Assisted Living Complaint Resources by State

Each state licenses and investigates its own assisted living facilities. Find your state below to get the correct licensing agency, complaint hotline, and online complaint form. In most states you can file a complaint anonymously, by phone or online.

Assisted living is licensed and regulated by each individual state — usually a department of health, social services, or aging — not certified by Medicare the way nursing homes are. The exact agency and the license category (such as Residential Care Facility, Personal Care Home, or Assisted Living Residence) vary by state.

In most states, yes. State agencies accept anonymous assisted living complaints, and your identity as a complainant is protected. Providing your contact information is optional but lets investigators follow up. Rules vary by state — see your state guide for specifics.

Nursing homes provide skilled medical care and are federally certified, while assisted living facilities provide custodial and personal care and are licensed by the state. The agency you contact and the resident-rights laws are different for each.