arboretum, Kentucky’s official botanical garden. The Arboretum is a 100-acre public garden and is a partnership between the University of Kentucky and the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government.

In addition to the Arboretum, Lexington is home to many walking trails. Some are wheelchair friendly, such as McConnell Springs Trail, an easy 0.6-mile loop.

Apart from horses and scenic views, people love Lexington for its bourbon and history. Bourbon enthusiasts should visit the Distillery District to tour working distilleries, including the Barrel House Distillery and the James E. Pepper Distillery. For those who prefer history, Lexington is home to the Mary Todd Lincoln House, where the famous First Lady grew up, and Ashland, the former estate of Henry Clay.

If you get hungry, downtown Lexington is a great place to go. The Square, a block of 16 buildings built in the 1880s, is at the heart of downtown and is home to many restaurants, hotels, and bars.