Families who lost loved ones in nursing homes push for long-term care

RICHMOND, Va. — Nursing home advocates who lost loved ones over the last decade are coming together Sunday to push lawmakers for change.

The ROAR National Walk for Long-Term Care Reform runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at The Life Church RVA-North, located at 3601 Dill Road. Participants will walk one mile to raise awareness about nursing home safety.

Tracey Pompey, lead organizer of Justice and Change for Victims of Nursing Facilities, founded the organization after losing her father in 2015.

"The organization Justice and Change for Victims of Nursing Facilities was started out of the loss of my dad in 2015," Pompey said.

Her father died in a Henrico nursing home that was cited for failures related to his care. He was found face down on the floor of his room.

"He was found on the floor in his room, face down on the floor in his room," Pompey said.

Janet Payne, a volunteer with the organization, lost her mother in a Hanover facility on Halloween 2024. Payne says the facility did not do enough to prevent her mother's falls.

Payne says even younger, healthier people should pay attention to what is happening in nursing homes now.

"You think about it. You're 35. If change isn't made now, what do you think it's going to be like when you possibly could go in a nursing home. Yeah, it is going to be far worse because people have learned to hide things," Payne said.

Organizers said they reached out to nearly every lawmaker and local leader for their support.

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