Florida at a Glance

AHCA licenses, inspects, and disciplines Florida nursing homes, from fines through license revocation.

• Licenses and inspects Florida nursing homes
• Investigates complaints and publishes inspection results
• Residents’ rights law appears at Fla. Stat. § 400.022

Visit the state agency site →

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

Florida resident rights include:

• Right to civil and religious liberties and independent personal decisions
• Right to private, uncensored communication, including mail, phone, and visitors
• Right to visits from the ombudsman, family, and advocates
• Right to present grievances without fear of retaliation
• Right to organize and participate in resident groups
• Right to participate in social, religious, and community activities
• Right to manage their own financial affairs
• Right to be fully informed of their medical condition and proposed treatment
• Right to choose their physician and refuse treatment
• Right to privacy and adequate, appropriate health care
• Right to be free from mental and physical abuse and from improper restraints
• Right to at least 30 days’ notice before most transfers or discharges
• Right to sue the facility for rights violations or negligence (Fla. Stat. § 400.023)

Source: Fla. Stat. § 400.022 (Residents’ rights)

Phone: 1-888-831-0404
Website: https://ombudsman.elderaffairs.org/

Learn more about nursing home ombudsmen →

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911. To report nursing home abuse or neglect in Florida, contact the Agency for Health Care Administration and the state abuse hotline.

Families can:

• File a complaint with AHCA online through Florida Health Finder
• Call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 (1-800-96-ABUSE), run by the Department of Children and Families
• Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman at 1-888-831-0404
• 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 Florida nursing home when poor care caused injury or death. Florida has a specific nursing home law covering negligence and rights violations, with a required pre-suit process before filing.

Common claims include:

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

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

See nursing home settlement amounts in Florida →