Resident Clashes Are the Most Frequent Type of Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect

The federal government requires that nursing homes keep all residents free from abuse, neglect, misappropriation of resident property, and exploitation. In the first three months of 2026, federal inspectors cited nursing homes over resident-to-resident altercations more often than other types of mistreatment.

Note: KFF Health News analyzed inspection citations for violations of the federal requirement to keep residents free of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Only citations for actual harm or immediate jeopardy were examined. The analysis included inspection reports from January 2026 through March 2026.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services nursing home full statement of deficiencies, May 2026
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