Suspecting abuse or neglect is unsettling enough without also wondering who you’re actually supposed to call. Pennsylvania has specific, structured channels for reporting nursing home abuse and neglect, and knowing which one applies to your situation can make the process feel far less overwhelming.
This article is part of a larger guide on recognizing the signs of nursing home abuse and neglect.
If your loved one is in immediate danger
Call 911. If there is any immediate risk to health or safety, this comes before any other step on this list.
Report to the Pennsylvania Department of Health
The Department of Health licenses and regulates nursing homes throughout Pennsylvania and investigates complaints against them. Reports can be made through their complaint hotline, and complaints can be filed anonymously if you prefer. The Department has the authority to investigate the facility, cite violations, and require corrective action.
Contact the Pennsylvania Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
The Ombudsman Program, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, advocates specifically for the rights and wellbeing of residents in long-term care facilities. Ombudsmen can investigate complaints, mediate issues directly with a facility, and help families understand a resident’s rights. This can be a useful first step for concerns that may not rise to the level of a formal Department of Health complaint but still need to be addressed.
Report to local law enforcement
If you suspect physical abuse, sexual abuse, or financial exploitation, these can constitute criminal conduct, not just a regulatory violation. Local police can investigate independently of any state agency complaint, and a police report also creates an official record of what was reported and when.
Adult Protective Services
For situations involving abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an older adult, Pennsylvania’s Older Adults Protective Services Act provides a reporting structure through Protective Services, which can investigate and connect a resident with additional protective resources.
What happens after you report
Reports to the Department of Health typically trigger an investigation, which can include an unannounced facility inspection, staff interviews, and a review of resident records. If violations are found, the facility can face citations, fines, mandated corrective action plans, or in serious cases, restrictions on new admissions. Timelines vary depending on the severity of the complaint, with allegations of immediate harm generally investigated on an expedited basis.
Reporting doesn’t require certainty
You do not need proof of a violation to file a report. You need a genuine, good-faith concern. Investigating agencies exist specifically to determine what actually happened. Waiting until you feel completely certain often means waiting too long, especially in situations where a resident’s condition could continue to decline.
Protect yourself and your loved one from retaliation
Pennsylvania law includes protections against retaliation for reporting suspected abuse or neglect in good faith. If you’re concerned about how a facility might respond to a report, that concern itself is worth discussing with an attorney, an ombudsman, or the investigating agency, who can advise on how to proceed while protecting the resident.
Document before and after you report
Before filing a report, gather what documentation you can: photographs, dates, your own written observations, and any records you’re entitled to request as a family member or authorized representative. Our guide on physical signs of nursing home abuse covers what to look for and how to document it effectively.
Reporting to an agency and pursuing a legal claim are different paths
A state investigation can result in citations and corrective action for the facility, but it does not compensate your family for what happened, and its findings do not automatically become a legal claim on your behalf. If your loved one suffered real harm, a separate legal claim may be available to recover compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, and in serious cases, wrongful death. These paths are not mutually exclusive, and pursuing one does not prevent you from pursuing the other.
If you’re ready to talk to someone about what you’re seeing
You do not have to navigate this alone, and you do not need to have every detail sorted out before reaching out. Pisanchyn Law Firm has represented Pennsylvania families in nursing home abuse and neglect cases for over 20 years, and we do not charge a fee unless we win. Call 1-800-444-5309 for a free, confidential case review.
This article is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Reporting procedures and requirements can change, and every situation involves its own facts. Reading this does not create an attorney-client relationship.
