Columbus, OH -- Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) Director Ursel J. McElroy on Feb 20th, announced the launch of the newly enhanced Ohio Long-Term Care Quality Navigator.

Formerly known as the Ohio Nursing Home Quality Navigator, the nationally recognized online tool provides users with detailed information about the quality of long-term care facilities across the state in one convenient digital location. The new name coincides with the addition of nearly 800 assisted living facilities to the Navigator, on top of the nearly 930 nursing homes that had previously been included.

“When it comes to Ohioans choosing where to get care for themselves or a loved one, the most important thing is making sure people are confident that they have all the data and knowledge they need to make an informed decision,” said Governor DeWine. “By adding assisted living facilities to our Navigator, we are now providing detailed information on over 1,700 long-term care facilities, all in one place. This powerful tool will help more people choose the best place for their needs.”

“With the newly updated Ohio Long-Term Care Quality Navigator, ODA is strengthening an already popular product by listing more facilities and providing more details about each of them,” Director McElroy said. “When making one of the most important decisions about their future, Ohioans deserve to have correct, current information at their fingertips. ‘Version 2.0’ of the Navigator provides just that, bolstering ODA’s goal of making Ohio the best place to age in the nation.”

The Navigator was developed at the recommendation of a task force created by Governor DeWine and led by ODA to improve nursing home care throughout the state.

Originally launched in February 2024, the Navigator includes a searchable map of all nursing homes in Ohio – complete with detailed quality metrics for each facility, side-by-side facility comparison functionality, and many more convenient features to help Ohioans choose the best care setting for themselves or their loved ones.

The groundbreaking Navigator earned a national award in October 2024, winning the State IT Recognition Award for Data Management & Analytics from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). The recognition highlighted Ohio’s efforts under the leadership of Governor DeWine to become a trendsetter in developing cutting-edge technology to advance healthcare transparency and empower its citizens.

The updated version of the Navigator retains all of its predecessor’s core functions while adding access to assisted living facilities to maximize the number of choices for Ohioans evaluating long-term care options.

The updated Navigator also includes more data than ever for each facility as well as a new “Care Quiz” feature that will ask users simple questions to help direct them to the type of long-term care facility that may be best for them.

Developed by the InnovateOhio Platform at the direction of Governor DeWine and ODA, and with further support from the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Medicaid, the Navigator offers both mobile and desktop/tablet versions to provide a seamless, user-centered experience.

Following the work of the Governor’s Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force, ODA has studied similar strategies to improve the quality of assisted living facilities. In August and September 2024, ODA hosted seven Assisted Living Feedback Forums across the state to gather information from people with direct experience with assisted living facilities. Feedback from those sessions was utilized in creating ‘Version 2.0’ of the Navigator.

ODA will continue to maintain and update the Ohio Long-Term Care Quality Navigator, releasing newer versions with improved features and information over time.