Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced the formation of the Nursing Home Oversight and Accountability Advisory Board, created through Executive Order 52. The new board is made up of healthcare providers, geriatricians, advocates, and other stakeholders who will work to ensure that nursing home facilities in Virginia maintain high standards of safety, quality, and transparency.
“Every Virginian deserves to know that their loved ones are safe, respected, and receiving the highest standard of care in our nursing homes,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “This Advisory Board will strengthen oversight, promote transparency, and deliver solutions that protect our most vulnerable seniors. By bringing together providers, advocates, and experts, we are ensuring that families can have confidence their loved ones are cared for with dignity and compassion.”
Governor Youngkin added: “Supporting the needs of our older adults remains a top priority for my administration. This initiative will carefully evaluate the full spectrum of aging and caregiving challenges, focusing on creating well-rounded solutions that address care deficiencies and improve access for our seniors.”
The creation of this advisory board follows Executive Order 52’s directive for the Virginia Department of Health to convene a group focused on nursing home oversight and accountability.
Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly commented: “The establishment of this advisory board represents a significant commitment to improving long-term care in Virginia. In order to attain lasting success with these efforts, we must keep patient care at the center of our collective efforts.”
State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Shelton stated: “Caring for and protecting our elderly population is a responsibility that we take seriously. We are committed to communities where every Virginian can receive care with dignity, safety, and respect.”
Board members were selected based on their backgrounds in health care delivery, advocacy work, law, direct caregiving experience, or community service related to elder care.
Virginia has close to 300 licensed nursing homes serving about 33,000 residents across the state. Most facilities qualify for federal funding support. The Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC) within the Virginia Department of Health oversees inspections for regulatory compliance as well as complaint investigations concerning resident welfare. However, OLC currently faces notable staffing shortages; inspector vacancies stand at around 42 percent while complaints continue to rise—resulting in operational delays.
In response to these challenges facing oversight operations in Virginia’s nursing homes—including staffing shortfalls—the state has passed legislation providing full funding for inspector roles as well as expanded enforcement powers for the State Health Commissioner. Additionally, officials plan aggressive recruitment campaigns for inspectors; introduce new technologies designed to streamline how complaints are managed; increase public transparency via an information portal about nursing home conditions; and use guidance from the newly formed advisory board to drive improvements in oversight procedures.
These steps aim at bolstering protections for seniors living in Virginia’s long-term care facilities by addressing current shortcomings around staffing levels and regulatory enforcement.
