New York at a Glance

The Department of Health licenses and inspects New York nursing homes and runs a 24/7 complaint hotline with a centralized intake unit.

• Licenses and inspects New York nursing homes
• Runs the 24/7 complaint hotline: 1-888-201-4563 (anonymous OK)
• Residents’ rights appear at Public Health Law § 2803-c

Visit the state agency site →

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

New York resident rights include:

• Right to be treated with dignity and respect
• Right to receive visitors and communicate privately with family and friends
• Right to make personal decisions about activities, clothing, and schedules
• Right to clear explanations of diagnoses, treatment plans, and alternatives
• Right to participate in care planning and refuse treatment
• Right to privacy and confidential records
• Right to voice grievances without retaliation
• Right to be free from abuse, neglect, and improper restraints
• Right to protection from financial exploitation
• Right to minimum staffing of 3.5 care hours per resident per day under New York law
• Right to sue when deprived of any right or benefit — without proving ordinary negligence — with punitive damages available (PHL § 2801-d)

Source: N.Y. Public Health Law §§ 2803-c, 2801-d

Phone: 1-855-582-6769
Website: https://ltcombudsman.ny.gov/

Learn more about nursing home ombudsmen →

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

Families can:

• Call the Nursing Home Complaint Hotline at 1-888-201-4563 (24/7) or file the online complaint form
• Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-855-582-6769
• Report suspected crimes to law enforcement or the Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit

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

Full reporting guide →

Families may be able to sue a New York nursing home when poor care caused injury or death. New York has one of the nation’s strongest resident laws: facilities can be held liable for depriving residents of protected rights, without proving ordinary negligence.

Common claims include:

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

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

See nursing home settlement amounts in New York →