Known for its beautiful scenery, access to quality health care, and reputation as the “Horse Capital of the World,” Lexington, Kentucky, is a popular Southern destination for seniors looking for a quiet and charming place to call home.
If you or a loved one are looking for a nursing home in Lexington, it’s important to know what the term means, as different people use it in different ways. Nursing homes can often be used interchangeably for any long-term senior care, such as assisted living communities and memory care facilities. However, it actually refers to skilled nursing facilities with 24-hour skilled nursing care for residents who require medical care and are unable to live on their own.
These communities focus on providing care for individuals who are unable to live independently. However, many people prefer options that offer more independence, such as assisted living or memory care. These communities assist seniors in maintaining their independence to the greatest extent possible while also offering on-site personal or health care services.
Lexington has various senior care options, and A Place for Mom has partnered with 11 assisted living and memory care facilities located within a 10-mile radius of the downtown area. The following guide provides information about what senior care facilities Lexington has to offer, how to pay for them, what benefits may be available, and why Lexington is a great place to live.
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Lexington community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
We collect proprietary data from our network of 14,000+ senior living communities in the U.S., with regular refreshes of data and information
We have 387,000+ reviews from senior living residents and family members that provide first-hand accounts about senior living communities
The median monthly cost of a nursing home stay in Lexington is $6,996 for a semi-private room and $9,125 for a private room.[01] In comparison, the average cost for assisted living at one of our partner facilities in Lexington is $4,529, and the average for memory care is $4,535, according to A Place for Mom proprietary data.[02] The figures for assisted living and memory care do include associated fees and service fee add-ons.
The cost of assisted living covers things like meals, personal care, housekeeping and laundry, complimentary transportation in many cases, and planned activities for residents. Memory care options are often within an assisted living community, but memory care facilities also include personalized care plans for residents with memory loss and orientation cues and alarms to keep residents safe. Nursing homes, on the other hand, provide 24-hour medical care.
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:
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:
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:
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 Cabinet for Health and Family Services
275 E. Main St.
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: 502-564-3970
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.
Although they may appear similar, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and memory care communities offer distinct services.
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:
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.
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.[07]
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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:
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.
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.[10] 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.[11]
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.
Magnolia Springs Lexington, Richmond Place and Cedarhurst of Beaumont are the top-rated Nursing Homes facilities near Lexington, KY. These Nursing Homes facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Nursing Homes in Lexington is $4,402 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
Genworth Financial. (2021) Cost of Care Survey.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran Status (S2101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and Sex (S0101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living. (n.d.) Selecting an Assisted Living Community in Kentucky. Ky.gov
LongTermCare.gov. (Feb. 18, 2023.) What is Medicare and what does it cover?
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). Best Hospitals in Kentucky.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023.). Best Hospitals | University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). St. Joseph Hospital-Lexington.
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.) 50 Activities.
The Arboretum: State Botanical Garden of Kentucky. (n.d.) Plan Your Visit.
Ask an A Place for Mom local advisor at no cost.
Genworth Financial. (2021) Cost of Care Survey.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Veteran Status (S2101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
United States Census Bureau. (2021). Age and Sex (S0101) [Data Set]. American Community Survey.
Kentucky Department for Aging and Independent Living. (n.d.) Selecting an Assisted Living Community in Kentucky. Ky.gov
LongTermCare.gov. (Feb. 18, 2023.) What is Medicare and what does it cover?
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). Best Hospitals in Kentucky.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023.). Best Hospitals | University of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital.
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). St. Joseph Hospital-Lexington.
Alzheimer’s Association. (n.d.) 50 Activities.
The Arboretum: State Botanical Garden of Kentucky. (n.d.) Plan Your Visit.