3 Min Read Posted on October 13, 2026October 13, 2026 Abuse and Neglect Citations Are Still Piling Up in Nursing Homes State inspectors cited nursing homes 2,830 times in the most recent reporting period for failing to protect residents from abuse and neglect, according to inspection data published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). That total is nearly identical year over year, down only slightly from 2,866 the period before. The Nursing Home Abuse Center tracks these citations because they are among the few public records of what happens inside nursing homes. The latest numbers show the problem isn’t going away. Each citation is a failure inspectors found serious enough to document, and the real number is likely higher. Inspectors only record what they see during a visit, and many residents cannot report what happens between inspections. If you believe a nursing home has failed someone you love, you may have legal options. Get a Free Case Review by Fight back against nursing home abuse and neglect — start now with a free case review. Start My Free Case Reviewor call (855) 264-6310 What the Latest Nursing Home Citation Numbers Show The 2025 figures come from CMS inspection records, which cover every Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country. Surveyors working for state health departments issued nursing home abuse and neglect citations in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. More than 1,000 of those citations in each of the past 2 years were rated as causing actual harm to a resident or placing a resident in immediate jeopardy. Those are the 2 most serious levels an inspector can assign. Did You KnowA 2026 KFF analysis found that about 28% of nursing homes had at least one deficiency involving actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents. More than 1 in 4 facilities received a citation at the most serious levels. The steady year-over-year numbers suggest that abuse and neglect in long-term care remain a persistent problem rather than a shrinking one. Families relying on these facilities to protect their most vulnerable loved ones deserve to know that. What an Abuse or Neglect Citation Means A citation is not a lawsuit or a criminal charge. State inspectors issue it after finding that a facility broke a federal care standard, and it becomes part of the nursing home’s public record. Common findings behind abuse and neglect citations include: Dehydration Failure to prevent falls Inadequate staffing Malnutrition Medication errors Pressure sores, also called bedsores A single citation does not always mean a resident was seriously harmed. Repeated citations, or citations at the actual-harm and immediate-jeopardy levels, can show a pattern that puts every resident in the building at risk. Why Steady Citation Numbers Are Still a Concern It can be tempting to read flat numbers as good news. We see it differently. Thousands of citations a year, at nearly the same rate as the year before, means thousands of failures that were serious enough for inspectors to document. ”Steady citation numbers should not be mistaken for a sign that the problem is under control. Each citation represents a failure that may have denied residents the care they deserved. Families need to know what these reports mean and what they can do if they suspect a loved one is being neglected.” – Julie Rivers, MBA, Eldercare Advocate & Certified Senior Advisor Inspections also only capture what surveyors see during a visit. Many problems go unreported, especially when residents have dementia or other conditions that make it hard to describe what happened to them. How Families Can Check a Nursing Home’s Record Every family has the right to review a facility’s inspection history before choosing it. The information is public, and it takes only a few minutes to review. Here’s how to stay informed about a loved one’s care: Document concerns by keeping notes, photos, and dates, and report issues to facility administration in writing Look up inspection results and citation histories on Medicare’s Care Compare tool or the state health department’s website Report suspected abuse or neglect to the state health department, the long-term care ombudsman, or adult protective services Visit often and at different times of day, since unannounced visits give a clearer picture of daily care Watch for warning signs such as bedsores, frequent infections, poor hygiene, sudden behavior changes, and unexplained injuries or weight loss Our free Know Your State’s Nursing Home Rights toolkit lists the oversight agency, ombudsman contact, and reporting steps for every state, so families can act quickly when something seems wrong. Get Legal Help for Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect A citation on a facility’s record can support a family’s case, but families do not need to wait for inspectors to act. If a resident was hurt because a nursing home failed to provide proper care, the family may be able to hold the facility accountable. Strict legal deadlines apply in every state, so reach out as soon as you have concerns. Our trusted legal partners can help families in all 50 states and have recovered over $332 million in nursing home lawsuit compensation. Call us right now at (855) 264-6310 or fill out this form for a free case review to see if we can help.