How to Report Nursing Home Abuse in Honolulu

Important Steps To Reporting Nursing Home Abuse

• In immediate danger: call 911.
• To report a facility for investigation, contact Hawaiʻi’s Office of Health Care Assurance.
• To advocate for a resident and resolve care issues fast: contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program.
• To report abuse/neglect of a vulnerable adult: contact Adult Protective Services (APS).

Abuse In Nursing Homes Is Far More Widespread Than You May Think

• Families often suspect something is wrong but don’t know which agency to call.
• Reporting can protect a loved one quickly and create an official record that can matter later.
• This guide walks through the most common reporting paths in Honolulu, plus what to document so your report is taken seriously.

Start here: what type of situation is it?

• Emergency or active violence: call Honolulu Police Department (911 for emergencies).
• Non-emergency criminal concern (theft, assault already occurred, immediate police help not required): call HPD non-emergency at (808) 529-3111.
• Poor care, unsafe conditions, staffing problems, preventable injuries, hygiene issues: file a complaint with Hawaiʻi’s state survey agency contact listed by CMS (phone: 808-692-7420).
• You want advocacy, resident-rights help, and problem-solving with the facility: contact the Hawaiʻi Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program (Oʻahu: (808) 586-7268).
• Abuse/neglect of a vulnerable adult (including in a facility): contact Adult Protective Services (Oʻahu: (808) 832-5115).

Step-by-step: how to report nursing home abuse in Honolulu

1) Make sure the resident is safe first

• If there is immediate danger, call 911.
• If you need non-emergency police assistance on Oʻahu, call (808) 529-3111.
• If you can, ask the facility for a same-day care conference and request a written care-plan update.

2) Document what you’re seeing (this improves the odds of action)

• Names and roles: staff involved, supervising nurse, charge nurse, administrator.
• Dates and times: when symptoms started, when you noticed injuries, missed meds, falls, dehydration, pressure sores, or sudden behavior changes.
• Photos: injuries, poor conditions, soiled bedding, unsafe rooms (only when appropriate and lawful).
• Medical details: discharge papers, hospital records, medication lists, diagnoses, wound-care notes.
• Witnesses: other visitors, roommates’ families, staff who spoke with you.

3) File the right report (often more than one)

A) Report the facility to the state (licensing / survey complaint)

• CMS lists Hawaiʻi’s state survey agency complaint phone number as 808-692-7420 and the state health department website as health.hawaii.gov.
• This route is especially relevant for patterns: understaffing, repeated falls, medication errors, infection control issues, neglect, and unsafe conditions.

B) Contact the Long-Term Care Ombudsman for resident advocacy

• The Hawaiʻi Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program can help residents and families address complaints and understand resident rights.
• Oʻahu contact listed: (808) 586-7268.
• Statewide ombudsman helpline: 1-888-229-2231 via the Hawaiʻi Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program contact page.

C) Report suspected abuse/neglect to Adult Protective Services (APS)

• Hawaiʻi DHS Adult Protective Services reporting line for Oʻahu: (808) 832-5115 (reports taken Monday–Friday during business hours; voicemail after hours).
• APS materials state reports are confidential and the reporter may remain anonymous.

D) If you need local referrals and support services

• Call 2-1-1 through Aloha United Way 2-1-1 for local referrals and support options.
• For aging and disability resource navigation, the APS brochure also points to the Hawaiʻi ADRC line: 643-ADRC (643-2372).

Who to call in Honolulu (quick reference table)

What to include when you file a report

• Resident name, age, unit/room, and facility name and address
• Description of what happened and when (timeline)
• Any immediate risks (falls, dehydration, bedsores, choking, wandering, medication mismanagement)
• Names of staff involved (if known)
• Whether the resident has cognitive impairment and can self-advocate
• Whether you have photos, medical records, or witness names

What happens after you report

• Agencies may request follow-up details; keep your notes and be ready to share dates, times, and documents.
• The ombudsman route often focuses on advocacy and resolution; the survey/complaint route focuses on compliance and investigation.
• Police involvement may be appropriate for assault, sexual abuse, theft, or immediate threats.

When it helps to talk to a nursing home abuse attorney

• Severe injury, hospitalization, or death
• Signs of repeated neglect (bedsores, dehydration, malnutrition, frequent falls)
• Suspected financial exploitation
• You reported concerns but the facility has not corrected the problem
• You want help preserving evidence and understanding potential civil claims
• Learn more about your options with a local page: nursing home abuse attorneys in Honolulu.
• Explore the firm: Potts Law.
• See outcomes in past matters: case results.