Virginia Strengthens Oversight of Nursing Homes
Virginia officials are touting the state’s efforts in strengthening oversight of the state’s 300 nursing homes, including filling leadership and inspector positions and improving how complaints are handled.
“Virginia families deserve confidence that when a loved one lives in a nursing home, they are safe, respected, and cared for with dignity,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “Today we celebrate real progress. We strengthened staffing, modernized systems that had fallen behind, and increased transparency so families have clearer information and greater trust in oversight and accountability.”
Youngkin hosted a public event this week to recognize the improvements at the Office of Licensure and Certification (OLC) within the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), as a result of Executive Order 52 that he signed in August.
Improvements including targeted recruitment, leadership stabilization, and human resources infrastructure have “significantly strengthened oversight capacity” within OLC, the state said. Key leadership positions have been filled, including a new OLC director and long-term care division director and additional recruiter capacity and dedicated human resources leadership. Also, OLC opened a Northern Virginia regional office.
Hiring timelines have improved, with average time to fill positions decreasing from more than 90 days in 2023–2024 to 58 days currently, alongside improved retention and workforce stability, according to officials. Between July and December 2025, there were 21 medical facility inspector (MFI) positions filled, including 15 in long-term care and six in acute care. Overall MFI vacancies declined from 28 in July 2025 to 11 by December 2025.
The state has launched a Complaint Portal to track complaints from residents, families, staff, and advocates. The portal supports data analysis to identify trends. The system also maintains phone, mail and in-person reporting options.
VDH also added a link on the OLC website directing the public to federal nursing home quality data, including inspection histories, survey results, and facility performance metrics.
“As we rebuilt this office, we focused on fixing the systems and hiring the right leaders and staff to prioritize how concerns are identified and resolved,” said R. Christopher Lindsay, chief operating officer of VDH. “By strengthening staffing and supervision, and modernizing complaint intake, we have built a foundation to ensure that safe and high-quality care is provided in Virginia’s nursing homes.”
Photo: Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks at event in Richmond on nursing home oversight improvements.