Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging and Disabilities, Summit County Council, and Summit County Probate Court to Ensure Access to Advocates, Quality Care.
Quality issues in area nursing homes became exacerbated by the lack of staff to provide care during the pandemic. Recognizing the burgeoning problem, the Summit County Nursing Home Task Force is reconvening to bring about improvements.
Jeff Wilhite, Chair of the Summit County Nursing Home Task Force, stated, “We will be pulling the Task Force back together to try to tackle working solutions to the quality-of-care issues we have identified as still lacking in these facilities. The pandemic pulled the curtain back and exposed the lack of quality care in some of our facilities. We have to do better.”
Direction Home Aging and Disabilities, the local Area Agency on Aging and Ombudsman Sponsor for Summit County, opened an increasing number of cases where residents’ quality of life was threatened. Summit County Probate Court investigators also noted a marked decline in quality within some area facilities, including dirt, disorder, and unwashed, unattended residents.
“We work to protect our most vulnerable citizens as they age in extended-care facilities,” noted Probate Court Judge Elinore Marsh Stormer. “Our court personnel have brought serious concerns to the attention of our stakeholders and we welcome the opportunity to work quickly towards practical changes.”
The Task Force, created by Summit County Council member Jeff Wilhite, previously worked to identify ways to improve the quality of care for residents in local nursing homes and set clear targets for facilities struggling with performance. Several recommendations – aligned with federal guidance- of staffing, care expectations, and other guidelines, will provide a better experience for residents.
The Task Force intends to use its standing within the County to:
- Create a “Bridging the Gap” committee, linking potential direct care aide applicants and employers through workforce resources, training assistance, and wrap-around services for community success;
- Inform consumers and their families of resources available to address care issues and complaints in a Summit County nursing home or facility;
- Provide assistance to facilities intended to improve the quality of care offered through intensive culture change programming and coaching;
- Assist residents and families in making informed decisions on their long-term care options.
“Our role as advocates has always been about ensuring quality care, working for residents and families to solve problems, and with administrators, finding solutions to issues,” said Gary Cook, President, and CEO of Direction Home Aging and Disabilities. “Now we see such a severe lack of quality service in some nursing homes, it has reached a crisis, impacting the lives of our most vulnerable in these nursing homes.”
ConxusNEO and Stark State will be offering free or reduced-cost training in an effort to recruit State-Tested Nurse Aides (STNAs)and prepare them for careers in caregiving. There is an open house to learn more May 10, 2022 from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Stark State Akron Campus, 360 Perkins St. Additional information can be found by contacting Stark State Career Services at (330) 966- 5459 /careerservices@starkstate.edu or visiting starkstate.edu/STNA.
