Ohio Department of Aging
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 11, 2007
COLUMBUS - The American Health Care Association celebrates each Mother's Day week (May 13-19 this year) as National Nursing Home Week. The Ohio Department of Aging is proud to honor the nearly 1,000 nursing facilities in the state that provide several integral components to the long-term care system in Ohio. The department also applauds ongoing efforts by facilities and individuals to transform the nursing home system and meet the changing needs of older Ohioans and adults with disabilities.
"There has been a lot of talk lately about home care and assisted living and giving Ohioans choice in long-term care. Unfortunately, many falsely assume that nursing homes do not have a place in a system that favors choice," said Barbara E. Riley, Director of the Department of Aging. "This is simply not true. Real choice requires an array of services that can meet the changing needs of our citizens at every point in their lives. Nursing homes are a very important part of that continuum, providing not only long-term skilled nursing care, but also short-term rehabilitation and convalescent services."
"It is so fitting that National Nursing Home Week falls during Older Americans Month. While we are encouraging all older Ohioans to be their best in body, mind and spirit, I hope everyone will take this opportunity to visit loved ones, friends and neighbors in nursing facilities, as well as take part in special events many facilities will be holding this week," said Beverley Laubert, the State Long-term Care Ombudsman. "We want all Ohioans to see the things that are being done within facilities to improve not only the quality of care, but also the quality of life for residents. Caregiving does not stop at the nursing home door. Families and friends should be involved and expect nothing less than excellence."
The Department of Aging and the Office of the State Long-term Care Ombudsman are proud partners in the national Advancing Excellence in America's Nursing Homes campaign, sponsored by a coalition of care providers, medical and quality improvement experts, government agencies, consumers and others. It is a voluntary effort of nursing home administration, employees, residents and the public to monitor key indicators of care quality, promote excellence in care for residents and acknowledge the critical role staff have in providing care. To learn more about the campaign and to sign up as a facility or a consumer to take a stand for quality, visit www.nhqualitycampaign.org.
The Ohio Long-Term Care Consumer Guide, located online at www.ltcohio.org, is a service of the Department of Aging that helps Ohioans search for the best long-term care facility for them and their family members. Visitors find facility information such as location, contacts, services provided, costs, regulatory data and more. The online database currently contains information about nearly 1,000 Ohio nursing facilities, as well as approximately 550 residential care (assisted living) facilities. The guide also includes family satisfaction survey results, which cover topics such as activities, administration, admissions, choice, environment and general satisfaction. Resident satisfaction data will be added later this year.
About ODA
The Ohio Department of Aging serves and represents two million Ohioans age 60 and older. The Department advocates for the needs of all older citizens, with an emphasis on improving the quality of life for older Ohioans, helping them live active, healthy and independent lives, and promoting positive attitudes toward aging and older people. The Department provides services to older Ohioans through 12 area agencies on aging, home- and community-based Medicaid waiver programs such as PASSPORT, the long-term care ombudsman and the Golden Buckeye Card. For more information, visit www.goldenbuckeye.com.
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Ohio Department of Aging