Louisiana Assisted Living Complaint Resources
How to report a Louisiana assisted living facility. Immediate reporting tools, residents' rights, and legal advocacy for residents and families.
Reviewed by Nick Kassatly, Esq. · Published June 30, 2026 · Updated July 23, 2026
Louisiana Adult Protective Services
To report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Serving as an advocacy program to protect the health, safety, and welfare of residents in long-term care facilities.
To report an assisted living facility in Louisiana, contact Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section at 1-888-810-1819 or file a complaint online. Complaints can be filed anonymously. For advocacy help, the Louisiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman can be reached at (866) 632-0922.
If you are concerned about the care your loved one is receiving in a Louisiana assisted living facility, you have the right to file a complaint with the state — and you can do so anonymously. In Louisiana, assisted living facilities are licensed as adult residential care providers and are regulated separately from skilled nursing homes.
Who Regulates Assisted Living Facilities in Louisiana
Assisted living in Louisiana is licensed and inspected by the Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section, which also investigates complaints. Because assisted living is not federally certified by Medicare the way skilled nursing homes are, the state is the primary authority responsible for setting standards, investigating complaints, and taking enforcement action against adult residential care providers.
How to File an Assisted Living Complaint in Louisiana
You can report concerns to the Health Standards Section by calling the toll-free complaint line at 1-888-810-1819 (or 225-342-0138), by submitting the online complaint form on the department's website, or by emailing HSSComplaints@la.gov. Complaints may be made orally or in writing, and you may file anonymously. To help investigators, provide as much detail as possible — the facility name and address, the names of residents and staff involved, and the dates, times, and a clear description of what happened.
Memory Care and Dementia Care in Louisiana
In Louisiana, memory care is delivered within adult residential care providers that operate an Alzheimer's special care unit. Those units must complete an Alzheimer's special care disclosure form describing their philosophy, admission and discharge criteria, assessments, and staffing, and staff who provide direct care in a special care unit must complete dementia-specific training when hired and every year. Memory care complaints follow the same process — call 1-888-810-1819 or use the online complaint form.
LouisianaAssisted Living Regulations & Resources
How Louisiana Licenses Assisted Living
Louisiana licenses assisted living facilities as Adult Residential Care Providers (ARCPs), in four levels, under the Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section. Memory care is provided within ARCPs that operate an Alzheimer's special care unit and meet additional disclosure and dementia training requirements.
Statute of Limitations
1 year
In Louisiana, the statute of limitations for assisted living negligence claims is generally 1 year from the date of the incident or from the date the injury was discovered, but no more than 3 years from the date of the act. For ordinary negligence claims, the deadline may be 2 years. Louisiana's prescriptive periods are among the shortest in the country, making it especially critical to consult with an attorney as soon as possible.
Complaint Types Investigated
Abuse and neglect, medication errors, inadequate staffing, unsafe or unsanitary conditions, financial exploitation, improper evictions or transfers, and violations of residents' rights.
What Happens After You File
Investigation Timeline
The Health Standards Section triages complaints by severity, and allegations of immediate jeopardy or serious harm are investigated most quickly. After intake, the department conducts an on-site investigation of the adult residential care provider, reviewing records and interviewing residents, staff, and witnesses to determine whether licensing standards were violated.
Unannounced Inspections
By rule, complaint investigations of adult residential care providers are conducted on an unannounced basis so that investigators can observe actual conditions and care.
Complainant Notification
If you provide contact information, the Health Standards Section can follow up with you and notify you of the general outcome to the extent allowed by confidentiality law. When deficiencies are cited, the provider must submit an acceptable plan of correction.
Enforcement Actions
If violations are confirmed, the Louisiana Department of Health can cite deficiencies and require a plan of correction, impose civil monetary penalties or fines, and deny, suspend, or revoke the provider's license. Allegations of abuse, neglect, or exploitation may also be referred to Adult or Elderly Protective Services and law enforcement.
Anonymous Complaints
Yes, you can file an assisted living complaint anonymously in Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section accepts anonymous complaints, and your identity as a complainant is protected. Providing your contact information allows investigators to follow up for additional details, which can strengthen the investigation.
Official Sources
- Complaint filing — Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section: ldh.la.gov
- Resident rights — LAC 48:I.6855; La. R.S. 40:2166.1 et seq.: ldh.la.gov
- Louisiana Long-Term Care Ombudsman: goea.louisiana.gov
- Mailing address — Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section: Louisiana Department of Health, Health Standards Section, P.O. Box 3767, Baton Rouge, LA 70821
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a Louisiana assisted living complaint anonymously?expand_more
What is the phone number to report an assisted living facility in Louisiana, and how fast is it investigated?expand_more
What is the difference between a nursing home and an assisted living facility in Louisiana?expand_more
Not Sure Where to Start?
Speak with an advocate who can guide you through the reporting process and help evaluate your family's legal options.