Phone Resources for Nursing Homes

Nursing Home Complaints

In Pennsylvania:
call: toll free at 1-800-254-5164 for the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Nursing Home Hotline. Phones answer 24 hours a day.

In Ohio:
call: toll-free at 1-800-342-0553

In West Virginia:
call: toll-free at 1-800-442-2888

Additional Avenues for Nursing Home Complaints in Pennsylvania

You can also call the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General toll free at 1-800-922-8477. The Auditor General's office will refer you to appropriate authorities.

You can also make complaints to the State Service Agency by calling 717-787-8015. This agency conducts annual surveys of Pennsylvania nursing homes and issues deficiencies when the a nursing home fails to meet a state regulation.

Medicare and Medicaid

Medicare's toll free number is 1-800-633-4227. Pennsylvania residents with questions or concerns regarding the state's Medicaid program can call the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare at 717-787-1870.

Pennsylvania Ombudsman Program

Pennsylvania's State Long-Term Care Ombudsman is Cynthia F. Boyne. She can be reached at the Pennsylvania Department of Aging by dialing 717-783-7247.

Pennsylvania State Nurse's Aide Registry

You can contact the registry toll-free at 1-800-852-0518.

Prescription Help

Pennsylvania residents 65 or older may be eligible for help with the cost of prescriptions. To find out if you are eligible, call the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) toll free at 1-800-225-7223.

Transportation and Other Services

Pennsylvania's low income seniors are eligible for transportation assistance through local Area Agencies on Aging. These agencies also provide many other services to older Pennsylvanians and their families.

• To find out what services are available, look up the phone number of your county office on the Pennsylvania Department of Aging website.