California Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog
For decades, families transitioning a loved one into a nursing home have relied on one fundamental assumption: someone qualified is always watching. We aren’t just talking about anyone—we are talking about Registered Nurses (RNs). These are the professionals trained to catch the subtle shift in a resident’s breathing, the early signs of sepsis, or the symptoms of a stroke before a situation turns fatal.
That assumption is about to disappear.
The Rule That Was Meant to Protect
Under a previous federal common-sense requirement, nursing homes were mandated to have a registered nurse on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It was a straightforward standard designed to ensure that medical crises were met with immediate, expert intervention rather than leaving residents in “medical limbo” while undertrained or overworked staff struggled to decide if a situation was urgent.
However, as of December 2, 2025, that requirement has been repealed by the current administration and the Department of Health and Human Services. Starting February 2, 2026, the federal mandate for a 24/7 RN presence will no longer exist.
Deregulation at the Cost of Human Lives
Proponents of this repeal argue that it “frees” the industry from burdensome regulations. At the Nursing Home Law Group, we see it differently. What this actually “frees” is more time where no medical professional is present to protect your parents or grandparents.
The data is not up for debate. Decades of peer-reviewed research show that when RN staffing levels drop, resident outcomes worsen. We see:
-
Higher rates of infection
-
More frequent and severe falls
-
Increased pressure ulcers (bedsores)
-
Higher mortality rates
RNs are often the only staff members with the specific training required to identify clinical declines. When they are removed from the floor, those signs are missed. Missed signs lead to missed diagnoses, and missed diagnoses lead to preventable deaths.
Why This Matters Now
Our population is aging, and nursing home residents today are sicker and more medically complex than ever before. This is the exact moment when we should be strengthening the system, not weakening it.
In our practice, we see the catastrophic results of understaffing every day:
-
Untreated infections that turn into septic shock.
-
Residents left unattended for hours during a crisis.
-
Families blindsided by a “sudden” death that was entirely predictable and preventable.
When the government signals that a 24/7 nurse presence is “optional,” it tells the industry that safety is secondary to cost savings.
Our Commitment to Families
Elder care is not an industry that self-corrects; it responds to standards. When those standards are stripped away, the most vulnerable among us pay the price.
At the Nursing Home Law Group, we believe that protecting the elderly should not be a matter of political debate. It is a moral and medical necessity. While the federal government may be stepping back, we are stepping up.
What can families do?
-
Demand Transparency: Ask every facility for their specific RN staffing levels for all shifts, including nights and weekends.
-
Advocate for State Action: Encourage state regulators to implement their own 24/7 RN requirements to fill the gap left by the federal repeal.
-
Hold Facilities Accountable: If your loved one has suffered an injury or a sudden decline in a facility, do not assume it was “unavoidable.” Many of these tragedies are the direct result of policy choices and staffing failures.
Our seniors deserve better than “wishful thinking” from lobbyists. They deserve a system that values their lives over an industry’s bottom line.
If you believe a loved one has been harmed due to inadequate staffing or nursing home neglect, contact the Nursing Home Law Group today for a free consultation. We are here to fight for the accountability your family deserves.
