The following is an alert for LTCCC’s Q2 2026 staffing report. Download national, state, community, and facility-level data at NursingHome411.org.

November 13, 2026 – New federal data reveal that the overwhelming majority of U.S. nursing homes continue to operate with staffing levels below those expected to meet their residents’ basic clinical needs. According to the Long Term Care Community Coalition’s (LTCCC) analysis of federal staffing data for April–June 2026, 90% of nursing homes provided less nursing care than expected based on their residents’ needs, with staffing averaging 24% below expected levels nationally.

To help the public better understand and act on these findings, LTCCC has launched a significantly enhanced nursing home staffing data page, featuring interactive tools to explore staffing at individual nursing homes, compare states, and identify facilities operating below important staffing benchmarks.

Key Findings – Q2 2026

  • 90% of nursing homes were understaffed. Of the 13,985 facilities with sufficient data for comparison, 12,593 provided less total nursing staff time than expected based on their residents’ care needs.
  • RN staffing was particularly inadequate. Approximately 85% of facilities provided less RN staffing than expected. Numerous studies have shown that RN presence is a key indicator of safety and quality.
  • Residents received substantially less care than expected. Nursing homes averaged 3.79 total nursing staff hours per resident day, compared with an expected 4.98 hours.
  • Nearly one-third reported no medical director time. Of the 14,474 nursing homes reporting staffing data, 4,646 (32.1%) reported zero medical director staffing hours during the quarter. Medical directors play a critical role in overseeing clinical care and helping ensure resident safety. The widespread reporting of zero hours raises serious questions about the adequacy of clinical oversight.
  • Significant disparities persist across states. Staffing relative to residents’ needs ranged from 18.6% above expected levels in Alaska to 38% below expected levels in Illinois.

“These data demonstrate the continuing failure to ensure that nursing home residents receive the staffing necessary for safe, dignified care,” said Richard Mollot, LTCCC’s Executive Director. “Most US nursing homes are run as for-profit companies, with enormous public funding. Yet the vast majority continue to operate below staffing levels expected to comply with federal care requirements. Residents, families, and taxpayers deserve more than empty promises – they deserve sufficient staffing and meaningful accountability when providers flout minimum standards to maximize profits.”

NEW: Explore Nursing Home Staffing in Your Community

LTCCC’s redesigned staffing data page makes federal staffing information easier to find, understand, and use. Visitors can now:

  • Look up individual nursing homes by facility name, city, or county to see reported nursing staff hours, expected staffing levels, and reliance on temporary contract staff.
  • Explore the national picture, including staffing trends, RN staffing, and the percentage of nursing homes meeting expected staffing levels.
  • Compare states using interactive visualizations of staffing levels, staffing relative to residents’ needs, and contract staffing.
  • Examine state-specific findings, including staffing rankings, facilities with particularly low staffing, and comparisons with important staffing benchmarks.
  • Browse and sort data for more than 14,000 nursing homes, with filters to identify facilities below selected staffing benchmarks.
  • Download comprehensive Excel datasets covering nursing staff as well as medical directors, physicians, rehabilitation staff, social workers, and other personnel.

The page also provides explanations of staffing measures and links to LTCCC’s Nursing Home Staffing Resource Center, which offers practical guides for residents and families, long-term care ombudsmen, attorneys, and policymakers.

Explore the new staffing data page: nursinghome411.org/staffing-q2-2026/

Visit the Nursing Home Staffing Resource Center: nursinghome411.org/staffing-resource-center/

Note: This report is based on the most recent payroll-based journal (PBJ) data reported by the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).