---
title: "51-State Nursing Home Abuse Toolkit: Know Your Rights"
url: "https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/"
description: "Find your state’s nursing home rights, safety grade, reporting contacts, and legal deadlines across all 50 states plus D.C."
---

# 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.

SAFETY GRADES ON THE MAP

- **A** Excellent
- **B** Above average
- **C** Average
- **D** Below average
- **F** Most at risk

## How States Compare

Composite safety score Lower is safer

Every state is graded A–F on staffing levels, abuse citations, turnover, and enforcement flags.

### Safest States

Grade A

[1 New Hampshire 18.11 ](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/new-hampshire/), [2 Alaska 18.71 ](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/alaska/), [3 Alabama 20.02 ](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/alabama/), [4 Minnesota 20.71 ](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/minnesota/), [5 Maine 21.01](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/maine/)

### Most At-Risk States

Grade F

[51 Louisiana 50.39 ](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/louisiana/), [50 Texas 47.22 ](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/texas/), [49 Missouri 46.18 ](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/missouri/), [48 Oklahoma 45.22 ](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/oklahoma/), [47 Illinois 41.67](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/illinois/)

## Explore Every State

Choose a state to see its regulators, the rights residents hold, and every deadline that applies.

- [Alabama](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/alabama/)
- [Alaska](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/alaska/)
- [Arizona](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/arizona/)
- [Arkansas](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/arkansas/)
- [California](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/california/)
- [Colorado](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/colorado/)
- [Connecticut](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/connecticut/)
- [Delaware](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/delaware/)
- [Florida](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/florida/)
- [Georgia](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/georgia/)
- [Hawaii](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/hawaii/)
- [Idaho](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/idaho/)
- [Illinois](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/illinois/)
- [Indiana](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/indiana/)
- [Iowa](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/iowa/)
- [Kansas](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/kansas/)
- [Kentucky](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/kentucky/)
- [Louisiana](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/louisiana/)
- [Maine](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/maine/)
- [Maryland](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/maryland/)
- [Massachusetts](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/massachusetts/)
- [Michigan](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/michigan/)
- [Minnesota](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/minnesota/)
- [Mississippi](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/mississippi/)
- [Missouri](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/missouri/)
- [Montana](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/montana/)
- [Nebraska](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/nebraska/)
- [Nevada](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/nevada/)
- [New Hampshire](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/new-hampshire/)
- [New Jersey](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/new-jersey/)
- [New Mexico](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/new-mexico/)
- [New York](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/new-york/)
- [North Carolina](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/north-carolina/)
- [North Dakota](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/north-dakota/)
- [Ohio](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/ohio/)
- [Oklahoma](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/oklahoma/)
- [Oregon](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/oregon/)
- [Pennsylvania](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/pennsylvania/)
- [Rhode Island](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/rhode-island/)
- [South Carolina](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/south-carolina/)
- [South Dakota](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/south-dakota/)
- [Tennessee](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/tennessee/)
- [Texas](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/texas/)
- [Utah](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/utah/)
- [Vermont](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/vermont/)
- [Virginia](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/virginia/)
- [Washington](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/washington/)
- [Washington, D.C.](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/washington-d-c/)
- [West Virginia](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/west-virginia/)
- [Wisconsin](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/wisconsin/)
- [Wyoming](https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/wyoming/)

Source: CMS Care Compare data, 14,700+ facilities. Composite score reflects citations, staffing, turnover, and enforcement flags. Lower score = safer state.

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.