---
title: "Pennsylvania Nursing Home Abuse Toolkit: Know Your Rights"
url: "https://www.nursinghomeabusecenter.com/research/know-your-state-rights/pennsylvania/"
description: "Look up PA 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.

# Pennsylvania at a Glance

National Safety Standing Rank #25 of 51

656 Total Homes

169 Serious Deficiencies

452 Infection-Related Deficiencies

$16.9M in Penalties

54 Payment Suspensions

0.79 Avg RN Hours Per Resident / Day

### Resident Protection Strength

State Oversight Strong

Staffing Requirements Strong

Penalties for Violations Moderate

Access to Legal Help Strong

The Division of Nursing Care Facilities licenses and inspects Pennsylvania nursing homes and staffs a direct complaint hotline.

- Licenses and inspects Pennsylvania nursing homes
- Runs the complaint hotline: 1-800-254-5164 (or c-ncomplai\@pa.gov; anonymous OK)
- Resident rights appear in 28 Pa. Code § 201.29 and federal law

[Visit the state agency site →](https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/facilities/nursing-homes)

### Deadlines to Take Legal Action

PERSONAL INJURY 2 years

Typically runs from the date of injury or discovery.

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

WRONGFUL DEATH 2 years

Generally runs from the date of death and is filed for the spouse, children, or parents.

[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.