Nursing Home Closures

Nursing home closings can have serious negative effects on residents. Many residents experience transfer trauma (also referred to as relocation stress syndrome). The response to the stress caused by a transfer or relocation may include depression, manifesting as agitation; increase in withdrawn behavior; self-care deficits; falls; and weight loss. Closures, and these responses to the stress of moving are occurring nationwide, and may be due to the fact that the closure of nursing homes seems to be inadequately addressed in state and federal laws and regulations and/or poor oversight and monitoring by states and the federal government. When closures are inevitable, better policies and practices can be implemented to minimize the negative impact, including transfer trauma, on residents.

Nursing Home Closures for Ombudsmen and Advocates

• Reference Guide: The Role of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in Nursing Facility Closures

This toolkit (2017) includes materials that will be helpful to you if you are involved in a nursing home closing.  The toolkit is intended for use by Ombudsmen and advocates. Web version, PDF version

Webinars and Reports

 Successful Transitions: Reducing the Negative Impact of Nursing Home Closures

A report released in November 2016 by Consumer Voice found that major obstacles to a successful transition include lack of appropriate and nearby placements or providers who do not want to take a specific resident; poor discharge planning; and lack of communication and time to find new placements for residents. 

• Report
• Press Release
• Executive Summary
• Webinar recording and slides

When Nursing Homes Close Webinar Series (2017-2018)

1. What You Can Do - Recording, Slides

2. Learn the Federal Rules - Recording, Slides

3. Hear from Pilot States - Recording, Slides