How to report nursing home abuse.
If you believe a loved one is being harmed, you can act today. You do not need proof, a lawyer, or any money to report. This guide shows who to contact, what to include, and what happens next. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911 first.
You can act now, and it costs nothing.
If you suspect abuse or neglect, you do not have to be certain, and you do not have to handle it alone. Reporting is free, you do not need a lawyer, and in most cases you can do it anonymously. The goal is simple: get a trained person looking at the situation so your loved one is safe.
One important first step comes before any of this. If a resident is in immediate danger or a crime is happening now, call 911. Reporting to an agency is the next layer, not a substitute for an emergency call.
- Danger comes first
If someone is at immediate risk or a crime is in progress, call 911 right away.
- No proof or lawyer needed
A reasonable suspicion is enough. Trained staff will look into the details.
- You can stay anonymous
In most states you can report without giving your name, and retaliation is prohibited.
Four places you can report.
Each one plays a different role. You can use more than one, and they often work together.
911 or local police
For an emergency, an injury, or any conduct that may be a crime. This is always the first call when someone is in danger.
Emergencies and crimesLong-Term Care Ombudsman
A free, confidential advocate for residents who investigates complaints and works to resolve them. Every state has a program.
The ombudsman programState survey agency
Usually your state health department. A complaint can trigger an official inspection of a licensed or certified facility.
File a state complaintAdult Protective Services
The state agency that investigates abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older and vulnerable adults.
Adult Protective ServicesContact details vary by state, and some facilities are overseen by different agencies. This page is general information, not legal advice. When in doubt, the Eldercare Locator can route you correctly.
What to put in your report.
You do not need all of this to make a report, but the more you can provide, the easier it is to investigate. Write it down while it is fresh.
- The resident and facility
The resident's name and room, the facility name and address, and the dates involved.
- What you saw or were told
Specific, dated observations. Plain facts are more useful than conclusions.
- Photos and records
Dated photos of injuries or conditions, and any documents or messages you already have.
- Names and prior complaints
Staff and witnesses involved, and any concerns you raised with the facility before.
The rules that protect residents.
Reporting is not just allowed. Federal and state law build protections and reporting duties into the system.
A right to be free from abuse
Federal law guarantees nursing home residents the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
42 C.F.R. § 483.12The facility must report too
Staff at funded facilities must report a reasonable suspicion of a crime against a resident to the state agency and law enforcement.
42 U.S.C. § 1320b-25Mandatory reporter laws
All fifty states have laws requiring certain people, often including care staff, to report suspected elder abuse.
Mandatory reportersProtection from retaliation
The law prohibits a facility from retaliating against staff who report in good faith, and complaints can be made confidentially.
What is elder abuseThe federal reporting duty applies to long-term care facilities receiving at least $10,000 in federal funds per year. State rules vary and may add requirements. This page is general information, not legal advice.
How to report, in four steps.
A simple path you can follow today, even if you are not sure where to start.
Make sure they are safe
If there is any immediate danger, call 911 first. Safety comes before paperwork.
Write down what you saw
Note the dates, what happened, and who was involved while the details are fresh.
Contact the right agency
Call the ombudsman, your state survey agency, or Adult Protective Services, or use the Eldercare Locator.
Keep records and follow up
Save copies, note who you spoke with, and ask how to check on the outcome.
You can report to more than one agency, and you can report again if nothing changes. This page is general information and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Here is what evidence to gather first.
What happens after you report.
A report is the start of a process. Here is roughly how it unfolds.
The agency reviews it
The agency receiving your report decides how urgent it is and which office should handle it.
After you reportAn investigation may follow
A state survey agency can inspect the facility, and findings can be published as inspection reports.
Inspection reportsThe ombudsman advocates
An ombudsman can work directly with the resident and facility to resolve the problem.
What an ombudsman doesYou can follow up
If a complaint stalls or is ignored, you can ask for updates and escalate it.
Escalate a complaintIf you want legal help too.
Reporting is free and yours to do. If you also want to explore a claim, here is what we look for before any referral.
Licensed in your state
Nursing home law is state law, so the match has to be an attorney admitted where your case belongs.
Track record
A demonstrated history handling abuse and neglect claims like yours, including against large operators.
Acts in time
Firms that move fast to preserve evidence and protect any deadline that may apply.
About the editor
Michael Mangione
Legal Research Editor · Founder, The Mangione Group, Inc.
For more than twelve years, Michael has worked inside contingency-based law firms, where the first thing families are told is to make sure their loved one is safe and to report. He built this guide from federal regulations and the Elder Justice Act, and from the public reporting channels every family is entitled to use. Every guide is reviewed under a published editorial standard. He is not a practicing attorney, and this page is not legal advice.
Where our information comes from.
The regulations and public programs behind this guide. Primary sources are linked so you can read them yourself.
The federal regulation guaranteeing residents the right to be free from abuse and neglect.
42 C.F.R. § 483.12 ↗The Elder Justice Act requirement for staff to report suspected crimes against residents.
42 U.S.C. § 1320b-25 ↗The Older Americans Act program providing free, confidential resident advocates.
ACL Ombudsman ↗The state programs that investigate abuse of older and vulnerable adults.
ACL Adult Protective Services ↗Federal definitions of elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
42 U.S.C. § 1397j ↗Reporting to your state and what to expect once a complaint is filed.
Report to your stateAfter you reportReporting nursing home abuse, answered.
How do I report nursing home abuse?
If anyone is in danger, call 911 first. Otherwise, you can contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, your state survey agency, or Adult Protective Services, or call the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 to be pointed to the right office. You do not need proof or a lawyer to report. See more on the ombudsman program.
Can I report anonymously?
In most states, yes. You can usually make a report without giving your name, and the law protects good-faith reporters from retaliation. If you want updates on the outcome, though, leaving contact information can help. Learn about reporting anonymously.
Do I need proof before I report?
No. A reasonable suspicion is enough. You are not expected to investigate or prove anything. Trained staff at the agency will look into the details. It helps to write down dated, specific observations, but you should not wait to gather evidence if you are concerned. See what evidence to gather.
What is the Long-Term Care Ombudsman?
It is a free, confidential advocate for residents of nursing homes and assisted living, created under the Older Americans Act. Every state has a program. An ombudsman can investigate complaints and work with the resident and facility to resolve them. Read about what an ombudsman does.
What happens after I report?
The agency reviews your report and decides how to handle it. A state survey agency may inspect the facility, an ombudsman may advocate for the resident, and Adult Protective Services may investigate. You can follow up and, if a complaint stalls, escalate it. See what happens after you report.
Is reporting the same as suing?
No. Reporting protects your loved one's safety now and is free. A lawsuit is a separate step about accountability and compensation, and it has its own deadlines. You can report and also explore a legal claim. Learn how to sue a nursing home.
Report first. Then know your options.
Reporting keeps your loved one safe, and it is free. If you also want to understand whether your family has a legal claim, start with a free, no-obligation case review. If it fits, we will connect you with a qualified attorney in your state.
Nursing Home Abuse Help is an independent editorial resource and attorney-referral service. We are not a law firm, we do not provide legal advice, and contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.