Assisted Living in Ohio

Paying for Assisted Living in Ohio

Assisted living in Ohio is paid for privately, either by individuals in combination with their families, or in some cases, by long-term care insurance policies. The Assisted Living Medicaid Waiver will cover the cost of services received in an assisted living facility for qualified low-income individuals, but does not pay for room and board.

Overview of Ohio Assisted Living

The landscape of The Buckeye State is varied, with the coastal feel of Lake Eerie, pastoral rivers and the stunning Hocking Hills region at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains.

With a number of museums, cultural venues, amenities and services easily available, seniors who choose assisted living in Ohio will love the perfect balance of a big-city lifestyle with the quaint, homey feeling of a small town.

Assisted Living in Ohio Defined

In Ohio, an “assisted living facility” and “residential care facility” are considered the same thing. The Ohio Department of Health defines residential care facilities as homes that provide accommodations for:

• “Seventeen or more unrelated individuals, and supervision and personal care services for at least three or more of those individuals who are dependent on the services of others by reason of age or physical or mental impairment,” or
• “Three or more unrelated individuals, supervision and personal care services for at least three of those individuals who are dependent on the services of others by reason of age or physical or mental impairment, and, to at least one of those individuals supervision of special diets or application of dressings, or provide for the administering medication to residents, to the extent authorized.”

Assisted living facilities in Ohio vary in design and style. The range of options is meant to meet the differing consumer preferences and needs.

Regulation of Ohio Assisted Living Facilities

Assisted living facilities in Ohio are licensed by the Ohio Department of Health. Each facility receives at least one unannounced inspection during a 9- to 15-month survey cycle. All aspects of care and services are evaluated during these inspections, based on state laws. Each residential care facility is required to display a copy of the most recent survey so that consumers may review it.

Direct care staff at Ohio assisted living communities must undergo background checks, must be at least 16 years of age and have the proper training. Eight additional hours of training is mandatory each year. If therapeutic diets are offered at a facility, policies require that a dietician be on staff.

At least two staff members trained in First Aid must be on call all night and an administrator must be in the building no fewer than 20 hours a week. If an assisted living home offers skilled nursing care, then it must be managed by an on-site Registered Nurse (RN).