---
title: "California Nursing Home Abuse Toolkit: Know Your Rights"
url: "https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/california/"
description: "Look up CA nursing home inspection stats, resident rights laws, abuse hotlines, and how long you have to file a lawsuit."
---

Know Your State's Nursing Home Rights

Every state has its own laws, watchdog agencies, and deadlines. Pick your state to see who regulates its nursing homes, what rights residents have, and exactly how to report abuse.

# California at a Glance

National Safety Standing Rank #40 of 51

1,165 Total Homes

230 Serious Deficiencies

1,126 Infection-Related Deficiencies

$29.5M in Penalties

286 Payment Suspensions

0.67 Avg RN Hours Per Resident / Day

### Resident Protection Strength

State Oversight Strong

Staffing Requirements Strongest

Penalties for Violations Strong

Access to Legal Help Moderate

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 →](https://www.cdph.ca.gov/)

### Deadlines to Take Legal Action

PERSONAL INJURY 2 years

Generally runs from the date of injury or discovery. Claims about medical care can be shorter, usually 1 year from discovery.

[Learn more about filing deadlines →](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/legal/statute-limitations/)

WRONGFUL DEATH 2 years

Typically runs from the date of death and is filed by survivors or the estate's representative.

[Learn more about filing deadlines →](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/legal/statute-limitations/)

Regulatory & Industry Standards: Our information is based on guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of Inspector General (OIG), state health departments, and peer-reviewed research. We also refer to state Long-Term Care Ombudsman programs, which investigate complaints and advocate for residents.