You Asked... We Answered

You Asked: Is there a resource for what surveyors look for during their kitchen tour? 

We Answered: Yes, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides the Kitchen and Food Service Observation pathway. The form can be found in the surveyor resources zip file on the CMS nursing home webpage. Additionally, the Ohio Department of Health provides a Kitchen Survey Readiness Guide for nursing facilities.

Call for Presentations for 2026 Annual Conference

LeadingAge Ohio welcomes members and partners to submit proposals for the 2026 Annual Conference and Trade Show, August 25–27, at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. This year’s conference celebrates Changemakers—leaders and teams advancing aging services through new ideas, tested approaches, and collaborative practice.

Proposals across all topic areas are welcome, with particular interest in home health and hospice, clinical practice and quality, reimbursement, marketing and communications, philanthropy, leadership development, technology, artificial intelligence, and workforce issues. Sessions should offer clear applicability for provider settings and avoid promotion of proprietary products. 

The submission deadline is Monday, January 26, 2026. Full details and the application portal are available on the Call for Presentations page.

Questions may be directed to Corey Markham, Director of Education and Business Development, at CMarkham@leadingageohio.org.

Stay Connected Snapshot: Upcoming Meetings & Events

There's always something happening at LeadingAge Ohio, view all upcoming events here and mark your calendar today!

• January 8, 15, 22, 29, 2 p.m. - Governance Webinar Series with LeadingAge Virginia
• January 12-30, 8 a.m. - 2026 Winter CORE of Knowledge
• January 14, 11 a.m. - Survey Tips and Tactics 2026 – Immediate Jeopardy
• January 15, 1 p.m. - 2026 Reimbursement Collaborative: Strategic Solutions for QIP and PDPM Success
• January 21, 10 a.m. - All Member Webinar - Making Child Care Work: Ohio’s New Child Care Cred Program Explained
• January 29, 10 a.m. - Philanthropy Network, Tax Policy Changes
• January 29, 1 p.m. - Nutrition and Mental Health for Adults of All Ages with LeadingAge South Dakota

Registration Opens for New CEO Fellowship

Registration is now open for the 2026 New CEO Fellowship, a leadership development opportunity designed for new and emerging chief executives in aging services. Participation is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, with registration closing June 5, 2026.

The Fellowship offers space for reflection, peer learning, and confidential dialogue focused on leadership identity and future impact. Grounded in narrative leadership theory, the program invites participants to examine the experiences that have shaped them, understand how their current leadership presence supports or limits their effectiveness, and envision the leader they are growing into. More details about the Fellowship’s structure and approach are available through LeadingAge’s New CEO Fellowship Program.

DeWine Announces $200+ Million for Ohio Rural Health Transformation

Governor Mike DeWine announced December 29 that Ohio will receive more than $200 million in federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The funding is aimed at improving access, quality, and sustainability of health care in Ohio’s rural communities, where residents face higher rates of chronic disease and limited access to specialty and preventive care.

Ohio’s plan builds on existing state initiatives and will invest in:

• Expanded school-based health centers in rural areas;
  
• Broader access to the OhioSEE child vision care program in rural school districts;
  
• Expansion of evidence-based home visiting programs to support maternal and infant health.
  

The initiative also includes a Rural Healthcare Workforce Pipeline to recruit and retain health care professionals in rural communities, along with the creation of Rural Patient Health Innovation Hubs to support integrated, community-based care models.

The Ohio Department of Health will serve as the lead agency and will coordinate with federal partners as implementation guidance becomes available. LeadingAge Ohio will continue monitoring the program and share updates relevant to aging services providers.

White House Executive Order Advances Cannabis Research

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on December 18 directing the Department of Justice to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The order does not decriminalize marijuana, but it acknowledges reported medical benefits and follows earlier actions by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration to reconsider marijuana’s classification. Moving to Schedule III would reduce regulatory barriers for research while maintaining federal controls.

LeadingAge has supported rescheduling because it would allow more rigorous study of both the benefits and risks of medical marijuana use, particularly for chronic pain and other conditions affecting older adults. LeadingAge has also raised concerns that federal restrictions continue to create unnecessary housing access barriers for individuals using medical marijuana under state law. The executive order also eases restrictions on cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Members can follow ongoing developments through LeadingAge’s federal policy developments relating to cannabis serial post.

ANA-Ohio Leadership Summit Spurs Action on Federal Loan Policy

Following the Fall Ohio Nursing Organizations Leadership Summit, American Nurses Association–Ohio is asking nursing leaders and partners to support a petition urging the U.S. Department of Education to explicitly include nursing in the definition of a “professional degree.” The change would protect nurses’ access to federal loan programs and reflect nursing’s role as a licensed profession requiring advanced education. ANA-Ohio encourages nurses and non-nurses alike to add their names to the petition urging inclusion of nursing as a professional degree, citing the need for a unified voice across health care.

Survey Tip of the Week: Roommate Change Notification

Residents have the right to receive written notice, including the reason for the change, before the resident’s room or roommate is changed. Surveyors frequently cite F559 when facilities move residents without proper notification or without offering opportunities for residents to understand and prepare for the change. Facilities must consider resident preferences, provide time for questions, and allow the resident to see the new room and meet the new roommate whenever possible.

When assigning a new roommate, residents should receive as much advance notice as the situation allows. Facilities should review documentation protocols for roommate changes. If a roommate passes away, staff should provide space and support for the surviving resident to adjust before moving another person into the room. Because room changes and roommate transitions can be emotionally difficult, failure to communicate, prepare, or support the resident may lead to additional concerns under Social Services at F745.

Report Portal Updates for Skilled Nursing Facilities

LeadingAge has updated its Report Portal with the latest data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for skilled nursing facilities. LeadingAge members can access their updated reports through the LeadingAge Report Portal using their LeadingAge login.

For skilled nursing facility members, Five-Star Reports reflect an early December data refresh that was later corrected by CMS on Dec. 16. The updated reports include assessment-based quality measures and staffing data from 2025 Quarter 2, claims-based data from 2025 Quarter 1, and Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program measures based on the applicable individual measure periods. Members with questions about their reports may contact Jodi Eyigor.

Creativity Has No Age Limit

At the Center for Abundant Aging’s Symposium on Creativity & Aging, hosted by United Church Homes, one message resonated clearly: creative expression remains vital throughout our lives. The event highlighted how curiosity, learning, and self-expression support wellbeing and purpose as people age—and how providers can create environments where those opportunities remain accessible and meaningful.

That message became personal when one attendee helped his 92-year-old father return to the trumpet after seven decades away from the instrument. Inspired by the Symposium, David signed up for lessons and quickly rediscovered the joy of making music. His story is a reminder that it is never too late to reconnect with creativity—and that mission-driven organizations play a critical role in making those moments possible. Read the full story, “The Power of Creativity in Aging: David’s Return to the Trumpet,” on the United Church Homes blog.

January 13 Webinar Clarifies Restorative Nursing and Therapy Roles

Clear boundaries and collaboration between restorative nursing and therapy matter for resident outcomes and compliance. A free January 13 webinar, Restorative Nursing vs. Therapy: Clarifying Roles and Documentation Requirements, will focus on where responsibilities intersect, how regulations differ, and what documentation surveyors expect. Using a concise case study, presenters will address common misconceptions that put providers at risk and outline approaches that support residents’ highest practicable level of functioning. Registration is available through the My MDS Expert webinars and training page.