Michigan at a Glance

LARA licenses Michigan nursing homes and investigates complaints with specially trained nursing home investigators.

• Licenses and inspects Michigan nursing homes
• Runs the complaint hotline: 1-800-882-6006 (anonymous OK)
• Patients’ and residents’ rights appear at MCL 333.20201

Visit the state agency site →

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

Michigan resident rights include:

• Right to care with dignity and recognition of individuality
• Right to confidential treatment of personal and medical records
• Right to be informed of their medical condition
• Right to refuse treatment
• Right to associate and communicate privately with people of their choice
• Right to retain and use personal clothing and possessions
• Right to be free from mental and physical abuse and from improper restraints
• Right to a written grievance procedure and to complain without retaliation
• Right to information about services and charges
• Right to choose their own physician
• Right to transfer and discharge protections, with the investigator’s report shared with the complainant

Source: MCL 333.20201 (Michigan Public Health Code — patients’ and residents’ rights)

Phone: 1-866-485-9393
Website: https://mltcop.org/

Learn more about nursing home ombudsmen →

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. To report nursing home abuse or neglect in Michigan, contact LARA’s Bureau of Survey and Certification.

Families can:

• Call the complaint hotline at 1-800-882-6006 or file the online complaint form
• Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-866-485-9393 or [email protected]
• 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 Michigan nursing home when poor care caused injury or death. Claims treated as medical malpractice have shorter deadlines and extra requirements.

Common claims include:

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

Michigan 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 Michigan can vary depending on the situation. Some cases have resulted in payouts of more than $1 million.

See nursing home settlement amounts in Michigan →