Genesis Healthcare Inc. — an operator of skilled nursing and assisted living facilities — and its subsidiaries have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Genesis Healthcare, which operates approximately 175 nursing facilities throughout the U.S., filed for bankruptcy Thursday after struggling to overcome financial burdens including legal costs from personal-injury and wrongful-death claims.

Genesis, which has seen ownership changes for decades, said the restructuring would help it eliminate legacy liabilities from dozens of facilities it no longer operates.