Eldercare and the Shell Game of Ownership

Even when families confirm that a facility is licensed, they face another obstacle: the corporate shell game. Ownership structures in eldercare are often deliberately complex, designed to shield individuals and corporations from accountability.

A single nursing home may be “owned” by a local LLC, leased by a management company, staffed by a subcontractor, and financed by an out-of-state investor group. When neglect occurs or funds are misused, families are left chasing paper trails across multiple jurisdictions. The operators count on confusion and delay to outlast family complaints or legal claims.

This fragmentation is not accidental. By scattering responsibility across a maze of entities, bad actors profit while avoiding liability. Regulators themselves often struggle to determine who is truly in charge. The result: elders are left vulnerable, and families are denied justice.

ETA advocates for transparency. Families deserve to know who owns, manages, and profits from the facilities entrusted with their loved ones’ care. Mandatory ownership disclosure would give families the information they need to make informed decisions, and provide regulators the tools to hold the right people accountable.

Note: While the Eldercare Transparency Act is currently focused on compelling all eldercare facilities and agency operators to publicly share their license type and number, our eventual goal is to create ownership transparency as well. Join our mailing list at the link below to follow our progress.