If there is an emergency, you should call 911. In all other cases of nursing home abuse and neglect, below or some resources you can use to report nursing home abuse.
Department of Health
You may report nursing home abuse regarding any nursing home or business that is licensed by the Licensing and Certification Division of the California Department of Public Health (DPH).
DPH regulates and enforces California Nursing home law through inspections of nursing home facilities and investigation of complaints. In San Diego, their contact information is as follows:
DPH – San Diego Offices
San Diego—North
7575 Metropolitan Dr., Ste 104, San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 278-3700 / (800) 824-0613
Fax: (619) 278-3725
San Diego—South
7575 Metropolitan Dr., Ste. 211, San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 688-6190 / Toll Free (866) 706-0759
Fax: (619) 688-6444
San Diego Ombudsman
You may also report to the local Ombudsman in the County where the abuse or neglect is believed to have occurred. The local Ombudsman does not have any legal authority to enforce the law but can be helpful getting disputes resolved.
Aging & Independence Services
County of San Diego
LTC Ombudsman Program
5560 Overland Avenue, Suite 310
San Diego, CA 92123-1222
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 23217
San Diego, CA 92193-9975
Tel: (858) 560-2507
Tel: (800) 640-4661
Fax (858) 694-2568
San Diego County District Attorney – Elder Abuse Division
Some elder abuse rises to the level of a crime and is appropriately reported to the policy and the district attorney’s office.
The district attorney in San Diego has a special hotline.
Elder Abuse Reporting Hotline – 619-531-3342
Main Office Location
330 W. Broadway
San Diego, CA 92101
619-531-4040
FAX: 619-237-1351
The Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud & Elder Abuse (BMFEA)
In addition, you may also send a copy of your complaint to
The BMFEA is a division of the State Attorney General’s office.
They investigate and pursue people that abuse and neglect elders in nursing homes and disabled people in facilities funded by Medi-Cal.
You may file the complaint the following:
Call – 800-722-0432;
Online – https://oag.ca.gov/bmfea/reporting
Mail – Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, CA, 94244-2550.