As the federal government shutdown continues, low-income older Ohioans and the nonprofits that serve them are bracing for the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits beginning this Saturday, November 1. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that without new congressional funding, no federal food aid will be issued after November 1, and this week the Trump Administration declined to use contingency funds to buoy nutrition assistance. As temperatures drop, the Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides utilities assistance to millions nationwide, is also in peril. The Associated Press reports that USDA lacks sufficient funds to continue the program through the shutdown.
Across Ohio, about 1.39 million residents rely on SNAP, receiving an average monthly benefit of roughly $190, according to the Ohio Capital Journal. For individuals and families living in affordable or supportive housing communities, as well as low-wage earners like nurse aides and housekeepers, these benefits help offset rising grocery, utility, and medical costs. Without them, many will face immediate food insecurity and may have to divert already limited income toward basic nutrition.
Legislative response in Ohio
At the Statehouse, lawmakers are attempting to cushion the blow. House Bill 502, introduced by Representative Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus), would authorize emergency state funding to sustain SNAP and related federal programs during the shutdown. The bill carries an emergency clause to allow immediate effect if passed. However, legislative action on the measure is not anticipated.
A companion proposal to tap Ohio’s “rainy-day” fund for a temporary SNAP bridge failed in the Senate this week. Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has stated it has not yet received direction from USDA on contingency plans for November.
What this means for aging services
For nonprofit organizations—many of which already coordinate food access and resident wellness programs—the lapse could sharply increase demand for on-site food pantries, transportation to community food banks, and emergency financial assistance. Additionally, some employees of aging services organizations may be impacted. Providers are urged to begin communication now, explaining that EBT cards will remain active but will not receive new deposits until the federal government reopens.
Providers should also work closely with local food banks, faith-based partners, and municipal agencies to prepare for a possible surge in need. The Time Magazine analysis warns that food banks nationwide are already expecting an unprecedented strain if federal benefits lapse.
Advocacy and next steps
LeadingAge Ohio continues to monitor state legislative efforts and remains in dialogue with partners across the aging-services and housing sectors. Members are encouraged to reach out to their lawmakers in support of an immediate funding solution. Top You Asked: Is a seatbelt considered a restraint if it is used to manage a resident’s condition such as multiple sclerosis?
We Answered: Treatment of a resident’s condition does not eliminate a device from being considered a restraint. In State Operations Manual Appendix PP, CMS states that while physical restraints may be used to treat a resident’s medical symptom, the devices may create a risk for entrapment. Physical restraints are defined as any manual method, physical or mechanical device/equipment or material that meets all of the following criteria:
- Is attached or adjacent to a resident’s body;
- Cannot be removed easily by the resident; and
- Restricts the resident’s freedom of movement or normal access to his/her body.
Top The LeadingAge Annual Meeting and Expo, the nation’s largest gathering of nonprofit aging services professionals, is next week! Because of the event, The Source and other LeadingAge Ohio newsletters will not be published.
If you will be in Boston, join LeadingAge Ohio team members during State Night Out on Sunday, November 2. A few familiar LeadingAge Ohio team members will be presenting throughout the Annual Meeting. Lindsey Buzzard, Director of Home Health & Hospice, will be presenting about Sharpening Your Hospice Survey Skills on Sunday, November 2 at 1:00 p.m.. Randi Hamill, Director of Workforce Development & Initiatives, and Cheryl Lampkowski-Sowle, Vice-President of Home Health and Hospice with Otterbein, will be presenting on how organizations can continue supporting their DEI initiatives in light of state and federal changes on Tuesday, November 4 at 8:30AM. Stephanie DeWees, Quality and Regulatory Specialist for Long-term Care and Susan Wallace, President / CEO will be presenting on quality-based payment for nursing facilities on Wednesday, November 5 at 11:30am.
Publications will resume the week of November 10. On November 7, from 10 to 11 a.m., LeadingAge Ohio members are invited to a Marketing, Communications, and Outreach (MCO) Network Gathering, hosted in collaboration with LeadingAge Indiana, with marketing expert Jo Formal. This virtual conversation will bring together marketing and communications professionals from across both states for an open, informal exchange of what’s working, what’s challenging, and how peers can support one another.
This members-only roundtable is free to attend. Mark your calendars for November 7, and save the Zoom join link. Connect directly with the next generation of nurses by participating in the Hondros College of Nursing Career Fairs. LeadingAge Ohio members are able to participate at no cost.
These in-person events allow providers to meet qualified candidates for a range of clinical roles, including medical assistants (MAs), state-tested nursing assistants (STNAs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and registered nurses (RNs). It’s an ideal way to share your organization’s mission and recruit dedicated individuals ready to make a difference in aging services.
Career fairs will be held throughout November at Hondros College of Nursing campuses across Ohio:
Each organization is asked to register for one session per campus to ensure opportunities for all providers.
Learn more about member discounts and event details by reviewing this flyer. There's always something happening at LeadingAge Ohio, view all upcoming events here and mark your calendar today!
- November 2, 5:30 p.m. - State Night Out in Boston
- November 2-5 - LeadingAge Annual Meeting and Global Ageing Network Conference in Boston
- November 6, 10 a.m. - Advocacy Committee
- November 7, 10 a.m. - Marketing, Communications, & Outreach Network with LeadingAge Indiana
- November 12, 11 a.m. - STAT: Survey Tips and Tactics 2025 – Elopement
- November 12, 12 p.m. - The Tipping Point: Exploring the Risk of Benefits Cliffs Among Direct Care Workers with LeadingAge Virginia
- November 12, 4 p.m. - Fall Regional Network Gathering in Cincinnati/Mason
- November 17, 10 a.m. - Advocacy in Action Call
- November 18, 4 p.m. - Fall Regional Network Gathering in Cleveland/Beachwood
- November 19, 12 p.m. - Housing Happenings Call
- November 20, 10 a.m. - Professional Development Committee
- November 20, 1 p.m. - 2025 Reimbursement Collaborative: QAPI in Action - Using Performance Improvement to Drive Reimbursement
- November 20, 2:30 p.m. - 2025 Survey Success Collaborative: Long - Term Care Survey Process (LTCSP) Record Review Process
- November 20, 4 p.m. - Fall Regional Network Gathering in Toledo
Top The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) is hosting the webinar, The Next Generation MyCare Program Overview for Providers, on November 14, 10-11 a.m. The webinar is for providers to learn about the upcoming program, including its impact on members, steps providers may need to take before implementation, and how care continuity will be maintained.
Register for the session here. In the past week, two measures relevant to older adults and long-term care providers advanced through hearings in the Ohio Senate. The bills—Senate Bill 154 and Senate Bill 205—address electronic monitoring in care settings and tax credits for family caregivers, respectively.
Monitoring in Long-Term Care: SB 154
Sponsored by Catherine D. Ingram (D-Cincinnati), SB 154 would expand the rights of residents in long-term care facilities to install electronic monitoring devices in their rooms under certain conditions. As drafted, the bill would:
- Expand the definition of “long-term care facility” to include residential care/assisted-living facilities, in addition to nursing homes.
- Allows a resident– or designated sponsor chosen by the resident—to authorize installation of an electronic monitoring device.
- Changes language on who may request electronic monitoring from the resident or “guardian” to a “designated sponsor.”
- Allow devices that include two-way audio and video communication capabilities, and prohibit facilities from banning such devices.
- Allow a facility to charge a fee of up to $50 for installation of the device and up to $2 per month for internet connectivity.
During testimony to the Senate Health Committee, Senator Ingram described SB 154 as a response to constituent requests and recommendations from the Ohio Department of Aging and long‐term care ombudsmen. She emphasized that approximately 60,000 Ohioans reside in residential care facilities and deserve the same transparency protections as those in certified nursing homes.
For aging-services providers, the bill raises several operational and policy implications, as providers may face additional administrative, technical and privacy-compliance burdens—particularly in assisted-living settings not previously covered under electronic-monitoring statutes. Providers may want to review their policies, consult legal counsel on consent and roommate issues, and assess infrastructure (internet bandwidth, device installation logistics) ahead of potential enactment.
Read more about SB 154, including LeadingAge Ohio’s response to the legislation, in McKnights here.
Caregiver Tax Credit: SB 205
Senator Michele Reynolds (R-Canal Winchester) offered sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 205, titled the Kinship Care Tax Credit. The legislation establishes a non-refundable income tax credit designed to ease the financial burden of family caregiving.
Reynolds explained that the credit applies to a wide range of caregiving-related costs, including mobility or safety improvements to a caregiver’s or care recipient’s home or vehicle, and the purchase or lease of assistive technology that helps with daily activities. It may also be used for respite care, adult day services, or the hiring of home care aides and other direct care workers. Transportation, legal, and financial services necessary for caregiving are also eligible. However, general household maintenance expenses such as painting, plumbing, electrical repairs, or exterior upkeep would not qualify.
To be eligible, the family member receiving care must be age 49 or older and have a documented need for assistance with at least two activities of daily living—such as eating, dressing, bathing, or ambulating—certified by a licensed healthcare provider. Taxpayers must incur at least $1,000 in caregiving expenses during the tax year. The credit is available to individuals with an adjusted gross income above $7,500 and within specified limits: under $94,000 for joint filers, less than $56,500 for spouses filing separately, and below $69,000 for other taxpayers.
The non-refundable credit covers 30 percent of eligible expenses, up to $2,000 per caregiver per year. If the credit exceeds a taxpayer’s liability, the unclaimed portion may be carried forward indefinitely. Reynolds noted that a fiscal analysis of the bill is forthcoming.
The LeadingAge Ohio policy team will engage with the sponsors on these bills on behalf of our members and continue to monitor and provide updates on these measures. For questions, please contact Eli Faes at efaes@leadingageohio.org. Introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives on October 28, 2025, House Bill 552 would change how hospice providers are reimbursed when serving Medicaid patients who reside in nursing facilities or intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICFs/IID). The bill has been referred to the House Medicaid Committee but has not yet received a hearing.
The measure would amend Section 5164.16 of the Ohio Revised Code to require the Ohio Department of Medicaid to adopt rules—by January 1, 2028—ensuring hospice providers are reimbursed 100 percent of the facility’s daily rate for room and board when a hospice patient receives routine or continuous home care in a nursing facility or ICF/IID. Current rules limit that reimbursement to 95 percent of the facility rate.
Supporters note that aligning reimbursement with the full facility rate would better reflect the cost of care and strengthen partnerships between hospice providers and long-term care facilities. At the same time, implementation would require careful planning to balance provider sustainability with the fiscal pressures already facing the Medicaid program.
LeadingAge Ohio continues to review the legislation and its potential impact on both hospice and nursing facility providers. The association will engage with state partners and lawmakers to ensure that any changes to reimbursement policy support quality end-of-life care while maintaining the long-term viability of Ohio’s Medicaid system. For questions, please contact Eli Faes at efaes@leadingageohio.org. LeadingAge Ohio encourages members to keep an eye on their inboxes this Friday for an important update from the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) regarding the Resident and Family Satisfaction Surveys.
ODA is expected to share additional details about survey scheduling and implementation for long-term care facilities across the state. The surveys, required under Ohio Revised Code 173.47(B), are conducted to assess resident and family experiences and support continuous quality improvement in Ohio’s long-term care system.
The department will release information outlining next steps and how providers can access scheduling and participation resources. Once available, LeadingAge Ohio will share a summary and relevant links through its member communications.
Members can visit ODA’s long-term care survey webpage to review general survey guidance and background information. November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize the compassion, commitment, and daily efforts of those who care for aging or disabled loved ones across the country.
According to AARP Ohio, the number of family caregivers in Ohio has grown to 2.2 million, marking a 47 percent increase since 2017. A companion report, Caregiving in the U.S. 2025: Ohio, finds that nearly one in four Ohio adults provides unpaid care to a family member or friend with a health condition or disability. Most caregivers are caring for a parent, and more than half work while also providing care.
The report also highlights the strain caregivers experience: four in ten Ohio caregivers face financial hardship, and nearly one in three report high emotional stress. While 33 percent say respite care would be helpful, 88 percent have never accessed such services.
Adult day services can bridge that gap. These community-based programs offer safe, engaging environments for older adults during the day while giving caregivers vital time to rest, work, or recharge. To find adult day programs throughout the state, visit AdultDayOhio.org.
As Ohio observes National Family Caregivers Month, LeadingAge Ohio honors the millions of individuals who give so much of themselves—and the providers who help sustain them every day. Top The federal government remains shut down, with Congress still deadlocked on a short-term funding bill.
CMS Staff Return Amid Federal Shutdown: Staff at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are being called back to work—despite the ongoing federal government shutdown—to manage Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace and Medicare operations. With Medicare Open Enrollment running through December 7 and the ACA Marketplace opening November 1–January 15, 2026, the demand for support remains high. LeadingAge will continue to monitor developments and share updates on any operational impacts. To assist older adults during the enrollment period, members can access the members-only flyer, “Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: What You Need to Know,” in the Resource Library and visit Medicare Open Enrollment: Top 5 Things to Know from LeadingAge national.
Coalition Urges Congress to Halt Home Health Payment Cuts: In a coalition letter sent October 23, LeadingAge national and 21 state associations, along with the Alliance for Care at Home, called on congressional leaders to stop CMS from finalizing the proposed 2026 Medicare home health payment cuts and to address flaws in the payment system. The coalition emphasized the urgent need to preserve access to care for older adults and individuals with complex needs who rely on home health services.
Joint-Sector Advocacy Highlights Workforce Needs: The strength of collective advocacy was evident when sixteen LeadingAge representatives joined advocates from construction, hospitality, agriculture, and other sectors in Washington, D.C., October 21–23, to push for reforms to policies affecting foreign-born workers. The effort, led by LeadingAge’s Amanda Mead, director of workforce policy, underscored the importance of immigration reform in addressing national workforce shortages. Read more about the initiative in LeadingAge’s coverage of the joint-sector advocacy visit.
LeadingAge continues monitoring the shutdown through its serial page and the National Policy Pulse call each Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Please notify LeadingAge Ohio of any shutdown-related barriers so issues can be escalated to national partners. On October 24, 2025, the Social Security Administration announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026. This adjustment will affect nearly 75 million Americans, including those receiving Social Security retirement, survivors, and disability insurance (OASDI) benefits, as well as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. The increase will be effective starting in January 2026, with the average retirement benefit rising by about $56 per month. This adjustment is a response to the ongoing inflationary pressures and senior living providers will respond in a myriad of ways, including adjusting the room & board portion of Medicaid assisted living waiver, and updating income determinations used for HUD housing. Top A Significant Change in Status Assessment (SCSA) is required to be completed within 14 days after a determination has been made that a significant change in the resident’s status from baseline occurred. Citations occur when the facility fails to document in the medical record when the determination is made that the resident meets the criteria for a SCSA, or the facility fails to complete the SCSA timely.
A SCSA is appropriate if there are either two or more MDS areas of decline or two or more MDS areas of improvement and the resident isn’t expected to return to baseline within two weeks or if the IDT determines that the resident would benefit from the SCSA assessment and subsequent care plan revision. The State Operations Manual Appendix PP provides the following guidance on significant change determinations:
A Significant Change in Status MDS is required when:
- A resident enrolls in a hospice program; or
- A resident changes hospice providers and remains in the facility; or
- A resident receiving hospice services discontinues those services; or
- A resident experiences a consistent pattern of changes, with either two or more areas of decline or two or more areas of improvement, from baseline (as indicated by comparison of the resident’s current status to the most recent CMS-required MDS).
Examples of Decline include, but are not limited to:
- Resident’s decision-making ability has changed;
- Presence of a resident mood item not previously reported by the resident or staff and/or an increase in the symptom frequency, e.g., increase in the number of areas where behavioral symptoms are coded as being present and/or the frequency of a symptom increases for items in Section E Behavior;
- Changes in frequency or severity of behavioral symptoms of dementia that indicate progression of the disease process since last assessment;
- Any decline in an ADL physical functioning area (at least 1) where a resident is newly coded as partial/moderate assist, substantial/maximal assistance, dependent, resident refused, or not attempted since last assessment and does not reflect normal fluctuations in that individual’s functioning;
- Resident’s incontinence pattern changes or there was placement of an indwelling catheter;
- Emergence of unplanned weight loss problem (5% change in 30 days or 10% change in 180 days).
- Emergence of a new pressure ulcer at Stage 2 or higher, a new unstageable pressure ulcer/injury, a new deep tissue injury or worsening in pressure ulcer status;
- Resident begins to use a restraint of any type, when it was not used before;
- Emergence of a condition/disease in which a resident is judged to be unstable.
Examples of Improvement include, but are not limited to:
- Any improvement in ADL physical functioning area (at least 1) where a resident is newly coded as Independent, Setup or clean-up assistance, or Supervision or touching assistance since last assessment and does not reflect normal fluctuations in that individual’s functioning;
- Decrease in the number of areas where behavioral symptoms are coded as being present and/or the frequency of a symptom decreases;
- Resident’s decision making ability improves;
- Resident’s incontinence pattern improves.
The RAI manual provides additional guidance on completion of the SCSA. Facilities should integrate data collection and monitoring of the significant change criteria into their QAPI program. The Health & Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report and accompanying data snapshot on October 29 evaluating the nursing home Special Focus Facility (SFF) program. The report examined homes participating in the program 2013 – 2022 and made three recommendations to CMS based on findings that SFF program graduates often failed to maintain quality improvements in the years following graduation from the program.
Learn more here. A group of national organizations teamed up to release updated guidelines for infection control in nursing homes. The guideline was published on October 28 and is endorsed by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed), and American Geriatrics Society (AGS). The guidelines include recommendations addressing 42 topics and can serve as a resource for nursing homes in the development, implementation, and improvement of their infection prevention and control programs.
Access the guidance here. Top Harmony Trace, a National Church Residences community in Grove City, is celebrating 30 years of service in 2025. Since opening in 1994, the campus has evolved from a modest assisted living residence into a thriving community offering both assisted living and memory care—making it one of the organization’s longest-operating campuses in Ohio.
Over three decades, Harmony Trace has grown to meet the changing needs of older adults while staying true to National Church Residences’ mission of advancing better living for all seniors. The community’s recent updates include modernized resident suites, expanded life enrichment programming, and a renewed emphasis on person-centered care that honors each individual’s preferences and independence.
Team members and residents gathered this fall to celebrate the milestone with an open house, commemorative program, and reflections on Harmony Trace’s history. Photos and highlights from the celebration are featured on Harmony Trace’s Facebook page, where the community shared memories and moments from the anniversary events.
Harmony Trace continues to play an important role in National Church Residences’ network of more than 340 communities nationwide. As it enters its fourth decade, the Grove City campus stands as a model for compassionate, mission-driven care in assisted living and memory support.
Learn more about Harmony Trace and National Church Residences on their website. EverHeart Hospice will soon take center stage on All Access with Andy Garcia, the nationally distributed public-television series that profiles organizations making a lasting difference in their communities. The episode will highlight EverHeart’s compassionate approach to hospice and palliative care, featuring stories that illustrate how its team walks alongside individuals and families during life’s most meaningful moments.
This national feature offers viewers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the mission and heart driving EverHeart’s work across the region. LeadingAge Ohio congratulates EverHeart on earning this recognition and shining a positive light on the impact of nonprofit hospice care. The segment will likely air in early 2026. Top With funding cuts affecting nonprofit providers nationwide, every opportunity to reduce costs matters. A trusted partner to LeadingAge Ohio members, UST Workforce Solutions continues to help organizations save thousands of dollars in unemployment costs each year.
All employers, including nonprofits, must fund unemployment benefits. However, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) gives 501(c)(3) organizations a unique option: instead of paying state unemployment insurance taxes, they can become reimbursing employers. Under this model, the organization reimburses the state only for the actual unemployment benefits paid to former employees, rather than contributing to a pooled fund that supports both nonprofit and for-profit employers.
This approach can translate into significant annual savings. In 2024 alone, participating UST members collectively saved more than $40 million on unemployment claims—an average of $18,000 per organization.
To help nonprofit leaders evaluate the opportunity, UST offers a concise resource, “It’s All About the Numbers” infographic. LeadingAge Ohio is now accepting applications for the 2026 cohort of the Leadership Academy, a 7-month program designed to build the next generation of leaders in aging services. Fellows explore their authentic leadership style, strengthen their ability to manage team dynamics, and develop innovative approaches to care. This program was created in partnership with nationally recognized leadership expert Michele Holleran, Ph.D., and senior leaders from LeadingAge Ohio member organizations who are alumni of the Academy.
Since 2013, Leadership Academy has graduated over 150 leaders. The program is open to employees of LeadingAge Ohio provider and associate member organizations, regardless of job title or background. Selection is based on leadership potential, commitment to aging services, and dedication to lifelong learning. Applications are due Friday, November 17, 2025, with fellows notified after the first of the year.
Learn more about the Leadership Academy here. Questions may be directed to Randi Hamill, Director of Workforce Development & Initiatives, at 614-545-9026 or rhamill@leadingageohio.org. Enrollment is now open for the Winter 2026 session of the Core of Knowledge, a program designed for Administrators-in-Residence that fulfills the academic requirement set by the Board of Executives of Long-Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) for qualifying to sit for the state licensure board examination to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA).
The three-week course will be held January 12–30, 2026, Monday through Thursday, at the OCLC Conference Center. This is one of only two opportunities to complete the required coursework in 2026.
The deadline to register is December 5, 2025. Learn more and register for the 2026 Winter Core of Knowledge. For additional information, contact Corey Markham at cmarkham@leadingageohio.org. LeadingAge Ohio holds valuable education webinars and in-person events throughout the year. Opportunities are added weekly. See the complete Schedule of Events. Top
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