Senior Housing Search

Assistance in Selecting a Nursing Home

Care Options for Seniors

(A Service of Pro Seniors)
Choosing a nursing home, assisted living community, or other care provider for you or someone you love can be one of the most important - and difficult - decisions you'll ever make. Care Options can help. Pro Seniors' team of experienced professionals will guide you through the process, step by step. They'll give you the information you need to make the best possible choice.

You are eligible for Care Options' free assistance if you need services in Hamilton, Butler, Warren, Clermont, or Clinton counties.

Care Options offers you:

• A checklist that tells you what to consider when you visit a long-term care community.
• Help in exploring options for home health care, assisted living, or nursing home care.
• A record of resident complaints verified by state-certified ombudsmen.
• Informational brochures covering subjects from Medicare to Resident Rights.
• Current information on licensed long-term care, including payment options and special units available.
• Ohio Department of Health inspection reports of licensed nursing homes and residential care facilities ("assisted living") in Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton, & Warren Counties.

While Care Options will not endorse a specific nursing home, the Care Options team will help you:

• Discuss choice of location & the services available at each facility, as they relate to your needs
• Learn what to look for when signing an admission agreement.
• Recognize and exercise resident rights that are protected by state and federal law.
• Understand how to make sure you or your loved one gets quality care, and know what to do if you spot a problem.

How do I contact Care Options?
Call the Care Options team Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.:

• (513) 345-4160; or at
• (800) 488-6070

Care Options' free service is supported by funding through

• The Ohio Department of Aging
• Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio
• The United Way of Greater Cincinnati
• Grants & donations

Resolving Problems in Nursing Homes

Every nursing home should have a complaint procedure policy. If you have concerns or complaints, ask about the policy and follow the organization's procedures.  You also may want to ask the nurse in charge to review your family member's care plan.  If you are still uncomfortable with the situation, speak to the director of nursing or social worker, or the administrator, or check to see if the nursing home has a family council, a group of advocates who try to improve the quality of life in the home.  Often, nursing homes operated by large corporations have toll-free telephone numbers you can use to speak to a regional supervisor.

The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program is empowered by both federal and state government to advocate for residents of adult care facilities, and nursing homes. Regional programs can investigate complains form residents or their families.  Adult Protective Services, through the Department of Job and Family Services, the Ohio Department of Health, and the Bureau of Residential Care, also have access to adult care facilities and nursing homes and can pursue legal action, if necessary.

Local Ombudsman                                         513-345-4160

Pro Seniors                                                    800-488-6070

Ohio Stat Long-Term Care Ombudsman

Ohio Department of Aging                            800-282-1206

State Licensing/Certification Agency

Ohio Department of Health

(Nursing Home complaint hotline)               800-342-0553