New Jersey Ombudsmen and Residents Testified Before a State Senate Committee on Poor Living Conditions

March 16, 2026

New Jersey long-term care Ombudsmen and residents of several New Jersey nursing homes testified before a state Senate committee about poor and sometimes degrading living conditions, including bad food, unsanitary environments, broken equipment, and long delays in care. Some said they faced retaliation for speaking out.

The hearing focused on a proposed bill that would require greater financial transparency from nursing home owners, particularly around “related-party” transactions where owners pay affiliated companies, practices critics say divert billions of dollars away from resident care.

They argued that these financial arrangements help explain chronic understaffing, poor maintenance, and declining care quality, despite nursing homes receiving large amounts of public funding.

The testimony and legislation highlight concerns that profit-driven practices are undermining the quality of care for vulnerable residents.

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