Online Tool to Compare Nursing Home Quality Launches in Ohio

En español | Ohioans have a new online tool to help them compare the quality of nursing homes in the state, thanks in part to AARP Ohio’s push for increased nursing home transparency.

“Ohioans deserve to have all necessary information and performance data in one place when selecting a nursing home for themselves or their loved ones,” AARP Ohio State Director Holly Holtzen said in a statement. “This online resource empowers them to easily research nursing homes in their area and feel confident they are making the right decision.”

The Ohio Nursing Home Quality Navigator launched on the state’s Department of Aging website Feb. 21. It allows consumers to search for nursing homes nearby and find and compare quality measures like staffing ratios and safety and health violations.

The tool was among recommendations made in a report last May from Governor Mike DeWine’s Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force, of which AARP’s Holtzen is a member. The report called for more accountability and transparency in nursing homes.

Offered in mobile and desktop versions, the navigator gathers public data that had previously been scattered across multiple sources, according to the governor’s office. Consumers can search by zip code or city name to pull up an interactive map of nursing homes within a range of up to 100 miles, or search by name for information about specific nursing homes. There is also a side-by-side comparison feature.

Holtzen said the tool will make it easier for family caregivers, who may feel overwhelmed when deciding to move their loved one into a nursing home. Caregivers can now compare nursing homes’ number of beds, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) five-star quality ratings, resident and family satisfaction survey scores, staffing data and other information.

“Having relevant and accurate information can help provide caregivers peace of mind,” Holtzen said.

AARP has long called for measures to ensure nursing home safety and quality, such as efforts to create the first national staffing standards. Keep up with AARP’s nursing home coverage and learn more about our advocacy work in Ohio.

Natalie Missakian covers federal and state policy and writes AARP’s Fighting for You Every Day blog. She previously worked as a reporter for the New Haven Register and daily newspapers in Ohio. Her work has also appeared in the AARP Bulletin, the Hartford Business Journal and other publications.

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