128 Texas nursing homes carry a federal abuse warning

What the abuse icon actually means

In 2019 CMS began adding a warning icon to nursing homes on its Care Compare tool. A home receives it when state inspectors have cited it for abuse that led to resident harm in the past year, or for abuse with the potential for harm in each of the last two years. It is a factual reflection of a facility's recent inspection record, not an allegation from Ellery Care, and not proof that a resident is unsafe today. Facilities can and do correct the underlying problems; the flag lags behind current conditions. Treat it as a serious prompt to ask questions, not a verdict.

What to do if a loved one lives in one of these homes

1. Read the actual inspection report. On Medicare.gov Care Compare you can see the specific deficiencies behind the flag, not just the icon.
2. Ask the administrator what changed. A citation from 18 months ago that has been corrected is very different from a repeat pattern. Ask for the plan of correction.
3. Call your Long-Term Care Ombudsman. Every state has one; they advocate for residents for free and can tell you whether concerns are ongoing.
4. Compare nearby options. See other homes in your city or county and how they rate on staffing and inspections.

Common questions