(WKYT) – A Kentucky nursing home allegedly left residents in bed for so long they developed pressure sores that led to serious injury and, in many cases, death, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
A 2025 inspection into Salyersville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center found falsified records and “immediate jeopardy violations,” according to the Herald-Leader. Several lawsuits have been opened against the facility, with at least 11 claiming malnutrition, unexplained broken bones and deadly infections.
One case discussed an 81-year-old woman who died from a massive, infected pressure sore that opened into a dinner-plate-sized hole in the middle of her back. According to the Herald-Leader, the woman was only meant to stay at the facility for a month while she recovered from a broken back due to a fall. She instead died in hospice in November 2024 after the infection led to acute kidney failure and sepsis.
Kentucky officials have recommended the facility be on a federal list for facilities with recurring, serious issues. The Herald-Leader reports that because Kentucky is a smaller state, it qualifies for only one spot on the list. That reduces the likelihood of Salyersville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center filling the spot.
The owners deny liability, but former leaders claim they were fired for raising concerns about low staffing amid an influx of patients with high medical needs.