What must a Kentucky assisted living lease include?
Under KRS 194A.713, a Kentucky assisted living lease, printed in at least 12-point type, must include resident and emergency-contact data, the termination policy, terms of occupancy, the general services and fee structure, the specific services and unit with their fees, how services and fees can change, refund and cancellation policies, and a grievance policy.
It must also describe any special programming, staffing or training if the community markets itself for residents with particular needs, list the community's and resident's other rights and responsibilities, and state the community's policy on residents arranging outside services such as private aides or hospice (KRS 194A.705(3) and (4)). If a lease you are handed lacks any of these, ask for the missing piece in writing before signing.
How much notice must a Louisville assisted living community give before raising fees?
At least 30 days. KRS 194A.713(7) requires every Kentucky assisted living lease to include a minimum 30-day notice provision for any change in the community's fee structure.
Thirty days is a minimum, not a norm; ask what notice the community actually gives and when its annual increases usually take effect. Also ask how care-level charges are reassessed. A change in a resident's assessed needs can raise the monthly bill without any change to the published fee structure, so ask for the assessment tool and the price attached to each level.
Can a Kentucky assisted living community make a resident move out?
Yes, but the notice must be in writing, the lease must give at least 30 days' notice for nonpayment, and the community must help the resident find appropriate living arrangements before the move-out date, sharing the cabinet's information on alternatives (KRS 194A.705(5) and 194A.713(8)-(9)).
Move-outs most often follow a change in condition: a resident who is no longer ambulatory as Kentucky defines it, who needs medication administration in a social-model ALC, or who needs a secured unit the building does not have. Ask on the tour which conditions trigger a move-out notice, and whether the same operator has an ALC-BH, ALC-DC or nursing license nearby. The roster shows which Louisville addresses hold more than one license.
What should families ask for before signing an assisted living lease in Louisville?
Ask for a blank copy of the lease, the fee schedule including every care level, the move-in functional needs assessment, the community's grievance policy and, for memory care, its dementia-care policies, and take them home to read before committing.
Compare the refund and cancellation terms side by side if you are choosing between two communities; they vary more than base rents do. Confirm who the legal licensee is (it appears on the OIG roster), because that is the party you are contracting with.
At a glance
| A Kentucky assisted living lease must | A Kentucky assisted living lease need not | |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | State fees and give 30 days' notice of fee-structure changes | Cap annual increases at any amount |
| Move-out | Give 30 days' notice for nonpayment and help find a new home | Keep a resident whose needs exceed the license |
| Outside help | State the policy on residents hiring outside providers | Allow every outside provider |
| Disputes | Include a grievance process with confidentiality | Offer outside arbitration or appeal |
Sources include KRS Chapter 194A, 902 KAR 20:480, Kentucky CHFS and DMS pages, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
