Pennsylvania at a Glance

The Division of Nursing Care Facilities licenses and inspects Pennsylvania nursing homes and staffs a direct complaint hotline.

• Licenses and inspects Pennsylvania nursing homes
• Runs the complaint hotline: 1-800-254-5164 (or [email protected]; anonymous OK)
• Resident rights appear in 28 Pa. Code § 201.29 and federal law

Visit the state agency site →

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

Pennsylvania resident rights include:

• Right to be treated with consideration, respect, and full recognition of dignity
• Right to privacy — including in bathing, personal care, and communications
• Right to meet privately with family, friends, and resident groups
• Right to receive mail unopened
• Right to participate in care planning and refuse treatment
• Right to confidential records
• Right to voice grievances to staff or outside representatives without retaliation
• Right to posted contact info for the state hotline, ombudsman, and legal services
• Right to be free from abuse and improper restraints
• Right to keep personal clothing and possessions, and to refuse experimental research
• Right to staffing that meets Pennsylvania’s facility-wide minimum of 3.2 direct care hours per resident per day

Source: 28 Pa. Code § 201.29 (resident rights); 42 CFR § 483.10

Phone: 717-783-8975
Website: https://www.pa.gov/services/aging/request-assistance-from-a-long-term-care-ombudsman

Learn more about nursing home ombudsmen →

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

Families can:

• Call the complaint hotline at 1-800-254-5164 or email [email protected]
• Report elder abuse to the 24-hour statewide hotline at 1-800-490-8505
• Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 717-783-8975 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 Pennsylvania nursing home when poor care caused injury or death. Professional negligence claims in Pennsylvania require a certificate of merit from a qualified expert.

Common claims include:

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

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

See nursing home settlement amounts in Pennsylvania →