Despite the fact that there are more nursing home residents in New York than any other state in the U.S., it is investigating fewer complaints of abuse than other states are. Since nursing home abuse is a critical issue in states throughout the country, it is important for family members, as well as watchdog programs, to keep an eye on what is happening. Many critics believe that the number of complaints in New York has declined due to the fact that the state is not putting enough resources into its nursing home watchdog program.