California at a Glance

CDPH’s Center for Health Care Quality licenses, certifies, and inspects California skilled nursing facilities.

• Licenses and certifies California skilled nursing facilities
• Investigates complaints through district offices statewide
• Resident rights appear in 22 CCR § 72527 and Health & Safety Code § 1599.1

Visit the state agency site →

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

California resident rights include:

• Right to be fully informed of their rights, facility rules, services, and charges
• Right to be fully informed of their total health status and participate in the plan of care
• Right to consent to or refuse any treatment, procedure, or experimental research
• Right to full disclosure before psychotherapeutic drugs or physical restraints are used
• Right to be transferred or discharged only for medical reasons, welfare, or nonpayment, with notice
• Right to voice grievances free from restraint, coercion, discrimination, or reprisal
• Right to be free from discrimination based on sex, race, religion, orientation, or disability
• Right to manage personal finances or receive quarterly accountings
• Right to be free from mental and physical abuse
• Right to confidential financial and health records
• Right to dignity, individuality, and privacy in treatment and personal care
• Right to communicate privately and send and receive unopened mail
• Right to participate in social, religious, and community activities
• Right to keep personal clothing and possessions
• Right to spousal or domestic-partner privacy and room sharing
• Right to reasonable telephone access and confidential calls
• Right to be free from drugs and restraints used for discipline or staff convenience

Source: 22 CCR § 72527 (Patients’ Rights); see also Health & Safety Code § 1599.1

Phone: 1-800-231-4024 (24-hour CRISISline)
Website: https://aging.ca.gov/Programs_and_Services/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 California, contact the California Department of Public Health.

Families can:

• File a complaint online through CDPH’s Cal Health Find portal or with your local CDPH district office
• Call the Ombudsman 24-hour crisis line at 1-800-231-4024
• 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 California nursing home when poor care caused injury or death. California’s elder abuse law also allows added remedies, including attorney’s fees, in serious cases.

Common claims include:

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

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

See nursing home settlement amounts in California →