On Tuesday, two LeadingAge Ohio members—Kristi Strawser, President & CEO of Everhart Hospice, and Andrea Hale, President & CEO of Valley Hospice—testified before the Ohio Senate Medicaid Committee to advocate for fair and equitable Medicaid reimbursement for hospice room and board.
Their testimony spotlighted a persistent funding gap impacting hospice providers statewide. Under current policy, when a Medicaid beneficiary receives hospice care in a nursing facility, the hospice is reimbursed at only 95% of the facility’s room and board rate, despite being required to pay 100%. This creates a daily loss of $13.75 per patient, which can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for mid-sized hospice programs.
Kristi and Andrea urged lawmakers to close this gap by reimbursing hospices at the full room and board rate—a change that would help ensure continued access to compassionate, high-quality end-of-life care for Ohio’s most vulnerable residents.
To watch their full testimony, visit The Ohio Channel. Learn more about the proposed policy change in our Equitable Hospice R&B issue brief. Earlier this week, members received an email from LeadingAge Ohio’s Quality and Regulatory Specialist, Stephanie DeWees, regarding the release of the latest nursing home data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Nursing home providers can access their Five Star Reports and Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Trend Reports, reflecting data from the Care Compare quarterly refresh, including updates to health inspections, quality measures, and staffing ratings. To get updated reports, nursing home members should use their LeadingAge login at our Report Portal webpage.
Members with questions about their report may contact Stephanie DeWees at sdewees@leadingageohio.org.
Top You Asked:
What is the correct number for the authority having jurisdiction for the Fire Watch?
We Answered:
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has updated their Fire Watch Procedures Template and has included the correct contact information for the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) which is defined as an organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure. The contact information for the authority having jurisdiction is the Ohio Department of Health and the contact information is:
LeadingAge Ohio encourages members to make sure they are using the most current version of the Fire Watch Form which can be found on the ODH Fire Safety webpage. Top In celebration of Older Americans Month, Another Word for Living podcast host, Susan Wallace, is interviewing remarkable residents from across our member facilities. Our first episode in this series features Dr. Bea Lampkin, a resident at Twin Lakes in Cincinnati.
Born during the Great Depression and diagnosed with polio at just 7 years old, Dr. Bea Lampkin has never let adversity slow her down. Her unstoppable spirit led her to a groundbreaking career in medicine, where she became a renowned hematologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. In this inspiring episode, hear Dr. Bea’s extraordinary story of resilience, discovery, and reinvention—and find out how you can be part of her latest passion project: making music with her band!
Listen to the episode here or on any major podcast platform. Nurses are at the heart of care—meeting real-life challenges with compassion, resilience, and skill every single day. At LeadingAge Ohio, we see that power in action across our member organizations and within our own team.
We’re proud to support nurses not just this week, but year-round. Through continuing education, peer networks, and exclusive benefits like an 11% tuition discount at Hondros College of Nursing, we’re committed to helping nurses grow their careers and deepen their impact in aging services.
We’re especially grateful for the dedicated nurses on our own team: Debbie Boggs, RN, Education Specialist; Stephanie DeWees, LPN, Long-Term Care Quality and Regulatory Specialist; and Anne Shelley, BSN, RN, hospice regulatory consultant and former director of home health and hospice. Their leadership and experience shape the resources and guidance we provide to members every day.
To all nurses—thank you. You are the difference-makers, the healers, the leaders. This week and always, we celebrate your power.
To learn more about LeadingAge Ohio’s tuition discount with Hondros College of Nursing, contact Molly Homan at mhoman@leadingageohio.org. Do you know a changemaker, a compassionate caregiver, or a team that’s redefining excellence in aging services? Now’s your chance to shine a spotlight on their impact! The LeadingAge Ohio Annual Awards celebrate bold innovation, outstanding leadership, and the everyday heroes who go above and beyond for Ohio’s older adults.
Winners will be honored at the 2025 Annual Meeting & Conference this Fall — don’t miss the opportunity to recognize those who inspire us all.
Nominations will be accepted through May 23, 2025.
Questions? Contact Randi Hamill at rhamill@leadingageohio.org. On May 7, LeadingAge Ohio gathered with member organizations, residents, and community guests at the beautiful Ohio Eastern Star Home in Mount Vernon to celebrate the compassion and commitment of aging services professionals during the Central Ohio STARS Awards Ceremony.
The room was filled with energy and excitement as residents and staff gave a warm welcome to the many frontline professionals recognized for their extraordinary service. These STARS represent the heart of aging services—those who provide care, comfort, and connection each day to older adults across Ohio.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of the Central Ohio STARS Heartstrings Award, which honors a caregiver whose work leaves a lasting impact in the hearts of those they serve. The award was presented to Matthew Roshon of Otterbein Granville, recognized for his exceptional dedication and the deep connections he builds with residents and families.
Congratulations to all of the 2025 Central Ohio STARS—your work makes a lasting difference in the lives of older Ohioans, and we’re proud to celebrate you. There's always something happening at LeadingAge Ohio, and we don’t want you to miss a moment. From educational opportunities to networking events, our calendar is packed with ways for members to stay informed, engaged, and connected.
Explore what's ahead and make plans to join us—whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, connect with peers, or get involved in shaping the future of aging services in Ohio.
View all upcoming events here and mark your calendar today!
Did you know your membership unlocks access to exclusive discounts on professional products through the LeadingAge Ohio Shop? Whether you’re ordering apparel for your team, event giveaways, recognition awards, or eco-friendly items, the Shop offers a wide variety of high-quality, customizable merchandise—at prices built to support nonprofit aging services providers.
Thanks to our partnership with Consolidus, members benefit from aggressive pricing across hard goods, drinkware, apparel, and more. While there’s no flat-rate discount, Consolidus works closely with suppliers to negotiate cost-saving rates on your behalf. In fact, they’re able to price match about 90% of the time—an advantage not often found with generic vendors.
Visit www.LeadingAgeOhioShop.com to browse best sellers, explore top-rated products, and see what your membership makes possible. Top On May 6, 2025, State Representatives Jim Hoops (R-Napoleon) and Rachel Baker (D-Cincinnati) introduced legislation which aims to increase education, awareness, and understanding of cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, and other types of dementia. Specifically, the bill would require the Ohio Department of Health, in coordination with the Ohio Department of Aging, the commission on minority health, and community organizations focusing on Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia awareness, to incorporate awareness information into relevant public health outreach conducted by the Department. The text of the bill can be found here. The LeadingAge Ohio policy team will continue to monitor and update on this measure. For questions, contact Eli Faes at efaes@leadingageohio.org. Top Every two years, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing and the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers team up to provide a snapshot of America’s nursing workforce. Their 2024 survey highlights some notable trends. The U.S. currently has approximately 5.6 million active RN licenses and nearly 970,000 LPN/LVN licenses. Nurses have a median age of 50, reflecting a return of experienced nurses who previously left during the pandemic. Most nurses (88%) are actively working, primarily full-time, with hospitals employing over half of RNs, while LPNs/LVNs predominantly work in nursing homes or extended care facilities (32%). Although burnout and heavy workloads have improved slightly, about 40% of nurses who responded plan to leave or retire in the next five years.
The field has increased investments in mental health and support services for nurses since the pandemic, but structural challenges like short staffing and high workloads remain significant threats to long-term workforce stability. On a more positive note, the survey revealed educational attainment continues to rise, with over 73% of RNs now holding at least a bachelor's degree, and racial diversity has steadily improved, notably among Hispanic/Latino, Black/African American, and Asian nurses in both RN and LPN/LVN roles. The Department of Labor (DOL) stated in a recent filing with the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that it intends to reconsider the overtime rule finalized by the Biden Administration. Published in April 2024, this rule (Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees) established a two-step increase in the annual salary that must be paid for executive, administrative and professional employees to be classified as exempt from overtime; the first increase took effect July 1, 2024 (rising from $35,568 to $43,888 per year) and the second was scheduled to take effect January 1, 2025 (rising to $58,656).
In November 2024, however, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated the rule, finding that DOL had exceeded its statutory authority. DOL appealed that ruling and, as the litigation has proceeded, LeadingAge has been watching for a signal about how the Trump Administration views the rule. On April 24, the Administration filed an unopposed motion with the appellate court to “hold these appeals in abeyance pending the agency’s reconsideration of the rule,” noting the change in Department of Labor leadership. It’s not clear precisely what DOL intends to do; it might decide to issue a new rule that raises the overtime salary threshold from its current level (under regulations effective January 1, 2020), but by a smaller amount than the 2024 rule would have done. LeadingAge will follow this issue closely, but meanwhile the statement to the court appears to be a clear signal that the new Administration is going to walk back the 2024 rule in one way or another. Top In the State Operations Manual Appendix PP, CMS emphasizes that for residents with dementia, a lack of meaningful, engaging activities can lead to boredom, loneliness, and frustration, resulting in distress and agitation. Surveyors are looking closely at whether activities are individualized and tailored to each resident’s previous lifestyle, preferences, and comforts. Facilities should identify patterns of behavioral symptoms and proactively provide activity interventions before distressing behaviors escalate. Once a behavior intensifies, an activity intervention may be less effective or could even increase stress for the resident.
A recent F679 citation highlighted the consequences of missing this proactive approach. A surveyor observed a resident who was tearful and attempting to exit the facility. While staff tried to redirect her, the resident became more verbally agitated. Upon record review, the surveyor found no documented interventions or individualized activities designed to address the resident’s exit-seeking behavior.
CMS provides examples of interventions that may help residents exhibiting increased energy or walking without purpose:
- Providing a space and environmental cues that encourages physical exercise, decreases exit-seeking behavior and reduces extraneous stimulation (such as seating areas spaced along a walking path or garden; a setting in which the resident may manipulate objects; or a room with a calming atmosphere, for example, using music, light, and rocking chairs);
- Providing aroma(s)/aromatherapy that is/are pleasing and calming to the resident; and
- Validating the resident’s feelings and words; engaging the resident in conversation about who or what they are seeking; and using one-to-one activities, such as reading to the resident or looking at familiar pictures and photo albums.
Ultimately, the goal of individualized activities is to help reduce or eliminate distressing behaviors. If the activity is effective, it validates the intervention; if not, it signals the need for a different approach.
CMS has updated the survey resources on the CMS Nursing Home webpage in accordance with the revised QSO-25-14- NH memo. LeadingAge Ohio encourages facilities to monitor compliance using the surveyor guidance found in the State Operations Manual Appendix PP . Additionally, the survey pathways can be found in the Survey Resources zip file on the CMS Nursing Home webpage and under the downloads section on this CMS webpage. LeadingAge has developed webinars and resources on the requirements of participation which are located on the LeadingAge learning hub. LeadingAge continues to add QuickCasts on the regulatory groups. Updated resources have also been added on the Nursing Home RoP Tools and Resources webpage.
For more information about the requirements of participation and citations occurring in Ohio, please join us on the monthly STAT: Survey Tips and Tactics call. Register now for the May 14 call at 11:00AM. LeadingAge Ohio is sharing tips to assist members during the survey process. Send questions you would like addressed in future Tips of the Week to Stephanie DeWees at sdewees@leadingageohio.org.
Top Conversations around care, values, and community life can become difficult—especially when perspectives differ. For those working in aging services, having the tools to guide those conversations thoughtfully can make a meaningful difference. On May 28, LeadingAge Washington and Essential Partners will host a free online workshop to help professionals approach challenging discussions with clarity and care.
This 90-minute session introduces a framework for communication grounded in curiosity and inclusion. It’s designed for those who facilitate dialogue in any capacity, whether in team settings, resident councils, or family meetings. The workshop will provide participants with a set of practical skills to help ensure that voices are heard and that conversations—especially difficult ones—don’t lead to division.
The workshop takes place from 1:00 to 2:30 PM ET and is free to attend. Participants can expect an interactive, experience-based learning environment that leaves them with tools they can bring directly into their daily work.
Register here to take part. Top Open enrollment is currently underway for Ohio employers with state-funded workers’ compensation coverage. This period, which runs through Friday, May 23, offers a valuable opportunity to choose a Managed Care Organization (MCO) — a vital partner in organizing and resolving workplace injury claims.
LeadingAge Ohio Partner, Sedgwick Managed Care Ohio, stands out as a leading choice. As Ohio’s largest MCO, Sedgwick serves more employers and manages more claims than any other provider in the state. Their extensive experience and resources make them a trusted partner in ensuring effective workers’ compensation management.
Don’t miss this chance to align with a proven leader in injury claim resolution. For more information, click here. LeadingAge Ohio holds valuable education webinars and in-person events throughout the year. Opportunities are added weekly. See the complete Schedule of Events. Top What does it take to deliver truly person-centered service in assisted living? A new series of on-demand webinars from LeadingAge Ohio offers real-world strategies to support exceptional care from the very first resident interaction—and beyond.
Led by Gina Cappitti, LNHA, CEAL, CDP, Director of Workforce Solutions at LeaderStat, this collection of recorded sessions walks assisted living professionals through key moments in the resident experience—from admissions and customer service to clinical leadership and staffing innovation. With over nine years of experience in long-term care, Gina brings deep operational insight and a passion for strengthening care teams across the continuum.
Featured sessions include:
Each session provides practical guidance on improving outcomes, enhancing team collaboration, and building a culture that reflects excellence in every interaction.
Explore the full library at learning.leadingageohio.org/assisted-living, where you’ll also find dozens of other sessions tailored to the needs of assisted living professionals. Whether you’re fine-tuning your admissions process or equipping future leaders, these on-demand resources are built to support your team’s ongoing success. Top
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