Ohio Health Care Association

The Ohio Department of Aging announced yesterday that they will host listening sessions across the state to hear directly from Ohioans about their experiences with assisted living facilities. We encourage our families and residents to come out and share your experiences of the high-quality care, friendships, outings and excellent dining you have had with our assisted living facilities in Ohio!

https://ow.ly/21Cc50SLgaB

Enriching lives and caring for elders is something our long term care providers are doing everyday. Its time to change the narrative on quality care for our residents! Thank you Trilogy Health Services for representing long term care’s commitment to quality of life.

Ohio skilled nursing facilities would need to hire roughly 6,600 additional nurses and nurse aides to meet the federal staffing mandate. Where will these caregivers come from? Our providers are already struggling to find staff and the shortage of caregivers is growing. https://ow.ly/TI8050SIw91

For years, Ohio’s skilled nursing facilities has been reaching for solutions to their staffing shortage, which got much worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, CMS “raised the shelf” by imposing an unfunded minimum staffing mandate. Skilled nursing providers are trying hard to get more staff into their buildings, but they need the resources to do so – mainly, an adequate supply of workers and funding to hire them. When we ask for help to reach the goal of improved staffing, we are met with higher mandates and harsh penalties instead. Let's work collaboratively to find solutions to staffing shortages instead of penalizing those who are already struggling.

Yesterday afternoon, AHCA/NCAL shared with various leadership groups within the association that their Board of Directors selected Clif Porter as the next President and Chief Executive Officer. Clif succeeds Mark Parkinson, who is retiring at the end of 2024 after 14 years dedicated to serving our profession.

Clif for the past 10 years has been AHCA/NCAL's top lobbyist and an integral part of the organization's success on public policy issues over that time. He has had a 35-year career in long-term services and supports, beginning as a nursing assistant, as well as extensive experience in government relations. He also has deep connections to Ohio, including service on the OHCA Board of Directors.

We congratulate Clif on his selection and look forward to continuing to work with him in the years to come!

AHCA/NCAL Announces Incoming President & CEO WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Today, the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), representing more than 14,000 nursing homes and other long term care facilities that provide care to approximately five million people...

Dementia affects Ohioans at every level of care. Whether individuals are living with dementia in the community or in a long-term care setting, care coordination can improve outcomes and quality of life. OHCA would like to congratulate our member organizations, United Church Homes and Jewish Family Service Association, for being selected as a GUIDE Model Participant and demonstrating their commitment to innovative approaches to dementia care management. The GUIDE Model will be one of the first Innovation Center care models to focus on longitudinal, condition-specific comprehensive care for those living with dementia.
https://ow.ly/17Ey50SBuFT

Ohio’s skilled nursing facilities are doing better than the national average on the state's Medicaid quality measures. These measures target quality incentive payments to how each facility performs on key aspects of resident care. Unfortunately, when Ohio skilled nursing providers recently received their rate packages for the new state fiscal year, some found their rates were dramatically lower, taking away critical resources for patient care. This happened because the system denies the quality incentive payment to 25% of all skilled nursing facilities. No matter how much improvement Ohio SNFs make overall, a quarter of them (and their residents) lose. It’s time to eliminate this unfair rate cut!

Last week, the Ohio Department of Aging released the approved list of critical access Assisted Living Waiver providers, who receive an enhanced payment rate for predominantly serving residents who rely on Medicaid to cover their care. This new program is key to ensuring access to all levels of care across the aging care continuum for all Ohioans, regardless of income level. We proudly represent more than half of the approved critical access providers and will continue to advocate for expanded services for older Ohioans. Read more from our Executive Director in this recent article: https://ow.ly/1B4m50SxMS4

Happy Birthday, America! We are indebted to the Founding Fathers for the birth of our great nation. Similarly, we sincerely appreciate our direct care workers and staff. May our workers, residents, and families find fulfillment in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Nursing assistants are the backbone of long-term care. We are grateful every day for their hard work and loving touch that does so much to improve the lives of facility residents across Ohio. We are also grateful for the efforts of the General Assembly in advancing OHCA’s legislation to elevate the nursing assistant profession, expand the number of people becoming nursing assistants, and remove barriers to advancing their skills. This important measure is part of Senate Bill 144, which passed last week.

🎉 Congratulations to the 13 Ohio AHCA/NCAL Silver Award Winners! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce that these exceptional long-term care centers have been honored with the 2024 Silver – Achievement in Quality Award by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL). This prestigious award recognizes their dedication to providing high-quality care and outstanding performance.

The AHCA/NCAL Quality Award Program involves a rigorous three-level process that evaluates long-term care organizations against nationally recognized standards for excellence. This achievement highlights the unwavering commitment of these providers to enhancing the quality of care for residents and individuals with disabilities.

The awards will be officially presented at Delivering Solutions 24, the AHCA/NCAL Convention & Expo, taking place October 6-9, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.

A heartfelt thank you to the resolute workers in long-term care for their dedication and heroic contributions to the well-being of the residents and families they serve. Your hard work and commitment are truly inspiring.

On this blessed occasion of Eid al-Adha, may your sacrifices be appreciated and your prayers be answered.

Happy Father’s Day! Today we celebrate and honor all the amazing fathers and father figures out there.

OHCA partnered with NCCAP to offer the MEPAP course on-demand! It incorporates the cost of the NCCAP Activity Professional Certified (APC) Exam & includes 2 years of certification upon successful completion. Meets CMS & Ohio requirements
https://ow.ly/8Nlq50SjcRC

Happy Flag Day! Let's celebrate our nation's flag and all that it stands for.

Happy National Nursing Assistants Week! Thank you to our dedicated nursing assistants for your compassionate care.

Our residents kicked off National Gardening week by planting new seeds and the plants they’ve worked hard to grow! 🌷🌼🌱

It's National Men’s Health Week! Encourage the men in your life to prioritize their health.

Commemorating the courage and sacrifice of those who fought on D-Day. We are forever grateful.

OHCA members and staff in Washington this week for . American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living

Congratulations to the 37 Ohio skilled nursing facilities and assisted living communities that achieved the AHCA/NCAL Bronze level Quality Award!

Today we celebrate Native American Citizenship Day, honoring the heritage and contributions of Native Americans.

Today we celebrate Cancer Survivors Day. Let's honor the strength and resilience of those who have battled and beat cancer!

Happy Pride Month! Love is love!

Knowledge is power. Learn about migraines and how to manage them during Migraine Awareness Month.

Join us this June in standing together to support those affected by PTSD.

June shines a light on cataract awareness. This month, learn how to protect your vision and maintain good eye health.

This month, let's focus on promoting safety at home, work, and in our communities.