New Orleans Senior AdvisorHow do I check whether a New Orleans assisted living provider is licensed?
Look it up on the Louisiana Department of Health's Program Provider Directory, which links a monthly Licensed Providers Report spreadsheet listing every licensed ARCP with its license number, original licensure date, current issue date, expiration date and administrator, and LDH's location directory, which shows each ARCP's level and capacity.
Both are on ldh.la.gov. The spreadsheet is the more reliable of the two for license status because LDH regenerates it monthly; the directory entries are typed by hand, so formats vary and some omit the level or capacity. If a provider does not appear on the current report, ask why before going further. Our directory is built from both sources for the six parishes around New Orleans.
Can I see a Louisiana ARCP's inspection results?
Yes, but not online in bulk: Louisiana requires every ARCP to post any statement of deficiencies LDH issues in a readily accessible place on the premises, and the statement becomes available to the public 30 days after the provider receives it or after LDH accepts its plan of correction, whichever comes first (LAC 48:I.6823).
That means the first place to look is the wall of the building you are touring. Ask the director for the most recent statement and the plan of correction that answered it. If you want older records, LDH's Health Standards Section can be asked for them. Re-licensing surveys and complaint investigations are unannounced, so a recent survey date reflects an unscheduled visit.
How do I check a New Orleans nursing home's inspection history?
Use CMS Care Compare, which publishes the results of the standard health inspections and complaint investigations that LDH's Health Standards Section carries out on CMS's behalf, along with star ratings, staffing data and fines for every Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing home.
LDH's own long-term care FAQ points families to the same federal data. Our nursing home pages reproduce the latest inspection date, deficiency counts and CMS ratings for each certified home in the six parishes, labelled with the data date. A nursing home on LDH's licensed roster that has no CMS record is not certified for Medicare or Medicaid, which matters if Medicaid will eventually pay.
What should I look for on the state record?
Look first at the license status and expiration date, then the current issue date for signs of a recent ownership change, then the ARCP level and capacity, and finally the posted statement of deficiencies and plan of correction.
63 licensed ARCPs in the six parishes on LDH's October 2026 roster are on our roster. A license that expires within weeks is not a warning by itself, since renewals are routine, but an expired license is. A capacity that does not match what you see on the tour, such as ten residents in a home licensed for eight, is worth a direct question. The plan of correction tells you more than the deficiency list: it shows whether the fix was systemic or cosmetic.
How do I report a problem with a Louisiana care provider?
Licensing complaints about an ARCP, nursing home, home health agency or hospice go to LDH's Health Standards Section at 1-888-810-1819 or on its complaint form; complaint investigations are unannounced, and the provider may have to submit a plan of correction (LAC 48:I.6821).
Suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of someone 60 or older goes to Elderly Protective Services at 1-833-577-6532, and for adults 18 to 59 with disabilities to Adult Protective Services at 1-800-898-4910. Residents and families can also call the long-term care ombudsman for the New Orleans region at (800) 833-9883 for free, confidential help. See complaints and abuse reporting.
At a glance
| Louisiana publishes | Louisiana does not publish | |
|---|---|---|
| ARCPs | License number, dates, administrator, level and capacity | Survey reports in a searchable list |
| Nursing homes | License data, plus CMS inspections and ratings | A state star rating |
| Dementia programs | The rule requiring disclosure | The list of disclosed programs |
| Complaints | How to file and what happens | Complaint outcomes by provider |
Sources include LAC 48:I.Chapter 68 (adult residential care providers), the Louisiana Department of Health's Health Standards Section and Office of Aging and Adult Services pages, the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
