--- title: "Nursing Home Citations for Abuse and Neglect: 2026 Update" url: "https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/nursing-home-citations-2026-update/" description: "Find out why nursing home abuse and neglect citations held steady year over year and the warning signs families should watch for in 2026." --- **Blog** **Nursing Home Abuse Center Blog** 3 Min Read Posted on [October 13, 2026](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/nursing-home-citations-2026-update/) # 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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-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.** ## 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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/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 Know** A 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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-neglect/dehydration/) - [Failure to prevent falls](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-neglect/dehydration/) - [Inadequate staffing](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-neglect/understaffing/) - [Malnutrition](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-neglect/understaffing/) - [Medication errors](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-neglect/medication-errors/) - [Pressure sores, also called bedsores](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/legal/can-you-sue-for-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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-abuse/types/)** 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:** 1. Document concerns by keeping notes, photos, and dates, and report issues to facility administration in writing 2. Look up inspection results and citation histories on Medicare’s Care Compare tool or the state health department’s website 3. [Report suspected abuse or neglect](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/nursing-home-abuse/reporting-nursing-home-abuse/) to the state health department, the long-term care ombudsman, or adult protective services 4. Visit often and at different times of day, since unannounced visits give a clearer picture of daily care 5. 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](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/)** 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 $337 million** in nursing home lawsuit compensation. **Call us right now at [(855) 264-6310](tel:+18552646310)** or [fill out this form](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/legal-case-review/) for a free case review to see if we can help. Posted in [Nursing Home Abuse](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/category/nursing-home-abuse/), [Nursing Home Neglect](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/category/nursing-home-neglect/)Tagged [nursing home abuse citations](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/tag/nursing-home-abuse-citations/), [nursing home neglect citations](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/blog/tag/nursing-home-neglect-citations/) **Nursing Home Abuse Support Team**Last modified: October 21, 2026 **Reviewed by:**__[Julie Rivers, MBA, CSA](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/contributors/julie-rivers-mba/ "Julie Rivers, MBA, CSA")__ Eldercare Advocate & Certified Senior Advisor - Fact-Checked - Editor Julie Rivers is an eldercare advocate with over 25 years of experience focused on nursing home resident safety. She began as a case manager at a nursing home law firm, working with families in crisis. She is a Certified Senior Advisor and also cared for her mother through Alzheimer’s. Her business training deepens her understanding of how for-profit facilities operate. **Written by:**__[The Nursing Home Abuse Center Team](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/about/ "The Nursing Home Abuse Center Team")__ The Nursing Home Abuse Center (NHAC) was founded to bring justice to those affected by nursing home and elder abuse. Our mission is to educate and empower victims of abuse and their families to take a stand against this unlawful mistreatment. We work to return dignity back to those who have been broken down by nursing home abuse and neglect. View Sources 1. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). Health Deficiencies. Retrieved from . 2. KFF. (2026). A Closer Look at Deficiencies in Nursing Homes. Retrieved from .