Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced the formation of the Nursing Home Oversight and Accountability Advisory Board, established through Executive Order 52. The board will include providers, geriatricians, advocates, and other stakeholders with experience in nursing home care and oversight. Their goal is to ensure that nursing homes in Virginia meet high standards for 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 establishment of this advisory board follows the recent signing of Executive Order 52 directing the Virginia Department of Health to convene such a group focused on nursing home oversight. According to Secretary of Health and Human Resources Janet V. Kelly: “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.”
Members appointed to the new advisory board come from backgrounds including health care delivery, advocacy work, law practice, direct caregiving roles, and community service organizations. Each was chosen based on their experience protecting seniors in Virginia as well as advancing accountability in long-term care settings.
Virginia’s nearly 300 licensed nursing homes serve about 33,000 residents across the state; most facilities receive federal funding after certification. The Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC) within the Virginia Department of Health oversees inspections to ensure compliance with both state regulations and federal standards while also investigating complaints from residents or family members.
Recently OLC has faced staffing shortages among inspectors—with vacancies reaching 42%—at a time when complaint volumes have been increasing significantly. These conditions have created operational difficulties resulting in delays.
In response to these issues, new legislation has provided funding aimed at filling inspector positions fully while giving greater enforcement authority to the State Health Commissioner. The Department of Health plans further action by recruiting more inspectors aggressively; implementing new technology for more efficient complaint handling; launching a public information portal about nursing homes; and working closely with the newly formed advisory board on oversight improvements—all intended to enhance protections for senior residents statewide.
