The Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) supports the needs of Ohioans aged 60 and older. The agency provides necessary support and assistance to help individuals remain in their homes and help improve the lives of those living in long-term care facilities. Director Ursel McElroy explained the importance of their services in her testimony . She referenced a Scripps Gerontology Center’s study, which reported that one in four Ohioans will be over 60 years old by 2030. We outline below the agency’s budget proposal.
Long Term Care Supports
The Department of Aging supports home and community-based services programs, and they are continuing to do so during this state budget season. The agency request includes funds for Medicaid waivers so older adults can remain in their homes and communities, as opposed to long-term care facilities, intermediate-care facilities, or hospitals. The PASSPORT (Pre-Admission Screening System Providing Options and Resources Today) waiver offers numerous services such as home-delivered meals, adult day care services, and personal care assistance. As of December 2024, the PASSPORT caseload was 19,203.
ODA is also asking funds for Assisted Living. Assisted Living allows individuals to live in a home-like environment in a community living setting. Some Assisted Living services include meals, transportation, on-site response, and personal care. This program also offers community transition services like basic household items and moving expenses to help people move from an institutional setting into an assisted living facility. As of December 2024, the Assisted Living caseload was 3,837.
As of December 2024, the PASSPORT caseload was 19,203 and the Assisted Living caseload was 3,837.
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, or PACE is a managed care program which provides home and community-based care. A PACE site provides individuals medical care, health care, and ancillary services at a capitated rate. So far, there are PACE sites in Cuyahoga and Lorain County (one per county). New sites will be added in Hamilton, Lucas, Franklin, and Summit counties. As of December 2024, the ending PACE caseload was 665. There are two line items in which ODA is requesting funds from the state and federal government to cover administrative expenses. Other related expenses are being requested through the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Overall, ODA is asking a total of $12,785,057 for FY 2026 (a 15.6 percent increase from FY 2025) and $13,419,102 in FY 2027.
Federal independent services
Federal Independence Services is a federal line item that administers social services to older adults, funding for ombudsman activities, and congregate/home-delivered meals. Other services include Preventative Health and Health Promotion Services, Elder Abuse Prevention, Caregiver Support.
This line item also supports Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III Supportive Services. The OAA was enacted in 1965 and was the first federal-level action taken to address the lack of community social services for older adults. Services authorized by Title III of the OAA include personal care, home delivered meals, chore services, congregate meals, home-delivered meals, long term ombudsman services, and family caregiver support. Federal Independence Services has $66.4 million dollars appropriated to the line item in FY 2026, and $69.8 million in FY 2027.
Ombudsman Services
Another component of ODA is the Ombudsman Program. The Ombudsman Program advocates for long-term care consumers who are getting services from nursing homes, home and community-based services, residential facilities, class two residential facilities, and unlicensed homes. The ODA also provides a means by which consumers can voice concerns and submit requests to providers and policymakers. Additionally, ODA investigates and attempts to resolve consumer complaints about long-term care services. ODA is seeking funds through the Long-Term Care Ombudsman line item, which supports the investigation of complaints against providers in long-term care services for older adults. The request is $3,117,148 for FY 2026 and $3,122,195 for FY 2027.
Regional Long-Term Care Ombudsman is a line item which focuses on operational costs of the regional ombudsman programs. Revenue gathered from the six dollars bed fee — that are charged to residential care facilities, homes for the aging, and nursing homes — are deposited into this fund. This line item is estimated at one million dollars for FY 2025. They are seeking the same amount for FY 2026 and FY 2027.
The other line item related to ombudsman services is Long-Term Care Quality Initiatives, which is used to fund the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and to execute nursing quality home initiatives. There will be a transfer within the budget to support this line item.
ODA is asking for $12,417,919 to be appropriated for each fiscal years 2026 and 2027, a 5.4 percent increase.
Alzheimer’s and other Dementia and respite
This line item provides support for older adults with dementia or Alzheimer's disease, as well their caregivers and/or family members. Services include adult day service, respite, education, support, and personal care. Funds allocated to Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are determined based on a population-based formula, which requires these entities to also distribute at least 50% to the local Alzheimer's Association. These Alzheimer's Associations would cover each county in the AAA region. Alzheimer's and Other Dementia Respite has $4.3 million appropriated in FY 2026 and $4.3 million in FY 2027. Appropriations in this line item match appropriations in the previous biennium.
Federal Aging Grants
The Federal Aging Grants line item provides funds for a variety of different programs. Some examples include the Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program, Support for Demonstration MyCare Ombudsman programs, Medicare Enrollment Assistance, Ohio Housing Trust Fund Ombudsman Veterans Initiative, the Senior Community Service Employment Program, the Aging and Disability Resource Network Public Health Workforce, and Alzheimer's Disease Activities. Federal Aging Grants has $10.5 million appropriated in FY 2026, and the same appropriation for FY 2027. This is a $500,000 difference between the previous biennium, which appropriated $11 million.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides a grant to fund the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. Individuals who are over 60 years old, living in an eligible area, and meet financial qualifications are eligible to utilize the program. People who partake in this program receive coupons that can be used at participating roadside stands and farmers’ markets. So far, the program is available in 81 counties.
Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program is available in 81 counties.
The Senior Community Services Employment Program is a work-based, community service employment training program authorized by the Older Americans Act and managed by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL). Eligible individuals must be 55 years old or older, and meet specific income eligibility requirements. Individuals accepted to the program work on assignment for an average of 20 hours per week. Priority is given to veterans, qualified spouses, those with limited English or literacy, minorities, and Ohioans over 65 years old.
Keeping up with changes in the state budget
This is a busy time for advocates and legislators as they figure out how to support Ohioans over the next two years. As the state budget progresses, The Center for Community Solutions will track budget requests from ODA. We will provide updates that will impact older adults in the coming months.
