Michigan Nursing Homes: Violations, Fines and Worst Records

During the past three inspection cycles, inspectors cited Michigan nursing homes 828 times for violating the federal rule covering accident hazards and supervision. That was the most of any rule in the state. For 278 of those citations, inspectors determined that missing supervision or accident hazards had caused actual harm or put a resident in immediate danger. These figures are all taken from the federal nursing home data files. The publisher is CMS, which is the federal Medicare agency. Complaint visits, not routine inspections, produced 35.9% of citations statewide under all rules.

Of Michigan's 422 nursing homes, corporate chains run 312, and Medilodge, the state's largest chain, operates 53 of them. Reports on staffing put yearly nursing staff turnover at 44.1% statewide, while 45.8% was the figure nationwide. The penalty records show $234,637 as Michigan's largest single federal fine. Federal officials imposed it in July 2025 against Greenfield Rehab and Nursing Center in Royal Oak.

State and federal inspection files are available online to families through the LARA Federal Survey and Certification Search. With this state tool, visitors can look up federally certified Michigan nursing homes and then view survey reports or download them. These reports cover health certification, complaint, revisit, life safety code, and infection control inspections. Medicare Care Compare, a search site once known as Nursing Home Compare, also opens federal inspection reports for all 422 facilities in the state from each home's page. State inspectors cite specific federal rules during their visit, and each report, a Form CMS-2567 statement of deficiencies, lists exactly which ones.

Complaints from anyone go to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Community and Health Systems, either by phone at 1-800-882-6006 or through the state complaint page. The Michigan Long Term Care Ombudsman Program gives residents and families another place to call: 1-866-485-9393. State and federal funding supports this program, which is hosted by Michigan Elder Justice Initiative, a non-profit. If an older adult may be facing abuse or neglect, Michigan takes reports through Adult Protective Services at 855-444-3911.