Washington at a Glance

DSHS Residential Care Services licenses Washington nursing homes and runs the Complaint Resolution Unit hotline.

• Licenses and inspects Washington nursing homes
• Runs the Complaint Resolution Unit hotline: 1-800-562-6078 (anonymous OK)
• Long-term care resident rights appear at RCW ch. 70.129

Visit the state agency site →

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

Washington resident rights include:

• Right to be treated with dignity and respect
• Right to be fully informed of their rights, condition, and charges
• Right to participate in care planning and refuse treatment
• Right to privacy and confidential records
• Right to voice grievances — retaliation for complaints or talking to the ombudsman is illegal
• Right to meet privately and confidentially with the ombudsman
• Right to be free from abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial exploitation under the Vulnerable Adult statute
• Right to be free from improper restraints
• Right to keep and use personal possessions
• Right to sue for abuse or neglect as a vulnerable adult, with attorney’s fees recoverable (RCW 74.34.200)

Source: RCW ch. 70.129 (resident rights); RCW ch. 74.34 (Abuse of Vulnerable Adults Act)

Phone: 1-800-562-6028
Website: https://www.waombudsman.org/

Learn more about nursing home ombudsmen →

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. To report nursing home abuse or neglect in Washington, contact DSHS Residential Care Services.

Families can:

• Call the Complaint Resolution Unit at 1-800-562-6078 or file the online incident report
• Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-562-6028
• 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 Washington nursing home when poor care caused injury or death. Washington’s vulnerable adult law creates a direct claim for abuse or neglect, with attorney’s fees available.

Common claims include:

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

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

See nursing home settlement amounts in Washington →