How to Report a Nursing Home or Assisted Living Facility in Florida
Which call handles unsafe care and how to make a complaint specific enough to investigate.
Start here
Call AHCA for care, staffing, medication, sanitation, abuse-response, or safety problems at a licensed facility. Call the Ombudsman too when the issue affects a resident’s daily life, rights, transfer, discharge, or retaliation concerns.
What to have in front of you
- The notice, bill, decision, or discharge paperwork connected to the problem
- The person’s full name, date of birth, address, insurance information, and identification
- A short timeline with dates, names, phone calls, and what changed
- Copies of medical, school, financial, or care records that directly support the request
What to say when someone answers
“I want to report a licensed facility. I have the resident, facility, dates, staff names, specific events, injuries or records, and I want to know whether I can receive follow-up.”
Small but useful: Write down the person’s name, the date, the exact next step, and when you should call again.
Do this in order
- 1
Write a factual timeline with dates, shifts, names, witnesses, photos, records, and prior reports.
- 2
Call AHCA and decide whether to identify yourself or file anonymously after hearing the follow-up limits.
- 3
Call the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for resident advocacy and immediate problem-solving.
- 4
Report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to the Florida Abuse Hotline and call 911 for immediate danger.
What happens next
AHCA screens the complaint and may investigate or refer it. The Ombudsman can contact the facility and advocate with the resident’s permission.
If they say “we’ll put you on the list”
If conditions continue, update both agencies with new dates and the complaint numbers. Ask for legal help when injury, retaliation, discharge, or records access is involved.
Official sources
Checked August 5, 2026. Programs, hours, funding, and enrollment lists can change. Confirm details directly before relying on them.