District of Columbia Nursing Homes: Violations, Fines and Worst Records

Nursing staff departures in the District of Columbia hit 34.0% over one year. That puts it 51st among the 50 states and District, while the national average was 45.8%. CMS, the federal Medicare agency, publishes federal nursing home data covering every one of the District's 17 nursing homes. Those files supply the local figures here. In the District, residents receive 4.72 total hours of nurse staffing per day on average (1.46 of them from a registered nurse, against 0.69 hours nationally), topping the 3.86 national average and ranking fourth highest in the country. Among the local facilities, ten are non-profit homes and seven are for-profit operations.

Across the capital's homes, 42.1% of citations overall arose from complaint visits during the most recent three inspection cycles. In the District, inspectors cited supervision and accident hazards most often (20 citations) when they found actual harm to a resident or an immediate danger. Nationwide, the District holds the third-highest spot for federal fines per facility; 11 local homes have been fined since September 2023. In February 2026, Capitol City Rehab and Healthcare Center in Washington received a $199,800 fine, larger than any other single federal penalty for a District facility.

The DC Health Nursing Homes Survey Reports page lets families read local inspection findings. For each nursing home in the District, it provides links by year to federal, licensure, and fire inspection reports. Medicare Care Compare, the search tool once known as Nursing Home Compare, hosts a federal profile for each District facility. Families can view the official statement of deficiencies there, labeled Form CMS-2567. Over the District's last three inspection cycles, 1,065 total citations showed up in those federal reports.

The DC Health, Health Regulation and Licensing Administration takes reports of unsafe care at District facilities: call the agency at 202-442-5833, or file a health regulation complaint. For care problems, families can reach an advocate through the Office of the D.C. Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 202-434-2190. Legal Counsel for the Elderly hosts it, with AARP as an affiliate. Adult Protective Services, at (202) 541-3950, also takes reports when a vulnerable adult in the District is suspected of being abused, neglected, or exploited.