Abuse or neglect in a facility
For a licensed facility, start with the resident's advocate and the state licensing agency. Both take anonymous reports.
#1
Call the Long-Term Care Ombudsman first
For a licensed facility, such as assisted living, an adult family home, a nursing home, or memory care, the Washington Long-Term Care Ombudsman, at 1-800-562-6028, is the right first call. They are a free, resident-directed advocate who works to resolve the complaint, and they can tell you what concerns are already on file. They are an advocate, not a licensing agency, so pair them with the next step for an actual investigation.
#2
Also report to state licensing
The state Residential Care Services unit licenses and inspects facilities and runs the investigation. File at the complaint line 1-800-562-6078 (TTY 1-800-737-7931). The Ombudsman advocates for your parent, licensing investigates the facility, and both should know about a serious concern.
#3
If money is moving, treat it as urgent too
If transfers are happening right now, do not wait on any investigation. Only the bank can stop money in motion. Go straight to the active-fraud steps.
After the immediate hour
Once the crisis is delayed or stabilized, you have time. Take the standard quiz to get curated picks for the longer arc. COPES eligibility, your AAA, family caregiver support, what to set up before the next round.
These scripts are paraphrased from caregivers who have been through these situations on r/dementia, r/AgingParents, ALZConnected, and AARP. They are not legal or medical advice. The LTC Ombudsman, your AAA, and the Alzheimer's helpline are all free and can advise on the specifics of your situation.
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