Starting in January 2026, a new bipartisan Connecticut nursing home reform law significantly strengthens oversight and protections for nursing home and assisted living residents.
The law addresses long-standing issues in elder care, including overcrowded rooms, limited transparency, weak enforcement, and inadequate accountability by large nursing home operators and management companies.
Below is what families should know.
Phase-Out of Overcrowded Nursing Home Rooms
Beginning July 1, 2026, Connecticut will begin phasing out three- and four-bed nursing home rooms.
- Nursing homes may no longer admit new residents to rooms that already house two people
- Current residents will not be forced to move
- The goal is to improve privacy, dignity, and safety for future residents
Facilities may report renovation and conversion costs, which can be considered when setting Medicaid reimbursement rates. The law balances improved resident care with the practical realities of facility upgrades.
Increased Oversight of Nursing Home Management Companies
The law significantly expands oversight of nursing home management companies, which often operate multiple facilities behind the scenes.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health now has greater authority to:
- Deny, revoke, or refuse renewal of management certificates
- Enforce corrective action plans
- Impose civil penalties for violations
- Require state approval before a management company takes over additional facilities
This change closes accountability gaps that previously allowed poorly run operators to continue expanding.
New Consumer Protections for Assisted Living Residents
Residents of assisted living facilities also gain important new rights.
Providers must now:
- Give at least 60 days’ noticebefore increasing fees
- Disclose fee increase histories from the prior three years, upon request
These disclosures help residents and families better evaluate long-term affordability and avoid unexpected financial strain.
Stronger Enforcement and Financial Accountability
Additional reforms strengthen enforcement and oversight by:
- Allowing action for violations of state law, not just federal rules
- Modernizing receivership standards for financially distressed facilities
- Creating a working group to support the transition away from overcrowded rooms
Why This Law Matters
These reforms follow years of documented nursing home deficiencies, rising immediate-jeopardy violations, and financial instability among large facility operators.
The message is clear: Connecticut nursing home residents deserve safety, dignity, and accountability.
At D’Amico Pettinicchi Injury Lawyers, we have long fought to protect nursing home residents and hold negligent facilities and management companies accountable. Strong laws matter, but enforcement matters just as much.
Talk to a Connecticut Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer
If you or a loved one has been harmed by unsafe conditions, neglect, or mismanagement in a nursing home or assisted living facility, you may have legal rights.
Contact D’Amico Pettinicchi Injury Lawyers for a confidential consultation. We fight to enforce resident protections and hold facilities and management companies accountable when their failures cause real harm.
