Find a nursing home neglect lawyer in Fort Worth: help for your family
If you are worried about someone in a Fort Worth nursing home, you can call the Tarrant County ombudsman at 817-258-8102 and report concerns to the state at 800-458-9858. Both are free to call. A legal claim generally must be filed within 2 years, under Texas health care rules.
Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (36)
Who do I call about a nursing home in Fort Worth?
We know this is hard. You do not need to be certain something is wrong before you ask for help. These numbers are for families who are worried.
| Who | When to call | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Tarrant County ombudsman | Questions about rights or care, or if you want someone on your side | 817-258-8102 |
| State complaint line | Concerns about abuse, neglect or poor care | 800-458-9858 |
| State regulators, Region 3 | Tarrant County's regional long-term care office | 817-792-3482 |
| Texas Abuse Hotline | Abuse, neglect or exploitation of elderly people | 1-800-252-5400 |
| Police or 911 | Immediate danger | 911 |
United Way of Tarrant County's Area Agency on Aging runs the local ombudsman program, from 201 North Rupert Street, Suite 107. Ombudsmen are free and confidential, and they take action only with the consent of the resident or their representative.
Tarrant County's own probate courts point families to the same state line for complaints about a facility. In Texas, anyone with cause to believe an elderly person is being abused or neglected must report it.
What are the signs of nursing home neglect in Fort Worth?
Families usually notice something small first. Trust that feeling and write down what you see, with the date.
- Bedsores. Federal rules say sores should not develop unless they could not be avoided.
- Falls that keep happening. Residents must get supervision and devices to prevent accidents.
- Unexplained bruises, weight loss or sudden fear of certain staff.
- Staff who say they cannot find the chart.
- Being told not to complain. Residents may complain without being punished.
Facilities also have duties of their own. They must report abuse allegations quickly, and within 2 hours when abuse or serious injury is involved.
What are my family's rights at a Fort Worth nursing home?
- Ask to see the records. The facility must give access within 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays.
- Ask for copies, with 2 working days' notice.
- Look at the most recent survey. Residents have the right to see it, and you can ask for the full report and the last complaint investigation.
- Check the star ratings, which cover inspections, staffing and quality.
- Do not sign an arbitration agreement in a hurry. It cannot be a condition of admission or care, and you have 30 days to cancel it.
Should I move my parent out of a Fort Worth nursing home?
Only you can decide that, and you may have reasons to wait. If you are worried about safety right now, talk with the ombudsman, your parent's doctor and the state line the same day.
If your parent has gone to the hospital, JPS and Texas Health Harris Methodist are Fort Worth's Level I trauma centers. Ask the doctors to write down any bedsores, dehydration or injuries they find. Those notes can matter a great deal later.
Can I file a claim against a nursing home in Fort Worth?
Yes. In Texas a nursing home counts as a health care institution, so the health care claim rules apply.
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Notice before suit | 60 days |
| Deadline to sue | 2 years from the act or end of treatment |
| Expert report | 120 days after each defendant answers |
| Limit for one facility | $250,000 for noneconomic harm per claimant |
| If your loved one has died | A $500,000 base limit on all damages, adjusted for inflation |
Most of these claims are paid by the facility's insurer or its parent company. Medicare or Medicaid may need to be repaid from a settlement. A complaint to the state is separate from a legal claim, and doing one does not stop the other.
If you have lost someone, we are sorry. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner offers help 24 hours a day at 817-920-5700. Probate Court No. 1 handles estates for people who died without a will. A lawyer can explain who may bring a claim for your family.
What should I ask a nursing home neglect lawyer in Fort Worth?
- Have you handled claims against nursing homes in Tarrant County?
- Will you review the full chart and the state inspection reports?
- Who owns this facility, and who insures it?
- Did anyone sign an arbitration agreement, and can it be cancelled?
Questions
How do I report a nursing home in Fort Worth?
Call the state at 800-458-9858. For free help, call the Tarrant County ombudsman at 817-258-8102.
Who can file a complaint?
Anyone with concerns about a resident's care can file with the state agency.
Do we have to arbitrate if we signed the paperwork?
Maybe not. It cannot be required for admission, and it can be cancelled within 30 days of signing. Texas also requires a boldface attorney warning on such agreements, though federal law may limit that rule.
How long do we have to file a claim?
Generally two years from the act or the end of treatment.
Nursing home abuse or neglect in Fort Worth? See if you are owed money.
A free case review. $0 upfront. No fee unless you win.
See if I’m owed moneySources (36)
- Texas HHS, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Directory, checked 2026-11-09. “United Way of Tarrant County 817-258-8102 800-252-2412”
- Texas HHS, checked 2026-11-09. “Call 800-458-9858 to report complaints about the care or treatment of someone served by a Regulatory Services provider”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.251, checked 2026-11-09. “within two years from the occurrence of the breach or tort”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.001, checked 2026-11-09. “(J) a nursing home”
- Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman, checked 2026-11-09. “Services are free, confidential and available statewide.”
- 42 CFR 483.70, checked 2026-11-09. “must not require any resident or his or her representative to sign an agreement for binding arbitration as a condition of admission to”
- 42 CFR 483.70, checked 2026-11-09. “the right to rescind the agreement within 30 calendar days of signing it”
- 42 CFR 483.10, checked 2026-11-09. “within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays)”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.051, checked 2026-11-09. “at least 60 days before the filing of a suit”
- Texas HHS, Long-Term Care Regulatory Regional Contact Numbers, checked 2026-11-09. “Main line: 817-792-3482”
- Texas HHS, Long-Term Care Regulatory Regions map, checked 2026-11-09. “Region 3 Counties: Collin, Cooke, Dallas, Denton, Grayson, Rockwall, Tarrant, Wise”
- Texas DFPS, Hotlines, checked 2026-11-09. “1-800-252-5400 or www.txabusehotline.org”
- United Way of Tarrant County, Ombudsman Day, checked 2026-11-09. “Through United Way of Tarrant County’s Area Agency on Aging of Tarrant County (AAATC), the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program provides advocacy and support to residents.”
- Texas HHS, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Directory, checked 2026-11-09. “201 North Rupert Street Suite 107 Fort Worth, TX 76107”
- Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman, checked 2026-11-09. “ombudsmen only take action with the consent of the resident or their representative”
- Tarrant County Probate Courts, About Guardianship, checked 2026-11-09. “If you have complaints about a facility, contact Texas Health and Human Services at 1-800-458-9858.”
- Texas Health & Safety Code 260A.002, checked 2026-11-09. “shall report the abuse, neglect, or exploitation in accordance with this chapter”
- 42 CFR 483.25, checked 2026-11-09. “does not develop pressure ulcers unless the individual's clinical condition demonstrates that they were unavoidable”
- 42 CFR 483.25, checked 2026-11-09. “Each resident receives adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents.”
- 42 CFR 483.10, checked 2026-11-09. “without discrimination or reprisal and without fear of discrimination or reprisal”
- 42 CFR 483.12, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than 2 hours after the allegation is made”
- 42 CFR 483.10, checked 2026-11-09. “upon request and 2 working days advance notice to the facility”
- 42 CFR 483.10, checked 2026-11-09. “Examine the results of the most recent survey of the facility conducted by Federal or State surveyors”
- Medicare.gov guide, checked 2026-11-09. “You can also ask for a copy of the full survey or the last complaint investigation report.”
- CMS, checked 2026-11-09. “There is one Overall 5-star rating for each nursing home, and separate ratings for health inspections, staffing and quality measures.”
- Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “JOHN PETER SMITH HOSPITAL 11/1/2028 E FORT WORTH 76104”
- Texas DSHS, Texas Trauma Facilities, checked 2026-11-08. “TEXAS HEALTH HARRIS METHODIST HOSPITAL FORT WORTH 1/1/2029 E FORT WORTH 76104”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.351, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than the 120th day after the date each defendant's original answer is filed”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.301, checked 2026-11-09. “where final judgment is rendered against a single health care institution”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.303, checked 2026-11-09. “the limit of civil liability for all damages, including exemplary damages, shall be limited to an amount not to exceed $500,000 for each claimant”
- CMS, checked 2026-11-09. “it must be repaid to Medicare when a settlement, judgment, award, or other payment is made”
- Tarrant County Medical Examiner, FAQs, checked 2026-11-08. “Assistance is available 24 hours a day at 817-920-5700.”
- Tarrant County, Probate Court No. 1, checked 2026-11-08. “The creation of estate administrations for individuals dying without a will”
- Medicare.gov, checked 2026-11-09. “Anyone with knowledge or concerns about the care of a resident in a nursing home may file a complaint with their State Survey Agency.”
- Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.451, checked 2026-11-09. “UNDER TEXAS LAW, THIS AGREEMENT IS INVALID AND OF NO LEGAL EFFECT UNLESS IT IS ALSO SIGNED BY AN ATTORNEY OF YOUR OWN CHOOSING”
- Texas Supreme Court, Fredericksburg Care v. Perez (2015), checked 2026-11-09. “We hold that the MFA does not apply to section 74.451”