Nursing home neglect in Houston: who to call first and when to find a lawyer

If you are worried about someone in a Houston nursing home, the Harris County long-term care ombudsman is free and can help now at 713-500-9931. To report abuse or neglect, call the state at 800-458-9858. A claim generally must be filed within 2 years.

Last checked November 9, 2026 · Official sources (33)

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Road map of Harris County and Houston, the area served by the county's long-term care ombudsman program
Harris County's free nursing home ombudsman: 713-500-9931. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

My parent may be neglected at a Houston nursing home. Who do I call?

You do not have to be sure before you ask for help. It can feel hard to raise a concern about the people caring for someone you love. These are the people whose job it is to listen.

WhoWhat they doContact
Harris County long-term care ombudsmanAdvocates for residents. Works free and confidentially, and acts with the resident's or representative's consent.713-500-9931 or 800-296-2606
Texas Health and Human Services complaint lineTakes complaints about care or treatment at licensed facilities.800-458-9858
Texas Abuse HotlineTakes reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation.800-252-5400
PoliceFor a crime or immediate danger.911, or HPD non-emergency at 713-884-3131

The Harris County ombudsman's office is at 8000 North Stadium Drive, 3rd Floor, Houston 77054. The Houston Health Department says ombudsmen listen to residents' concerns and, with consent, help resolve them. In Texas, anyone with cause to believe someone is being abused or neglected must report it. Residents may complain without being punished.

What are the signs of nursing home neglect in Houston?

Federal rules give you a standard to measure against. Bedsores should not develop unless the resident's condition made them unavoidable. Each resident must get enough supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents. So repeat falls, new pressure sores, sudden weight loss or a loved one who seems afraid are all worth a question.

When abuse or serious injury is alleged, a facility must report it within 2 hours. Ask the administrator whether that was done. You can also look at federal star ratings, which cover inspections, staffing and quality. Residents have the right to see the most recent inspection results.

How do I get records from a Houston nursing home?

  1. Ask in writing. Note who you are, such as the resident or the legal representative.
  2. Expect access within 24 hours, not counting weekends and holidays.
  3. Ask for copies, which the facility must provide with 2 working days' notice.
  4. Take dated photos of wounds, with permission. Keep notes of who you spoke to.
  5. Ask for the full inspection survey too.

We signed an arbitration paper at a Houston nursing home. Does that stop us?

Not always. A home that takes Medicare or Medicaid cannot require arbitration as a condition of admission or care, and a resident has 30 calendar days to cancel. Texas law requires a boldface attorney warning on these agreements, but a court has found federal arbitration law can override that protection. Bring the paper to a lawyer rather than guessing.

My loved one died in a Houston nursing home. What now?

We are sorry. There is no need to do everything today. If you have questions about the cause, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has a Family Liaison Team at 832-927-5006. It does not issue death certificates. You get one through the funeral home or the local registrar for the area where the death happened.

If a claim is possible, an estate may need letters of administration, which the County Clerk's probate department issues. The damages limit in a Texas death case against a health care institution starts at a $500,000 base, adjusted for inflation.

What should I ask a nursing home lawyer in Houston?

  • Is this home run by a company or a government body?
  • What records should we save or request this week?
  • Does an arbitration paper change what we can do?
  • Who decides for my parent if they cannot decide for themselves?

Questions

Who is the nursing home ombudsman in Harris County?

The program at the Harris County Area Agency on Aging, 713-500-9931.

How long do we have to sue a nursing home in Houston?

Generally two years. Written notice comes first, at least 60 days before suit.

Will my parent be punished for complaining?

Residents have the right to complain without reprisal. Tell the ombudsman right away if that happens.

Can a Houston nursing home make us sign arbitration?

Federal rules bar requiring it as a condition of admission or care.

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Sources (33)

  1. State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Find an Ombudsman, checked 2026-11-09. “713-500-9931”
  2. Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman, checked 2026-11-09. “Services are free, confidential and available statewide.”
  3. 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”
  4. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.251, checked 2026-11-09. “within two years from the occurrence of the breach or tort”
  5. 42 CFR 483.10, checked 2026-11-09. “within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays)”
  6. 42 CFR 483.70, checked 2026-11-09. “the right to rescind the agreement within 30 calendar days of signing it”
  7. Texas Long-Term Care Ombudsman, checked 2026-11-09. “ombudsmen only take action with the consent of the resident or their representative”
  8. Texas DFPS, Report Abuse or Neglect, checked 2026-11-09. “By phone: 1-800-252-5400”
  9. Houston Police, Phone Directory, checked 2026-11-08. “Non-emergency Calls for Police Service -- (713) 884-3131”
  10. State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Find an Ombudsman, checked 2026-11-09. “8000 North Stadium Drive”
  11. Houston Health Department, Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, checked 2026-11-09. “Listen to residents' concerns and, with resident consent, investigate, problem-solve and help resolve concerns”
  12. Texas Health & Safety Code 260A.002, checked 2026-11-09. “shall report the abuse, neglect, or exploitation in accordance with this chapter”
  13. 42 CFR 483.10, checked 2026-11-09. “without discrimination or reprisal and without fear of discrimination or reprisal”
  14. 42 CFR 483.25, checked 2026-11-09. “does not develop pressure ulcers unless the individual's clinical condition demonstrates that they were unavoidable”
  15. 42 CFR 483.25, checked 2026-11-09. “Each resident receives adequate supervision and assistance devices to prevent accidents.”
  16. 42 CFR 483.12, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than 2 hours after the allegation is made”
  17. 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.”
  18. 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”
  19. 42 CFR 483.10, checked 2026-11-09. “upon request and 2 working days advance notice to the facility”
  20. Medicare.gov guide, checked 2026-11-09. “You can also ask for a copy of the full survey or the last complaint investigation report.”
  21. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.001, checked 2026-11-09. “(J) a nursing home”
  22. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.051, checked 2026-11-09. “at least 60 days before the filing of a suit”
  23. 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”
  24. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 74.301, checked 2026-11-09. “where final judgment is rendered against a single health care institution”
  25. Texas Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code 101.101, checked 2026-11-09. “not later than six months after the day that the incident giving rise to the claim occurred”
  26. 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”
  27. 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”
  28. Texas Supreme Court, Fredericksburg Care v. Perez (2015), checked 2026-11-09. “We hold that the MFA does not apply to section 74.451”
  29. Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, Family Information, checked 2026-11-08. “Family Liaison Team (832) 927-5006”
  30. Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “HCIFS does not issue death certificates.”
  31. Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, FAQ, checked 2026-11-08. “You may obtain a death certificate through your selected funeral home or from the local registrar designated to the area where the death occurred.”
  32. Harris County Clerk, Probate Courts, checked 2026-11-08. “letters of testamentary, administration and guardianship”
  33. 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”

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