Albany Senior AdvisorWhere do I report a problem at an assisted living residence?
Call the Department of Health's adult care facility complaint line, 1-866-893-6772.
Weekday hours; voicemail after hours.
Where do nursing home complaints go?
To the Nursing Home Complaint and Discharge Appeal Hotline, 1-888-201-4563.
The line accepts calls 24 hours a day.
Can an adult home evict my parent?
Only for reasons the regulations allow, usually with 30 days' written notice, and a contested discharge generally requires a court proceeding.
Call the ombudsman when a notice arrives.
Who is the long-term care ombudsman for Albany?
Catholic Charities Senior and Caregiver Support Services, (518) 372-5667, for Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties.
Columbia and Greene counties: Hudson Valley LTC Ombudsman Program, (845) 229-4680.
What if I suspect abuse of a parent living at home?
Call 911 if there is immediate danger; otherwise call Adult Protective Services in your parent's county, such as Albany County at (518) 447-7177.
Every county's number is on its county page.
Can a nursing home discharge a resident for going on Medicaid?
No: a Medicaid-certified home cannot discharge a resident because the payment source changed to Medicaid.
Discharges must follow federal notice rules and can be appealed.
Can a resident have visitors at any time?
New York residents' rights protect a resident's right to receive visitors, and residences may set reasonable visiting procedures, but they cannot cut a resident off from family or the ombudsman.
If visits are restricted, ask for the reason in writing and call the ombudsman.
Who can see a resident's records?
The resident, and anyone they authorize such as a health care agent or power of attorney, can request copies of care records; residences may charge a reasonable copying fee.
Keep your own file of every agreement, plan and notice.
What is a resident council?
A resident council is a group of residents, often joined by a staff liaison, that meets regularly to raise concerns and suggestions with management; nursing homes and many adult care facilities have one, and family councils are common too.
Ask when the council meets and whether minutes are shared; a lively council is a good sign.
Side by side
| Residents have | Residents do not have to | |
|---|---|---|
| Notice | 30 days' written notice in most discharges | Leave on demand |
| Advocacy | A free ombudsman | Hire a lawyer to complain |
| Medicaid | Protection when converting | Move for switching payers |
Every answer here comes from New York law or regulation, a Department of Health publication, CMS, the VA, a county Office for the Aging or CareScout's 2025 cost survey. When a figure changes, we update the answer together with the reference page it links to, and where no published number exists we say so rather than estimate.
