North Carolina Assisted Living Complaint Resources
How to report a North Carolina assisted living facility or adult care home. 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
North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation, Complaint Intake Unit
North Carolina 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 North Carolina, contact North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation, Complaint Intake Unit at 1-800-624-3004 or file a complaint online. Complaints can be filed anonymously. For advocacy help, the North Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman can be reached at (919) 855-3400.
If you are concerned about the care your loved one is receiving in a North Carolina assisted living facility, you have the right to file a complaint with the state — and you can do so anonymously. In North Carolina, assisted living facilities are licensed as Adult Care Homes and are regulated separately from skilled nursing homes.
Who Regulates Assisted Living Facilities in North Carolina
The North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation (DHSR), within the Department of Health and Human Services, licenses adult care homes and receives complaints about them through its Complaint Intake Unit. Complaints about adult care homes are investigated by the DHSR Adult Care Licensure Section together with the local county Department of Social Services. Because assisted living is not certified by Medicare the way skilled nursing homes are, the state — not the federal government — is the primary authority responsible for oversight and enforcement at these facilities.
How to File an Assisted Living Complaint in North Carolina
You can report concerns by calling the DHSR Complaint Intake Unit at 1-800-624-3004 (within North Carolina) or 919-855-4500, or by submitting the complaint online at the DHSR website. You may file orally or in writing, and you may remain anonymous. To help investigators, provide as much detail as you can — the facility name, the resident's name, specific dates and times, the names of staff involved, and a clear description of what happened.
Memory Care and Dementia Care in North Carolina
In North Carolina, memory care for residents with Alzheimer's disease or dementia is provided in Special Care Units within adult care homes. Facilities that operate these units must disclose how their care, staffing, and security differ from the rest of the facility and must meet additional dementia-training and safety requirements. Concerns about a memory care or special care unit are handled through the same complaint process — call the DHSR Complaint Intake Unit at 1-800-624-3004 to report abuse, neglect, elopement, or other unsafe conditions.
North CarolinaAssisted Living Regulations & Resources
How North Carolina Licenses Assisted Living
North Carolina licenses assisted living facilities as Adult Care Homes (and smaller Family Care Homes) under the Division of Health Service Regulation within the Department of Health and Human Services. Memory care is provided in Special Care Units within adult care homes that meet additional disclosure, staffing, and dementia-training requirements.
Statute of Limitations
3 years
In North Carolina, the statute of limitations for assisted living negligence claims is generally 3 years. Claims may fall under either personal injury or medical malpractice statutes, depending on the specific circumstances. It is critical to consult with an attorney as soon as possible to understand the specific deadlines that apply to your case, as missing these deadlines can permanently bar your claim.
Resident Bill of Rights
Declaration of Residents' Rights (Adult Care Home Residents' Bill of Rights)
View Full StatuteComplaint 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
After a complaint about an adult care home is received, the Complaint Intake Unit reviews and prioritizes it based on severity and may forward it to the local county Department of Social Services and the DHSR Adult Care Licensure Section for investigation. Complaints alleging immediate danger to a resident's health or safety are investigated on an expedited basis, while other complaints are scheduled according to risk.
Unannounced Inspections
Complaint investigations and routine surveys of adult care homes are generally conducted unannounced so that surveyors can observe normal conditions and care as residents actually experience them.
Complainant Notification
If you provide your contact information, the investigating agency will generally notify you of the outcome of the investigation, including whether the allegations were substantiated and what action, if any, was taken.
Enforcement Actions
When violations are found, the Division of Health Service Regulation and the county Department of Social Services may require a plan of correction and can impose enforcement actions including administrative penalties (fines), provisional or special licensure status, suspension of admissions, and suspension or revocation of the facility's license. Cases involving abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation may also be referred to law enforcement or Adult Protective Services.
Anonymous Complaints
Yes, you can file an assisted living complaint anonymously in North Carolina. The Division of Health Service Regulation's Complaint Intake Unit 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 — North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation, Complaint Intake Unit: info.ncdhhs.gov
- Resident rights — N.C. Gen. Stat. § 131D-21: ncleg.gov
- North Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman: ncdhhs.gov
- Mailing address — North Carolina Division of Health Service Regulation, Complaint Intake Unit: Complaint Intake Unit, Division of Health Service Regulation, 2711 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-2711
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file an assisted living complaint anonymously in North Carolina?expand_more
What number do I call, and how quickly is a complaint investigated?expand_more
What is the difference between a nursing home and an assisted living facility in North Carolina?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.