Can You Trust Your Elder Care Provider? 6 Kentucky Nursing Homes with Bad Raps

Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in Kentucky

Making the incredibly difficult decision to place your loved one in a nursing home can be scary. You must place your trust in caregivers that you don’t necessarily know under the assumption that they will treat your loved one with dignity and respect. Unfortunately, there are some nursing homes that don’t deliver proper care, and nursing home abuse and neglect have become all too common throughout the country.

If you’re considering placing your loved one in a nursing home in Kentucky, there are a few things you should know about local facilities and how they function. While reviews may tell you which nursing homes are the worst in Kentucky, we found reports from the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that show deficiencies in care from nursing homes throughout Kentucky. These are some of our findings.

In The Article

River Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Paducah, Kentucky

The River Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Paducah had 45 Deficiencies, including 23 serious deficiencies over the last three years, one of which included a resident that required one on one care and was not fully tended to. The report states, “Based on observation, interview, record review, hospital record review, review of Nurse’s book, Staff Assignment Sheet, and facility education review, it was determined the facility failed to ensure one (1) of four (4) sampled residents (Resident #1) received adequate supervision to prevent accidents.”

Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Louisville, Kentucky

In August of 2024, Health & Human Services found “The facility’s failure to have an effective system in place to ensure each resident received adequate supervision and monitoring to prevent elopement has caused or is likely to cause serious injury, harm, impairment, or death to a resident.”

Beaver Dam Nursing & Rehab Center, Inc in Beaver Dam, Kentucky

According to reports, Beaver Dam Nursing & Rehab Center, Inc. was serving food that wasn’t to temperature. “Based on observation and interview, it was determined the facility failed to provide food and drink that was palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature for the lunch meal served on 03/19/2024.”

Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation in Owensboro, KY

Over the last three years, Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation in Owensboro had 43 deficiencies. One report states, “Based on observations , interviews, record review, and review of the facility’s policy, it was determined the facility failed to ensure dignity for three (3) of three sampled residents (Residents #22, #83 and #67) reviewed for dignity. Resident #22 was observed not dressed or covered. Resident #83 and Resident #67 did not have a privacy bag for their urinary catheter drainage bags.”

Clifton Heights in Louisville, KY

Clifton Heights in Louisville had 14 deficiencies in June of 2023, including “Based on interview, record review, and facility policy review, it was determined the facility failed to promote the healing of existing pressure ulcers/injuries for one (1) of twenty-four (24) sampled residents.”

Elizabethtown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in E-town, KY

In August of 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services found that “Based on observation, interview, and facility policy review, the facility failed to ensure the resident(s) right to be free from abuse and neglect for one of one sampled resident.” This abuse included an incident during a shower, in which a resident was left alone on the shower table for 15 minutes while yelling for help.

What is Being Done to Prevent Elder Abuse in Nursing Homes?

According to the National Library of Medicine, “There is a requirement for increased competence among staff about the concept of abuse and known risk factors.” Nursing homes that require on-going training for their staff can have lowered amounts of abuse complaints among patients.

Additionally, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has several protective orders in place to ensure the safety of the elderly while in the care of nursing homes and family.

How to Spot Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you may be worried about their wellbeing. It’s important to listen to the patient’s claims and react accordingly. However, there are nursing home patients who cannot communicate their abuses or are too embarrassed to say something. That’s why it’s so important to know the signs of abuse in nursing homes in order to take action when it’s needed.

Your loved one may be experiencing physical abuse if you see:

• Frequent complaints of pain
• Unexplained injuries (unexplained from the nursing staff and the patient)
• Burns or bruises that suggest use of instruments, unnecessary or inhumane restraints, cigarettes, etc.
• Lack of reaction to pain
• Passive or withdrawn emotional behaviors

Your loved one may be experiencing sexual abuse if you see:

• Injuries in the genital area
• The patient having difficulty walking
• Fear of being along with caregivers
• Patient complaining of procedures or sexual assault

Your loved one may be experiencing nursing home neglect if you see:

• Signs of malnutrition
• Lack of hygiene or cleanliness
• Consistently dressed in dirty clothing or the same clothing
• Obvious fatigue
• Complaints of being hungry or thirsty
• In need of medical or dental care
• Bedsores

Your loved one may be experiencing financial abuse if you see:

• Unknown credit card charges
• Mismanagement of personal funds
• Lost, stolen, or destroyed personal property

While it can be hard to believe that the place you put all your trust into is harming your loved one, it’s essential that you report any signs of abuse as soon as possible. If you believe your loved one is in immediate danger, attempt to remove them from the location as quickly and safely as possible.

How to Report Nursing Home Abuse in Kentucky

The Kentucky Attorney General takes elder abuse very seriously. If you believe that your loved one is in danger or is being abused or neglected, you can contact the Elder Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-877-228-7384. You can call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and be sure to give them all the information you can. If you suspect that your loved one is in immediate danger and you are unable to remove them from the facilities, be sure to call the police to ensure that you can get them to safety as soon as possible.

Should I Call a Kentucky Nursing Home Abuse Attorney?

Yes. If your loved one has suffered abuse or neglect in a nursing home, it’s in your best interest to contact a nursing home abuse attorney in your area. Not only will they help you through the legal process of filing complaints, but they can also help you recover financially to ensure that you and your family are compensated properly for the damages inflicted on them in the nursing home.

Hughes & Coleman Injury Lawyers has worked with nursing home abuse victims for decades, and we fight for the rights of these victims and their families. Nursing home should be places of safety and dignity, and any violation of your trust should not go unchecked. Call us today to learn how we can help you with your nursing home abuse or neglect case. 800-800-4600

Sources:
Troubling deficiencies revealed in Lexington nursing homes – The Lexington Times