Department of Family shuts down 44 long-term care homes in seven months — 30% more than last year

Puerto Rico shut down 44 long-term care homes between January and July 2026 — a 30% increase over the same period last year — Secretary of the Department of Family Suzanne Roig Fuertes confirmed this week ¹². Of those 44, 33 were licensed facilities closed for regulatory violations, while 11 operated as entirely clandestine, unlicensed centers ². The closures come amid a supervision crisis affecting the nearly 17,500 elderly residents living in the island's 996 remaining licensed facilities ².

The numbers

Among the 33 licensed closures, San Juan tops the list with 12, followed by Carolina with 6, Bayamón with 5, Caguas and Humacao with 3 each, Ponce with 2, and Aguadilla, Aibonito, and Manatí with 1 each ²³. The 11 clandestine centers were located in Carolina, Bayamón, Caguas, Arecibo, Vega Baja, Mayagüez, Cabo Rojo, Coamo, and Ponce ².

Closure reasons range from abuse and negligence to financial exploitation of residents and voluntary cessation by owners ³. The Institutional Adult Abuse Unit (UMIA) and the Licensing Office led the investigations, based on referrals from family members, neighbors, facility employees, healthcare professionals, and other government agencies ¹.

Cases that raised alarms

Two recent cases intensified public pressure. In Arecibo, Hogar Emmanuel was shut down for operating without a license, requiring the coordinated relocation of nine residents with their families ¹. In Las Piedras, Casa Dorada lost its operating license after a caregiver faced attempted murder and abuse charges against an 87-year-old resident ¹.

"Each closure responds to a process of responsible investigation, evaluation, and intervention, always seeking an orderly and safe transition for those affected," Secretary Roig Fuertes stated ¹. She later added: "I'm not worried about how many we close; what matters is that every facility that operates truly provides dignified service to our elderly" ³.

The government's response — and its critics

The Department reported that 106 new homes opened during the same period, outpacing closures ². It also implemented an amnesty period for facilities seeking regulatory compliance, followed by a zero-tolerance policy once the deadline passed ².

However, industry representative Minerva Gómez Ramos questioned the actual supervisory capacity. "The math doesn't add up," she noted, though she acknowledged some areas receive "fairly regular" visits ³. With just 82 inspectors for nearly a thousand homes, each supervisor carries an average load of 12 facilities — not counting clandestine centers that can only be detected when someone calls to report them.

The SULME technology platform, created after Hurricane María to facilitate license verification, was formally implemented only recently despite existing since 2017 ³. Families can now use it to confirm whether a care home holds a current license before entrusting it with a loved one.

What this means for you

If you have an elderly relative in a long-term care home — or are evaluating options — this wave of closures is a serious red flag. One in every 20 licensed homes closed this year for violating safety standards. And with 11 centers operating entirely illegally, the possibility that your loved one is in an unsupervised facility is real.

The 6,600 elderly adults who receive Department of Family subsidies to pay for these homes are especially vulnerable: they depend on a system where quality controls are still catching up ².

How to protect your family / Checklist

1. Verify the home's license on the Department of Family's SULME platform before enrolling a relative.
2. Visit the facility at different hours — morning, afternoon, and night — to assess hygiene, safety, staffing levels, and emergency protocols ¹.
3. Ask about the staff-to-resident ratio — how many caregivers are on each shift and how many residents they serve.
4. Check the home's complaint history by calling the Department of Family's Abuse Hotline: (787) 749-1333 ¹.
5. Confirm the home has an updated emergency plan, especially for hurricane season and power outages.
6. Document any irregularities with photos or video and report them immediately to the abuse hotline.
7. If you suspect an unlicensed operation (no visible signage, no displayed license, no uniformed staff), report it right away — these centers put lives at risk ².

What comes next

The Department of Family anticipated that closures could increase during the second half of the year as post-amnesty inspections deepen ². The agency is also seeking to expand UMIA's capacity to cover more municipalities and reduce response times to complaints ¹.

With Puerto Rico's 65+ population growing faster than the national average — and more young people emigrating — demand for long-term care homes will only increase. The challenge isn't just closing the bad ones; it's ensuring there are enough good ones to replace them.

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Sources

¹ El Nuevo Día, "Departamento de la Familia confirmó el cierre de 44 hogares de cuidado prolongado en lo que va de año," July 29, 2026

² NotiCel, "Familia confirma el cierre de 11 centros de cuido prolongado clandestinos," July 30, 2026

³ El Vocero, "Familia clausura más de 40 centros de cuidado prolongado," July 2026