Emerald Trace
3802 Turkeyfoot Road, Elsmere, KY 41018 · Kenton County · (859) 342-0200
54 certified beds, about 44 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 2017
Certified for Medicaid Certified for Medicare
Overall
2 of 5
Health inspections
2 of 5
Staffing
4 of 5
Quality measures
3 of 5
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 185481 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on August 22, 2025, inspectors cited 2 health deficiencies (the Kentucky average is 2.9, the national average 9.2).
Of 8 health citations since October 2021, 2 were rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents (1 immediate jeopardy).
CMS lists 1 fine totaling $9,318 in the last three years; the largest was $9,318, and the latest is dated December 15, 2023.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 6.34 hours per resident per day, against 3.95 across Kentucky and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.61 of those hours.
52.5% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (Kentucky average 46.4%).
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
110/21
512/23
208/25
Potential for minimal harm Potential for more than minimal harm Actual harm Immediate jeopardy Found on a complaint visit
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 8 health citations on file.
Severity
Isolated
Pattern
Widespread
Immediate jeopardy
1J
0K
0L
Actual harm
1G
0H
0I
Potential for more than minimal harm
1D
5E
0F
Potential for minimal harm
0A
0B
0C
August 22, 2025Standard inspection · 2 citations
- E Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, review of the facility's documents, and review of the facility's handbook, the facility failed to support and encourage residents to organize and participate consistently in the Resident Council meeting for 2 out of 5 sampled residents, Resident (R) 6 and R38.
- E Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and review of the facility's policy, the facility failed to store frozen green beans appropriately. Observation on 08/19/2025 of the main kitchen freezer in building B revealed the frozen green beans were taken out of the cases by staff, placed onto the shelf, and not dated according to facility policy.
December 15, 2023Standard inspection, Complaint inspection · 5 citations
- J Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, review of the facility's fall investigation reports, review of a police report, and review of the facility's policies, it was determined the facility failed to ensure it had a system in place for adequate supervision and monitoring to ensure residents at risk for elopement received the necessary supervision to maintain their safety and prevent elopement for two (2) residents (Residents #57 and #115) out of a sample of sixty-nine; and to prevent accidents/falls, to determine the root cause of falls, to evaluate falls, implement individualized interventions, and to monitor the effectiveness of interventions to prevent falls for two (2) residents (Resident #13 and #17) out of a sample of sixty-nine. 1. [...]
- G Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and review of the facility's policies, it was determined the facility failed to develop and implement a person-centered care plan for falls for two (2) residents (Residents #13 and #17). The facility also failed to develop and/or implement a person-centered care plan to ensure adequate supervision was provided for one (1) resident (Resident #115). Additionally, the facility failed to develop/implement a person-centered care plan to ensure exit seeking behaviors were identified and adequate interventions were put in place for Residents #114 and #113. The number of sampled residents was sixty-nine (69). 1. [...]
- E Ensure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and review of the facility's policy, it was determined the facility failed to ensure opened and in-use medications were labeled with the opened date and were not expired on one (1) of four (4) medication carts and in one (1) of four (4) medication rooms.
- E Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, facility policy review and review of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines, it was determined the facility failed to maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe and sanitary environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections for eleven (11) of sixty-nine (69) sampled residents (Residents #3, #16, #41, #44, #47, #48, #109, #111, #118, #119 and #560). The eleven (11) residents had either wounds and/or indwelling devices. However, neither resident had been placed in Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) as recommended by the CDC, CMS and the facility's policy.
- D Honor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
Inspectors wroteBased on interview, record review, review of the facility's Investigation Report, and review of the facility's policy, it was determined the facility failed to treat each resident with respect and dignity and care in a manner and in an environment that promoted maintenance or enhancement of his or her quality of life for one (1) of sixty-nine (69) sampled residents (Resident #21). The facility reported that when State Trained Nurse Aide (STNA) #32 was providing care for Resident #21, she was rough, became frustrated, and cursed in front of him/her. Resident #21 reported to STNA #33 that STNA #32's behavior was mean and hurt his/her feelings.
October 1, 2021Standard inspection · 1 citation
- E Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and review of the facility's policy, it was determined the facility failed to prepare, store, and distribute food in a safe manner. Observation, during the initial kitchen tour, revealed a hanger with a broom and mops on the wall behind the stand mixer which was not covered. Observation, of the lunch meal service in Building A, the 100 Unit, showed Dietary Aide #1 continuously touching her clothes while wearing gloves.
Fire safety inspections
9 fire safety citations on file: 2 on August 22, 2025, 7 on December 15, 2023.
Every fire safety citation9 citations
- F Ensure heating and ventilation systems that have been properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- E Ensure smoke barriers are constructed to a 1 hour fire resistance rating.
- F Have stairways and smokeproof enclosures used as exits that meet safety requirements.
- F Install emergency lighting that can last at least 1 1/2 hours.
- F Install smoke barrier doors that can resist smoke for at least 20 minutes.
- F Have properly installed electrical wiring and gas equipment.
- F Have generator or other power source capable of supplying service within 10 seconds.
- D Add doors in an exit area that do not require the use of a key from the exit side unless in case of special locking arrangements.
- D Install corridor and hallway doors that block smoke.
Fines and payment denials
| Date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| December 15, 2023 | Fine | $9,318 |
A payment denial means Medicare and Medicaid stopped paying for new admissions for that period.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | Kentucky | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 6.34 | 3.95 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.61 | 0.79 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 5.86 | 3.49 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 3.85 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 1.88 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 52.5% | 46.4% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 37.5% | 41.8% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.82 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 6.52 on weekdays and 5.86 on weekends, 10% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 1.6% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 6.44 in April to June 2025 to 6.34 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 6.34 | 0.61 | 6.52 | 5.86 | 1.6% | 0 of 90 | 44 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 6.96 | 0.70 | 7.23 | 6.22 | 1.4% | 0 of 92 | 42 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 6.18 | 0.67 | 6.39 | 5.62 | 1.3% | 0 of 92 | 45 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 6.44 | 0.66 | 6.76 | 5.64 | 1.5% | 0 of 91 | 47 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| Kentucky, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.85 | 0.71 | 4.04 | 3.40 | 3.2% | 0.1% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | Kentucky | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 8.5 | 13.8 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 7.1 | 3.9 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication Short Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 6.7 | 14.0 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 17.6 | 16.1 | 15.4 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 37.0 | 24.2 | 23.8 |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit Short Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 8.5 | 13.7 | 12.0 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: KENTON HOUSING, INC..
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenton Housing, Inc. | 5% or greater direct ownership interest | Organization | 100% | 01/01/2017 |
| Knollman, Londa | W-2 managing employee | Individual | 01/01/2017 | |
| Eldridge, John | Corporate director | Individual | 05/08/1993 | |
| Foster, Terry | Corporate director | Individual | 04/01/2021 | |
| Halderman, Bonnie | Corporate director | Individual | 05/22/1990 | |
| Jones, Julie | Corporate director | Individual | 04/01/2020 | |
| Keith, Ronald | Corporate director | Individual | 04/01/2020 | |
| Middendorf, Mark | Corporate director | Individual | 05/08/1990 | |
| Middleton, John | Corporate director | Individual | 04/01/2020 | |
| Schieman, Eric | Corporate director | Individual | 04/01/2018 | |
| Shabazz, Tiffany | Corporate director | Individual | 04/01/2019 | |
| Simmons, Kelly | Corporate director | Individual | 09/27/2011 | |
| Weaver, Paul | Corporate director | Individual | 05/12/1992 | |
| Keith, Ronald | Corporate officer | Individual | 04/01/2023 | |
| Knollman, Londa | Corporate officer | Individual | 07/01/2017 | |
| Middendorf, Mark | Corporate officer | Individual | 04/04/2021 | |
| Middleton, John | Corporate officer | Individual | 04/01/2023 | |
| Kenton Housing, Inc. | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 01/01/2017 | |
| Knollman, Londa | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 01/01/2017 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- How do residents and families raise a complaint or grievance, and how fast is it answered?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on August 22, 2025: "Honor the resident's right to organize and participate in resident/family groups in the facility."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on August 22, 2025: "Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards."
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on December 15, 2023: "Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on December 15, 2023: "Develop and implement a complete care plan that meets all the resident's needs, with timetables and actions that can be measured."
Other nursing homes nearby
- Woodcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Elsmere, 0.2 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 3 citations
- St. Elizabeth Edgewood SNF Edgewood, 2.2 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 4 citations
- Florence Park Care Center Florence, 2.7 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 21 citations
- Village Care Center Erlanger, 3.3 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 18 citations
- Belmont Terrace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Florence, 3.3 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 37 citations
- Villaspring of Erlanger Erlanger, 3.4 mi · 3 of 5 stars · 12 citations
- Madonna Manor Villa Hills, 5.8 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 21 citations
- Rosedale Green Covington, 6.5 mi · 4 of 5 stars · 7 citations
Kentucky contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in Kentucky. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: Kentucky Office of Inspector General, Division of Health Care, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: Kentucky State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass, (800) 372-2991. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
- State inspection reports: Kentucky OIG Nursing Home Inspection Findings, where Kentucky publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Emerald Trace's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Emerald Trace 2 out of 5 stars overall, with 2 for health inspections, 4 for staffing and 3 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Emerald Trace get at its last inspection?
- 2 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on August 22, 2025. The Kentucky average is 2.9.
- Has Emerald Trace been fined?
- Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $9,318 in the last three years.
- Does Emerald Trace accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Emerald Trace?
- CMS lists 19 owners and managers. Legal business name: KENTON HOUSING, INC..
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.