Mike Cherry, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, has expressed concerns over nursing homes failing to meet proper care standards. He commended Governor Glenn Youngkin’s initiative to enhance oversight in this sector. Cherry made these remarks on the social media platform X.
“Too many of our most vulnerable Virginians are getting substandard care,” said Cherry, House Representative. “The nursing homes are getting away with it. I thank Governor Glenn Youngkin for this strong action today. To bring needed oversight, accountability, and enforcement.”
In August 2025, Governor Youngkin initiated a statewide reform for nursing homes through Executive Order 52. This order aims to improve resident safety and accountability in long-term care facilities across Virginia. According to WTVR, the executive order enhances enforcement by expanding inspections, creating a new public reporting portal, and establishing a task force to guide reforms. This move comes amid growing concerns about quality and transparency within Virginia’s elder care system.
WTVR reports that between January and July 2025, the Virginia Department of Health received 944 complaints regarding nursing homes, surpassing the total number of complaints for all of 2024. The majority of these complaints were related to poor sanitation, neglect, or substandard care, underscoring ongoing oversight challenges and the necessity for stronger enforcement mechanisms.
Marks & Harrison cited ProPublica data indicating that Virginia’s 286 certified nursing homes had accumulated 8,255 federal deficiencies in recent inspection cycles. Many of these deficiencies were associated with violations in care quality and safety. Compared to neighboring states, Virginia has higher citation counts, which reflect both more frequent inspections and widespread noncompliance in facility operations.
Ballotpedia notes that Mike Cherry is a Republican delegate representing District 74 since 2021. With a background as an educator, Marine veteran, and pastor, Cherry has concentrated on education, local infrastructure development, and family support initiatives. Although he has not publicly said his position on recent nursing home reforms specifically, he serves on committees pertinent to community services.
