Over Half of Kentucky Nursing Homes Lack Required Health Inspections, Raising Quality of Care Concerns

Lexington, Kentucky — An alarming investigation has uncovered that over half of Kentucky’s 269 nursing homes have not undergone their required “annual” health inspections for two years or longer. This revelation raises significant concerns over the quality of care provided to the state’s vulnerable populations, particularly as many families grapple with urgent decisions regarding long-term care for their loved ones.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which is responsible for conducting these inspections, has fallen behind schedule since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. As of October, more than half of the nursing homes had not received a comprehensive assessment in a span ranging from two to five years. Such delays can mean that facilities may not be held accountable for potential deficiencies or hazards affecting resident safety and well-being.

Denise Wells, executive director of the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass, emphasized that navigating the nursing home selection process is difficult for families. “It is not a consumer’s world right now in terms of finding long-term care,” she stated. This has left families in a precarious situation, often requiring urgent transfers from hospitals to nursing homes where options may be limited.

When selecting a nursing home, Wells advises families to consider the proximity of the facility to their own homes. Regular visits can not only improve the emotional well-being of residents but also help ensure that their care is being monitored. “I always tell people that if you’re looking at two facilities, and one of them is a three-star facility 40 minutes from where you live and another is a two-star facility right in your town, go with the two-star facility,” Wells said.

Families are encouraged to utilize resources such as the Nursing Home Compare website, operated by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which provides quality ratings for nursing homes across the country. The ratings are based on a five-star system, reflecting the overall performance and care standards of each facility.

However, the investigations suggest that many of these ratings may no longer reflect the current state of these homes due to outdated inspection data. Inspections, ideally conducted annually, are crucial for identifying any serious deficiencies and ensuring that facilities meet required standards of care.

Prospective residents and their families should also consider inspecting nursing homes in person, ideally visiting at different times to gauge the general environment, staff interactions, and conditions within the facility. It’s vital to ask about staffing levels and the qualifications of those providing care, as shortages in trained personnel can severely impact the quality of service.

In summary, as Kentucky continues to navigate the challenges posed by a prolonged backlog of nursing home inspections, families must be proactive in researching and evaluating care options. Understanding inspection histories, staffing levels, and facility environments will be essential to making informed decisions about long-term care in this vulnerable sector.