The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently announced that most nursing homes in the United States do not have adequate or reliable emergency power systems. The audit was conducted in response to several emergency events in which power failures contributed to dangerous —and in some cases fatal —outcomes for residents.

During Hurricane Ida, seven nursing home residents in Louisiana died after facilities evacuated residents to an overcrowded warehouse due to power outages and unsafe conditions. Similarly, during winter storm Uri, 118 nursing homes across Texas lost power, forcing many residents to be evacuated. A Senate report found that 168 facilities were sheltered in place without generator support. They reported operational failures such as loss of electricity and water, burst pipes, and a lack of transportation for evacuation. In some facilities, indoor temperatures fell into the 50s.

The OIG audit assessed the reliability and adequacy of emergency power systems in nursing homes nationwide.  Nursing homes are required to have emergency preparedness policies and procedures that address alternate sources of energy to maintain temperatures to protect residents and staff, as well as for food storage, emergency lighting, and fire protection.  An electrical power system must supply power adequate for lighting all entrances and exits; equipment to maintain fire detection, alarms, extinguishing systems, and life support systems if the normal electrical supply is interrupted.  Facilities must also have policies and procedures on heating and cooling the facility if power is lost. 

Facilities that utilize generators must ensure they are installed in safe locations and are properly maintained. Requirements include weekly maintenance checks, monthly load testing, and annual fuel quality testing for diesel, gasoline, or propane-powered generators.

The audit identified emergency power system deficiencies at 72 of the 100 sampled nursing homes. Those 72 nursing homes had a total of 119 deficiencies.  Based on these results, the OIG estimated that approximately 10,983 of the nation’s 15,115 nursing homes (73%) have inadequate or unreliable emergency power systems.

Specific findings included:

  • 7,967 nursing homes (53%) with inadequate generator maintenance practices
  • 5,869 nursing homes (39%) with generators that lacked sufficient circuit coverage
  • 1,447 nursing homes (10%) operating generators that were more than 40 years old

Many operators cited a lack of financial resources as the primary reason for delaying generator replacement or upgrades.

These deficiencies place residents, staff, and visitors at increased risk of injury or death during extended power outages. As we enter the summer months —with hurricanes, severe thunderstorms, and other weather-related threats becoming more common— it is critical for healthcare facilities to assess their emergency preparedness plans and ensure their backup power systems are ready when needed.

The Question Is: Is Your Facility Prepared?

LW Consulting, Inc. (LWCI) offers a comprehensive range of services that can assist your organization in maintaining compliance, identifying trends, providing education and training, or conducting documentation and coding audits. For more information, contact LWCI to connect with one of our experts!

Source:
Most Nursing Homes Throughout the United States Do Not Have Adequate or Reliable Emergency Power Systems. Office of Inspector General | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2026, April 30). https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/all/2026/most-nursing-homes-throughout-the-united-states-do-not-have-adequate-or-reliable-emergency-power-systems/