On October 14, the Inspector General appointed to investigate the crisis in Los Angeles County nursing homes released the first interim instalment of what will be a multi-part report. Even this first report makes it clear that the County’s Department of Public Health, which contracts with the State to provide oversight and inspection of Los Angeles facilities, has badly failed the County’s long term care residents.

The report states that almost half of the 5,407 current nursing home complaints concerning County residents have remained open for over three years, and that 547 investigations involving residents in immediate jeopardy are unresolved. The report also raises questions regarding the County DPH’s designation of dozens of poorly performing nursing homes as facilities dedicated to COVID treatment. While the initial report draws needed attention to the County’s dysfunctional oversight, it remains to be seen if the continuing investigation will identify and address the horrific conditions that have endangered nursing home residents in the County for decades.