Albuquerque, New Mexico — Federal inspectors have found that New Mexico nursing homes carry the highest average number of health citations in the country, a troubling distinction that advocates say reflects a deepening workforce crisis threatening resident safety.
According to federal Medicare inspection records, 65 of the state’s 68 nursing homes were cited for failing to adequately protect residents from infectious disease. Thirty-three facilities received serious deficiency citations — among the most severe penalties federal regulators can issue.
The findings come as New Mexico faces a demographic shift that will only intensify pressure on its long-term care infrastructure. By 2030, more than a quarter of the state’s population is projected to be over age 64, sharply increasing demand for nursing home beds and skilled care services.
A Pattern of Problems
Federal records reveal persistent issues across multiple facilities. One Albuquerque nursing home, Las Palomas Center, has accumulated more than 90 citations since 2022 alone.
In one incident last year, inspectors found that staff at Las Palomas failed to follow proper wound reporting procedures after a heating pad caused a resident to suffer a third-degree burn. According to federal records, caregivers did not alert a physician to the severity of the injury. The resident’s daughter took her to a hospital, where doctors discovered the burn had caused septic shock. The resident died eight days later.
Las Palomas was fined $229,295 for violations related to the incident.
Statewide, New Mexico nursing homes have been charged $2.92 million in federal penalties — a figure that reflects both the volume of citations and the severity of deficiencies found during inspections.
The Workforce Factor
Advocates say the citation record cannot be separated from the state’s struggle to attract and retain qualified caregivers.
“I think we have this problem because these are poor quality jobs,” said Adrienne Smith of the New Mexico Caregivers Coalition. “They don’t pay well enough. There are too many caregivers with no benefits or very few benefits.”
Smith, who moved to New Mexico specifically to address what she describes as an impending workforce crisis, said the state faces a genuine shortage despite employing approximately 62,000 caregivers across various long-term care settings.
“There’s definitely a shortage,” Smith said. “People don’t come into this work knowing the skills that are required for the job.”
She is asking state legislators to support reforms that would improve wages, expand benefits, and establish standardized training requirements for direct care workers.
Emily Kaltenbach, cabinet secretary designate for the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department, said complaints against nursing homes run the gamut from minor issues to serious care failures.
“It’s a whole gamut of issues, but we’re there to meet with the residents,” Kaltenbach said.
Looking for Solutions
Some health experts believe preventive care could help reduce pressure on the state’s long-term care system.
“The more people take care of themselves, the less resources they’re going to end up needing,” said Dr. David Scrace, a geriatrician working with UNM Viva Bien on a health monitoring app designed for older adults.
The app allows users to conduct self-assessments, track wellness metrics, and keep family members informed about their health status — potentially catching problems before they require institutional care.
Residents with concerns about nursing home conditions can contact the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program through the Aging and Long-Term Services Department hotline at 800-432-2080.
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