Nursing Home Ratings in Kentucky: Data Analysis of Quality, Safety, and Staffing
Kentucky has 267 nursing homes averaging 4.05 HPRD — 0.15 hours above the national average of 3.90. 72.28% meet the CMS benchmark.
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Data updated quarterly
This analysis reflects the most recent CMS data release (Q3 2025). Staffing figures, grades, and benchmarks are refreshed every quarter as new federal data becomes available.
Nursing Home Staffing in Kentucky: What Families Need to Know
If you're evaluating nursing homes in Kentucky, the state-level numbers offer some reassurance — but they don't tell the full story. Kentucky's 267 facilities serve approximately 21,602 residents daily with an average staffing level of 4.05 HPRD, above the national average. About 72.28% meet the CMS staffing benchmark, and 53.2% earn a B or better.
But 33 facilities (12.4%) still earn a D or F — a reminder that state averages can smooth over the gaps between a well-staffed home and one running chronically short.
Quality varies widely across Kentucky's nursing homes. While 53.2% earn a B or better, 12.4% fall to D or F. That spread reinforces why facility-level data matters more than any state average — the home two miles away might be a completely different experience from the one down the block.
Explore the full Kentucky profile → View facility rankings, county breakdowns, and trend data on our Kentucky state page.
The Kentucky Nursing Home Landscape
Kentucky operates 267 Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes serving approximately 21,602 residents daily. Staffing levels range from well above the research recommendation to critically understaffed — a spread that makes facility-level data essential for any family evaluating care options.
The state averages 4.05 total nurse HPRD, which is 0.15 hours above the national average of 3.90. RN coverage averages 0.79 HPRD (national: 0.68), and 37.08% of facilities meet the 0.75 RN research recommendation. The grade distribution shows 142 facilities (53.2%) earning a B or better, while 33 (12.4%) fall to D or F.
Kentucky by the Numbers
Grade Distribution
Staffing Compared to the National Average
Additional Metrics
- Median HPRD: 3.76 (less skewed by outliers than the average)
- Meet Research Recommendation (4.10): 28.84% of facilities
- RN Recommendation (0.75): 37.08% of facilities
- Agency/Contract Staff: 3.09% of total hours
What This Means for Families
Kentucky's RN staffing of 0.79 HPRD meets or exceeds the 0.75 research recommendation at the state level, with 37.08% of individual facilities reaching that threshold. This is a genuine strength — adequate RN coverage means residents have clinical oversight that catches problems early.
Weekend staffing drops by an average of 16.47% — roughly in line with the national pattern. Individual facilities vary, so checking the daily staffing data for any facility you're considering is worthwhile.
Agency/contract staff account for 3.09% of hours, which is near the national average. This indicates a mix of permanent and temporary workers — worth asking about at any specific facility you're evaluating.
How Nursing Home Ratings Are Calculated
Our letter grades are based on Hours Per Resident Day (HPRD) — the total nursing staff hours a facility provides divided by its daily resident count. This metric normalizes for facility size, so a 200-bed home and a 20-bed home are measured on the same scale.
The grade thresholds are anchored to two evidence-based benchmarks:
- 3.48 HPRD — the staffing level CMS established through formal rulemaking as an appropriate standard. (The regulatory requirement was subsequently suspended, but the underlying research remains valid and widely cited.)
- 4.10 HPRD — the level recommended by the landmark CMS-commissioned STRIVE study as the minimum to prevent quality problems.
Grades A+ and A correspond to facilities meeting or exceeding the research recommendation. Grade B meets the CMS benchmark. Grades C through F fall below in progressively concerning ways.
All data comes from CMS Staffing & Quality Data — daily reports that every nursing home is legally required to submit. No facility pays to be rated. No rating is influenced by advertising or referral relationships.
Learn more about how HPRD is calculated in our guide to nursing home staffing metrics.
Key Takeaways for Families in Kentucky
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Check the facility-level grade, not just the state average. Kentucky's 4.05 HPRD average masks a range from A+ to F. Every facility is different.
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RN staffing is the most important single metric. Only 37.08% of Kentucky facilities meet the 0.75 RN recommendation. Prioritize homes with strong registered nurse coverage — that's where clinical problems get caught early.
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Ask about weekends. Kentucky facilities drop staffing by 16.47% on weekends on average. A weekend visit may not reflect typical staffing — check the daily data.
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Look at the trend direction. A facility that's improving from C toward B may be a better choice than one declining from B toward C. Four quarters of trend data reveal the direction.
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Review the inspection history. Staffing data measures resources; inspection data measures outcomes. A facility with thin staffing and repeated citations is showing two different signals pointing the same direction.
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Use the comparison tool to evaluate finalists side by side across every metric — staffing, grades, weekend patterns, inspection history, and CMS star ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are nursing homes rated in Kentucky?
Kentucky nursing homes receive CMS Five-Star ratings based on health inspections, staffing levels, and quality measures. Our analysis adds letter grades (A+ through F) based on total nursing hours per resident per day, computed from federal staffing and quality data published by CMS. Kentucky currently has 44 facilities earning A+ or A, and 33 earning D or F.
What is considered a good nursing home rating?
A facility with a B grade or better (3.48+ HPRD) meets the CMS benchmark standard. An A or A+ (4.10+ HPRD) meets the research recommendation for avoiding quality problems. In Kentucky, 53.2% of facilities reach B or better.
How many nursing homes are in Kentucky?
Kentucky has 267 Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes serving approximately 21,602 residents daily.
What factors affect nursing home ratings in Kentucky?
Key factors include total nurse staffing hours, registered nurse coverage, weekend staffing consistency, reliance on temporary agency staff, health inspection deficiency history, and clinical quality measures such as fall rates and infection rates.
How can families compare nursing homes in Kentucky?
Our comparison tool allows side-by-side evaluation of any two Kentucky facilities across staffing grades, HPRD levels, weekend drop-off, agency usage, CMS star ratings, and inspection history. You can also explore the Kentucky state page for county-level breakdowns and rankings.