In addition to the Kentucky Derby and world-famous fried chicken, Kentucky is home to over 4.4 million residents, approximately 16 percent of whom are age 65 and over. Senior residents of the Bluegrass State enjoy tax-free social security income and numerous options for long-term care, including 159 assisted living facilities.
Directory of Assisted Living Facilities in Kentucky
Choosing an assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one can be a long process, and research and planning is essential. Before you begin your search, consider the type of community you are looking for, the level of care needed, and your financial abilities and limitations. The directory below is a great place to start your search for assisted living facilities (ALFs) in Kentucky. You can use the tool to filter by facility size, price, amenities, and more.
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Call NowHow to Pay for Assisted Living in Kentucky
Determining how to finance assisted living often starts with the question, “What’s the cost?” In today’s economy, where inflation plays a significant role, having current data is crucial for senior living financial planning. AssistedLiving.org has gathered cost information from its expansive network of over 75,000 senior living providers. This data offers a glimpse into the average expenses for assisted living in Kentucky and 22 additional cities within Kentucky.
How Inflation Has Impacted the Cost of Assisted Living in Kentucky
Assisted living became more expensive in 2023 because of inflation, with prices increasing by an average of $389 nationwide. Kentucky experienced a slightly greater jump of $460, but trends predict it could face another 17.5% rise in 2024, adding $649 to seniors’ monthly expenses. In comparison, assisted living costs fell from $4,360 to $4,357 in Indiana, but an 8% increase is likely in 2024. Prices are 23.5% higher in West Virginia and climbed 24.5% in Tennessee. While they dropped by $217 in Illinois in 2023, costs may soar by 12.5% in 2024.
Location | 2022 Cost (Historical) | 2023 Cost (Current) | 2024 Cost (Estimated) |
Kentucky | $3,288 | $3,748 | $4,397 |
U.S. Average | $4,070 | $4,459 | $4,802 |
Indiana | $4,360 | $4,357 | $4,699 |
West Virginia | $4,198 | $5,173 | $5,183 |
Tennessee | $3,383 | $4,201 | $4,543 |
Illinois | $4,959 | $4,742 | $5,313 |
Assisted Living Costs in Kentucky's Top Cities
Despite inflation, Kentucky can still be a highly affordable state for seniors requiring assisted living care, but choosing the right hometown is vital. At an average cost of $3,173, care is much cheaper than average in Bowling Green, while Lexington’s prices are $1,045 higher than the state norm of $3,748. Louisville is slightly more expensive than usual at $3,871, but care is highly affordable in Richmond, averaging $3,350.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Living
When comparing different types of senior living, it’s essential to understand they offer various service levels, starting with independent living, which mainly provides accommodations, maintenance and some communal amenities for $2,794. Seniors needing daily personal care will typically pay $3,748 for assisted living, and this higher cost covers staffing and amenities. Memory care is significantly more expensive at $4,852, but these communities provide highly specialized services and employ caregivers with additional training.
Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Kentucky
Kentucky currently does not provide any financial assistance for assisted living. It’s definitely important to keep this in mind as you search for an ALF for yourself or a loved one, as you’ll need to finance the majority of the cost from your personal funds.
Kentucky Medicaid Home and Community Based Waiver
If you’re looking into other long-term care options, you may be able to use the Medicaid Home and Community Based (HCB) Waiver to help finance your care. The waiver helps seniors who require a nursing facility level of care remain in their home or community rather than being placed in nursing care. While the HCB Waiver currently does not cover assisted living, it can be used to help pay for other long-term care services like adult day care, respite care, and in-home attendant care.
Who Is Eligible?
Eligible applicants must be at least 65 years of age, require a nursing home level of care, and meet the income requirements for Medicaid.
How to Apply
You can apply for this waiver and other public benefits online by visiting the state’s Benefind portal.
More Ways to Finance Assisted Living
Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:
- Veterans Benefits: Veterans can take advantage of several different pension programs to help cover the cost of assisted living. For more information, see the article on benefits.va.gov.
- Life Insurance Policies: Even if a spouse or loved one hasn’t died, certain types of life insurance policies can be used to pay for assisted living. More information is available at longtermcare.acl.gov.
- Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance policy that pays for long-term care when it becomes necessary, including the cost of assisted living. For more information on the benefits and drawbacks of this financing method, visit longtermcare.acl.gov.
- Reverse Mortgages: Reverse mortgages allow seniors to access the equity from a home that they own, and these funds can be used to pay for assisted living. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a federally insured reverse mortgage program.
Free and Low-Cost Resources for Seniors in Kentucky
There are many resources in Kentucky that assist seniors in their retirement. Assistedliving.org has compiled information on local organizations, programs and agencies and categorized them into care types for easy reference.
Area Agency on Aging
Retirees can find support and advice on various senior-related issues from their local Area Agency on Aging. The agency provides advice on topics such as financial assistance programs, in-home care and long-term care planning. It also connects seniors and caregivers with community-based resources.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky Area Agencies on Aging | Kentucky’s Area Agencies on Aging are nonprofit organizations dedicated to serving the needs of older adults and caregivers. They provide programs and services that promote independent living and help to enhance seniors’ quality of life. These include care planning, transportation services, nutrition programs and caregiver support. They also offer information, referrals and benefits counseling. Kentucky’s AAAs play a crucial role in advocating for seniors’ rights and ensuring they have access to the resources they need to age with dignity. |
Cash Assistance Programs
Cash assistance programs in Kentucky provide financial support to help low-income retirees remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Seniors and caregivers can apply for tax rebates and reductions, discounts on vital services and help covering the cost of heating and cooling their home.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky Lifeline Program | 800-234-9473 | The LifeLine Program offers a discount on landline or mobile telephone service, ensuring that participants can stay in contact with loved ones. |
Financial Assistance for Senior Care and Senior Living
Whether living in their own home or in a senior living community, Kentucky seniors can find financial assistance from numerous local resources. These organizations help residents cover some of the costs associated with in-home or long-term care and connect them with other helpful community-based resources.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky Home and Community Based Waiver | 844-784-5614 | Kentucky’s Home and Community Based (HCB) waiver helps seniors live at home or in the community, delaying or preventing placement in a nursing home. It supports this goal through services such as personal care assistance, home-delivered meals, minor home adaptation, adult day health care and homemaker services. |
Kentucky Transitions | 877-564-0330 | Another service under the waiver program for seniors is Kentucky Transitions. It helps seniors currently living in a nursing home or institution move into their own homes or communities. Once applicants have moved from the nursing facility and live on their own, they qualify for an HCB waiver for further assistance. |
Food Assistance Programs
Local organizations help ensure elderly citizens have a balanced diet and receive essential vitamins and minerals to remain healthy. Through nutrition programs, congregate meals, home-delivered meals and food pantries, these programs help Kentucky seniors afford the nutritious food they need.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Feeding Kentucky | 502-699-2656 | Seniors needing food assistance who can travel independently or have access to transportation may benefit from community food pantries. Generally operated by churches and nonprofit organizations, food pantries provide fresh and nonperishable food that seniors can use to create meals at home. Kentucky boasts numerous food pantries throughout the state. Each program operates under its own eligibility requirements and has varying hours of operation, so call ahead to confirm when to come and what kind of information to bring. |
Kentucky Emergency Feeding Assistance Program (EFAP) | 800-327-6568 | The Kentucky Emergency Feeding Assistance Program supplements the diets of low-income seniors with healthy foods available at no cost. By meeting federally established income guidelines, seniors in Kentucky ages 60 and older can receive foods that enable them to create nutritious meals at home. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture administers this program, making nutritious foods available to local agencies for distribution to seniors in need. |
Kentucky Meals on Wheels | The Kentucky Meals on Wheels service is part of the federally-funded Senior Nutrition Program in the state. Accepted Kentuckians aged 60 or older can get hot meals delivered to their homes. A home visit is first done to determine eligibility, such as that the resident is ill and homebound. A senior can apply to be a part of the program or can get nominated by a caregiver or loved one. | |
Kentucky Nutrition Program for the Elderly | 502-564-6930 | The Kentucky Nutrition Program for the Elderly provides one congregate or home-delivered meal per day to each Kentucky resident aged 60 and older. To qualify for home-delivered meals, seniors must be 60 or older, be unable to secure a congregate meal due to disability or Illness and have no one in the home to prepare them a nutritious meal regularly. Area Agencies on Aging and Independent Living administer this program statewide. |
Kentucky Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) | 502-782-9238 | The Kentucky Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program provides seniors ages 60 and older with $50 checks to purchase fresh, unprocessed and locally grown foods. Seniors can use this money to purchase Kentucky-grown fruits, vegetables and fresh-cut herbs. These checks are redeemable at authorized farmers’ markets throughout the state. To be eligible, seniors must have an income less than or equal to 185% of the federal poverty level. |
Kentucky Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) | 855-306-8959 | The Kentucky Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds food purchases for low-income seniors. Individuals must be U.S. citizens, meet income eligibility requirements and have no more than $3,500 in resources, including cash and bank account assets. Qualifying seniors receive an electronic benefit transfer card, which they can use at a grocery store to purchase eligible foods. |
Free Used Medical Equipment
Due to the high cost of purchasing new medical equipment, several organizations in Kentucky collect lightly used medical devices such as wheelchairs, ramps and walkers and distribute them to local seniors and residents in need.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky Assistive Technology Service (KATS) Network Coordinating Center | 800-327-5287 | Project CARAT promotes the reuse of assistive technology (AT) and durable medical equipment (DME) by transitioning unused AT and DME to individuals who need them at no cost. |
Health Insurance & Prescription Drug Coverage for Seniors
Kentucky seniors who meet certain income criteria can apply to local resources to help them pay for prescription drugs. Eligible residents can also receive assistance through health insurance and other programs to access free or discounted medical services.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program | 800-633-8100 | The Kentucky Department for Public Health Division of Prevention and Quality Improvement (DPQI), Health Care Access Branch administers the Kentucky Prescription Assistance Program (KPAP). This free service helps qualified seniors obtain free or reduced-cost prescription drugs through assistance programs offered by drug manufacturers, discount pharmacy programs and discount drug programs. |
Home Repair and Modifications
Seniors and those with disabilities can access a variety of local resources to help them pay for home repairs and modifications. Programs in Kentucky have different eligibility criteria and often assist retirees by providing grants or loans.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants | 859-224-7353 | Seniors may qualify for a home repair grant of up to $10,000 in their lifetime. They must use their grant funds to pay for repairs and improvements that remove health or safety hazards. |
Social Security Offices
Social Security offices in Kentucky help seniors and disabled people access the benefits they’re entitled to. Older adults can contact their local office for information about receiving retirement benefits, disability allowance and Supplemental Security Income.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky Social Security | Social Security is a source of income available to retirees and people who can no longer work because of a disability. The money for Social Security comes from a payroll tax levied on employers, employees and self-employed individuals. When you retire, you’ll receive monthly payments based on how much you earned when you were working. |
Tax Assistance
Seniors can apply for tax assistance from several Kentucky resources. Elderly residents and those with disabilities could be eligible for tax exemptions on medical expenses, reductions on property tax and other tax assistance programs.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky Homestead Exemption | 502-564-4581 | Qualifying Kentucky homeowners may be eligible for a homestead exemption deducted from their home and property’s assessed value. |
Utility & Energy Bill Assistance
Low-income seniors who are struggling to meet the costs of maintaining their homes can find support from organizations that offer assistance with utility and energy bills. Kentucky retirees could also qualify for emergency funding programs if they’re in danger of losing utility services due to unpaid invoices.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) | 800-456-3452 | LIHEAP is a federally funded program that helps cover the home heating and cooling costs of eligible low income seniors and other Kentucky households. The Kentucky LIHEAP program initially uses annual funds to cover heating costs, then covers cooling costs if there are still funds available. |
Veteran’s Services
Kentucky retirees who have served in the U.S. military can find support from local veteran services. These offices and organizations help vets access the benefits they’re eligible for and provide advice and information on a variety of issues.
Program Name | Phone Number | Description |
Kentucky VA Benefits and Health Care | The Department of Veterans Affairs provides specialized medical care for senior vets throughout Kentucky. Primary VA Medical Centers, outpatient care sites and administrative buildings are located in Lexington, Fort Thomas, Louisville and other major cities. Memory care, skilled nursing and in-home medical and home care services may be financially subsidized for veterans over 65. Kentucky’s Department of Veterans Affairs includes a total of 23 accredited benefits representatives who serve veterans in all 120 counties statewide. |
Assisted Living Laws and Regulations in Kentucky
Kentucky’s Department for Aging and Independent Living oversees and sets regulations for assisted living facilities in the state.
When searching for an assisted living facility (ALF) in Kentucky, you’ll likely come across two different options: assisted living facilities, and personal care homes. Both must be licensed and regulated by the state, but personal care homes provide a nursing home level of care, while ALFs do not. Unless you need skilled nursing care, you should focus your search on assisted living facilities.
Assisted Living Service Plans
Prior to moving into a facility, all residents must undergo a functional assessment of their ability to perform activities of daily living. The assessment must be redone at least once per year, and the accompanying information on file for each resident must be updated as needed.
Assisted Living Admission Requirements
In order to be admitted to an ALF in Kentucky, residents must be able to walk on their own or be mobile non-ambulatory, unless they’re temporarily non-mobile due to a condition for which they are receiving appropriate medical treatment. Residents also cannot be a danger to themselves or to others.
Assisted Living Scope of Care
The main service provided by assisted living facilities in Kentucky is assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and grooming. Other services provided by ALFs include:
- Three meals and at least one snack per day
- Assistance with household activities like laundry, transportation, and housekeeping
- Assistance with self-administration of medication
- Social and recreational activities
Residents can also arrange to receive additional services from outside, third-party providers if permitted by the facility. The policies for third-party services will vary between different assisted living facilities.
Assisted Living Medicaid Policy
Medicaid and associated waiver programs cannot be used to help pay for assisted living facilities in Kentucky. If you need financial assistance, consider other options like reverse mortgages or cashing out your life insurance policy.
Assisted Living Facility Requirements
Resident units are not required to be apartment style, but they must include:
- A room with a lockable door
- A private bathroom with a shower or bathtub
- A window to the outdoors
- Emergency response provisions and a telephone jack
Most units are single-occupancy, but residents can choose to live with one other person. There is a maximum limit of two residents per unit.
Medication Management Regulations
Medication administration is not allowed, but staff members may assist residents with self-administration. Permitted actions include:
- Reminding residents to take their medication
- Opening the medication container (but not handling the actual medication or removing it from the container)
- Reading the medication label to the resident
Staffing Requirements
Assisted living facilities must employ a designated manager who is at least 21 years of age, has a high school diploma or GED, and has demonstrated management experience. There are no required credentials for other types of staff members.
There are also no state-mandated staffing ratios, but there must be a sufficient number of staff members to meet the needs of residents around-the-clock. At least one staff member must be awake and on-site at all times.
Staff Training Requirements
All staff members, including managers, must undergo an orientation within 90 days of hire. They must also receive annual in-service education on topics pertaining to their duties, including:
- Residents’ rights
- First aid and CPR
- Identifying and reporting elder abuse and neglect
If the ALF provides memory care, they must have a staff training program specifically for caring for people with dementia, and the details of the training program must be public for consumers.
Background Checks for Assisted Living
Facilities must complete a criminal record check for all employees within 7 days of their first day of employment. Criminal records must be requested from the KentuckyAdministrative Offices of the Court or the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, or facilities may use Kentucky’s national background check program (KARES – Kentucky Applicant Registry and Employment Screening program).
ALFs must also check the Central Registry of the Adult Protective Services Caregiver Misconduct Registry and the Nurse Aide Abuse Registry upon an employee’s initial hire and annually. Employees must not have a record of theft, the sale or use of illegal drugs, adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation, or a sexual crime.
Requirements for Reporting Abuse
Any violations of these regulations or other complaints about facilities should be reported to the long-term care ombudsman. The office of the ombudsman investigates reports and advocates on behalf of residents to resolve issues.
Kentucky is a mandatory reporting state for elder abuse and neglect, meaning anyone who suspects incidence of these behaviors is legally required to report it. Reports should be directed to the state elder abuse hotline at 1-877-597-2331.
Kentucky COVID-19 Rules for Assisted Living Facilities
Note: The following information was compiled and most recently updated on 2/8/22. Since COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving crisis, be sure to contact your assisted living facility or local Area Agency on Aging for the most up-to-date information.
COVID-19 Rules in Kentucky | |
---|---|
Are loved ones allowed to visit residents in their assisted living community? | Yes (Conditions Apply) |
Are residents required to quarantine after their loved ones visit? | No |
Are loved ones required to wear masks when visiting residents? | Yes |
Are Hairdressers and other non-medical contractors allowed in assisted living communities? | Yes |
Are visitors screened for elevated temperatures before entering the assisted living community? | Yes |
Are residents allowed to leave the assisted living community for non-medical reasons? | Yes |
Are residents who leave required to quarantine when they get back to the assisted living community? | No (Conditions Apply) |
Are assisted living communities required to cancel all group outings? | No |
Are assisted living communities allowed to host group activities within the community? | Yes (Conditions Apply) |
Are staff members regularly checked for elevated temperatures? | Yes |
Are staff members regularly tested for COVID-19? | Yes (Conditions Apply) |
Are residents regularly screened for COVID-19 symptoms? | Yes |
Are residents regularly checked for elevated temperatures? | Yes |
Are residents regularly tested for COVID-19? | Not Available* |
Sources: chfs.ky.gov www.cdc.gov
*Note: This information was not available for this state, contact your local area agency on aging or senior living facility for more information.
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