Massachusetts at a Glance

DPH’s Division of Health Care Facility Licensure and Certification licenses Massachusetts nursing homes and runs a 24-hour complaint line.

• Licenses and inspects Massachusetts nursing homes
• Runs a 24-hour consumer complaint line: 1-800-462-5540
• Patients’ rights law appears at MGL c. 111, § 70E

Visit the state agency site →

Families can speak with a Massachusetts nursing home lawyer to understand if rights may have been violated.

Massachusetts resident rights include:

• Right to confidentiality of all records and communications
• Right to be informed of their rights on admission
• Right to informed consent and to refuse treatment
• Right to privacy during medical treatment
• Right to prompt responses to all reasonable requests
• Right to be informed of all charges, including an itemized bill
• Right to inspect and copy their medical records
• Right to be free from abuse and neglect
• Right to voice grievances without retaliation
• Right to staffing that meets Massachusetts’ facility-wide minimum average of 3.58 nursing care hours per resident per day
• Right to sue for violations of these rights and recover damages (MGL c. 111, § 70E)

Source: MGL c. 111, § 70E (Patients’ and residents’ rights)

Phone: 617-222-7495
Website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-long-term-care-ombudsman-program

Learn more about nursing home ombudsmen →

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. To report nursing home abuse or neglect in Massachusetts, contact the Department of Public Health.

Families can:

• Call the 24-hour consumer complaint line at 1-800-462-5540 or file the online complaint form
• Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 617-222-7495
• Report suspected crimes to local law enforcement

Include the facility name, resident name, dates, injuries, witnesses, and photos if available.

Full reporting guide →

Families may be able to sue a Massachusetts nursing home when poor care caused injury or death. The state’s patients’ rights law also allows damages suits when facilities violate residents’ rights.

Common claims include:

• Personal injury: The resident was harmed by neglect or abuse.
• Wrongful death: Poor care contributed to the resident’s death.

Massachusetts has strict legal deadlines, so families should speak with a nursing home abuse lawyer as soon as possible. Don’t wait — get started right now.

Free case review →

Nursing home settlements and trial verdicts in Massachusetts can vary depending on the situation. Some cases have resulted in payouts of more than $1 million.

See nursing home settlement amounts in Massachusetts →