OHIO, USA — A new resource introduced by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and the state Department of Aging can assist families with finding a well-rounded nursing home for their loved ones to "improve senior care," the governor said in a press conference Wednesday.
The Ohio Nursing Home Quality Navigator allows users to search active nursing homes in the states by various filters including "care quality metrics, facility comparison functionality, and other features, such as staffing ratios, specialty services offered, and the number of health and safety violations a nursing home received," according to a press release from the governor's office.
The tool, which was recommended by the Nursing Home Quality & Accountability Task Force, consolidates the information that was previously spread across multiple sources into one webpage.
"I think the more information that's out there, the more that's in the market, the more incentive there is to improve the quality of care," DeWine said.
There will be at least 70 data elements with the navigator and it will provide information on each facility such as the number of beds, staffing data and resident and family satisfaction survey scores.
“It is our hope that, in addition to providing increased transparency and convenience to Ohioans, the new online Navigator will also incentivize nursing homes to continue reaching higher to deliver the very best quality of care and quality of life possible to the benefit of our state’s nursing home residents and those who love and care for them," said ODA Director Ursel McElroy, who also served as chair of the task force.
The navigator has desktop and mobile-friendly versions.