Governor's Nursing Home Task Force Report
[Excerpt] America’s aging population is larger than ever before and growing faster than ever before. Here in Ohio, the number of people ages 60 and older is expected to grow 33% by 2030,1 up from 2.8 million in 2020. This population will live longer than any generation prior, often with complex and multiple chronic conditions that will require care.
The most vulnerable among this population – as well as many who are younger, but in need – rely on nursing homes to receive long-term care, rehabilitation, or intensive medical care after an acute incident. As Ohioans’ needs change and grow, the system must evolve to meet those needs.
Today, consistent access to quality care and a high quality of life, delivered with compassion, inclusivity, and sensitivity, is eluding too many nursing home residents in Ohio. Addressing this urgent matter will require a collective and coordinated response in delivering, financing, and overseeing the dignified experience that Ohioans need and deserve. Governor Mike DeWine has set forth the bold vision of making Ohio the best place to age in the nation. Creating the Nursing Home Quality & Accountability Task Force is part of achieving that vision. It was established on February 24, 2023, to evaluate and recommend short-term and long-term actions to make excellence the expectation in every nursing home in Ohio. The Task Force was charged with obtaining and summarizing resident, caregiver, and expert perspectives on strategies and actions necessary to create a system where every Ohioan entering a nursing home can expect a high quality of care and a high quality of life
In this report, the Task Force has developed an actionable plan with recommendations that will maximize the near-term impact on the resident experience across Ohio’s nursing homes.