You Asked: Are nursing homes required to repeatedly measure a resident’s bruise until it resolves?
We Answered: There is no CMS requirement that a bruise be repeatedly measured at every assessment until it resolves. CMS expects facilities to develop policies consistent with accepted clinical standards and directs surveyors to evaluate whether those policies are being followed when concerns are identified. In Ohio, citations related to bruising and skin impairment have not focused on the failure to repeatedly measure a bruise, but rather on failures to identify, assess, and appropriately address the bruise when it occurs. When a bruise is identified, the facility should complete and document an appropriate initial assessment, which may include the location, approximate size, color and appearance, pain or tenderness, swelling, skin integrity, and known or suspected cause.
Ongoing monitoring should focus on the resident’s clinical condition and progression of the bruise, such as whether it is stable, resolving, enlarging, becoming more painful, developing increased swelling, or resulting in skin breakdown. Repeat measurement may be appropriate when the bruise appears to be enlarging or when otherwise clinically indicated.
Facilities should also evaluate the circumstances surrounding an unexplained or suspicious bruise and follow applicable requirements for investigation and reporting when abuse, neglect, injury of unknown source, or another reportable event is suspected. Top What’s happening now — and what’s next for aging services policy? Join LeadingAge Ohio on Monday, August 17, for the next Advocacy in Action webinar as we take a look at the issues we’re working on and watching most closely, including hospice program integrity and House Bill 945, Medicaid and regulatory developments affecting behavioral health and adult day services, and the latest on PACE.
We’ll also look ahead to the next General Assembly with a preview of LeadingAge Ohio’s proposed 2027 Public Policy Platform, including priorities for hospice integrity, nursing facility reimbursement, assisted living and affordable senior housing.
If you want to know where LeadingAge Ohio’s advocacy efforts are headed — and what issues may require member engagement in the months ahead — you won’t want to miss this month’s Advocacy in Action. Bring your questions and join the conversation! If you missed the August 4 webinar, you can still learn more about this new member benefit by listening to the recorded webinar and by scheduling a one-on-one meeting at Annual Conference.
The retirement plan solution for LeadingAge Ohio members is designed for organizations sponsoring either a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement plan, as well as those exploring the addition of a retirement plan for the first time. This new solution provides access to the advantages of a pooled employer plan, helping organizations simplify retirement plan administration, reduce fiduciary responsibilities, leverage economies of scale that can help reduce retirement plan costs, and support employees in preparing for retirement. LeadingAge Ohio will periodically have monthly member surveys. This month’s survey will allow us to better understand the vendors and service providers you rely on so we can identify trends, evaluate potential member benefits, and strengthen resources that support your organization.
Take this brief survey here. Activities and life enrichment teams create many of the daily moments that help residents feel known, engaged and connected to the people and communities around them.
At this year’s LeadingAge Ohio Annual Conference, life enrichment professionals will find sessions built for resident engagement, memory care, intergenerational programming, music, service-centered care and technology-supported experiences. Hear from experts and peers on programming that supports residents’ interests, abilities and goals.
Sessions such as:
- 1C. Harnessing Music’s Power in a Holistic Memory Care Model
- 2F. How Virtual Reality is Revolutionizing Senior Care
- 8C. eCompanion Therapy: The Role of Emerging Technology and Emotional Connection in Hospice
- 9C. Designing Intergenerational Programs That Build Real Relationships
- 10D. Dementia Care De-escalation Strategies
This is more than a conference track. It is a chance to focus on the tools, safeguards and decisions that will affect residents, staff and operations across your organization. View the full conference schedule and make plans to attend. Complete your Annual Conference registration today. LeadingAge Ohio is excited to announce a new education partnership with Herzing University, providing our members and their employees with access to valuable tuition benefits and support as they pursue their educational and career goals.
Through this partnership, eligible employees can take advantage of:
- 10% tuition reduction for prelicensure programs
- 20% tuition reduction for all other programs
- 35% tuition reduction for RN-to-BSN
- Free transfer credit evaluations
- Access to 40+ degree programs
- A dedicated support team to help students throughout their educational journey
Whether you are looking to advance your career in healthcare, complete a degree, or continue your professional education, Herzing University offers flexible program options designed to help working professionals reach their goals.
Visit this page and select LeadingAge Ohio as your employer/partner to learn more and get started. There’s always something happening at LeadingAge Ohio. View upcoming events and mark your calendar today.
- August 13, 10 a.m. - Board of Directors Meeting
- August 14, 1 p.m. - Foundation Board Meeting
- August 17, 10 a.m. - Advocacy in Action
- August 19, 2 p.m. - Home Health and Hospice Subcommittee
- August 20, 1 p.m. - 2026 Reimbursement Collaborative: Maximizing Opportunity in a Changing Environment - The High-Performance Playbook
- August 24, 9 a.m. - Hospice Pre-Conference Sessions
- August 25-27, 2026 - Annual Conference & Trade Show
- September 1, 10 a.m. - Professional Development Committee
- September 2, 11 a.m. - Affordable Housing Subcommittee
- September 3, 10 a.m. - Advocacy Committee
Top LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) and Ziegler Link•age Funds have released the second annual CTO Hotline report, drawing on responses from more than 100 professionals at nonprofit senior living and care organizations. Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption is one of the clearest year-over-year changes: 55% of respondents said some teams or individuals now have AI capabilities, up from 13% in 2025. Investment plans point in the same direction, with 65% expecting to invest more in large language models in 2026, 52% in data analytics software and 43% in cybersecurity testing. Operational efficiency was the top area where respondents see an opportunity for AI, selected by 85%.
The findings also offer useful benchmarks for technology planning. Membership in affinity groups such as LeadingAge was the most commonly cited source of reliable technology information, selected by 91% of respondents. At the same time, 82% said they set success metrics when implementing new technology, but only 39% usually return to those measures after implementation to assess results. LeadingAge’s coverage of the 2026 findings examines the growth in AI knowledge and data governance in more detail. Members can also read the full 2026 CTO Hotline report. Caring for the older generation is a complex enterprise that, as LeadingAge’s nonprofit and mission-driven members know, relies on employees with a multitude of skills and functional experience—from direct care workers to senior living administrators, affordable housing service coordinators and real estate portfolio managers to experts in technology, finance and more. Creating and maintaining thriving communities depends on having a multitude of engaged, motivated, qualified, and compassionate staff—which is why workforce is a strategic priority for LeadingAge. Throughout September, as we celebrate National Workforce Development Month, we’ll focus on recruitment and retention; join us in our full-on exploration of initiatives and programs underway at members, state partner associations, and at LeadingAge national that seek to bring more people into the sector and keep them here once they arrive. Learn more about what’s coming during National Workforce Development Month. Top State Sen. Catherine D. Ingram, D-Cincinnati, recently convened a community forum focused on helping Ohioans understand long-term care resources and the rights of people living in long-term care settings. Representatives from Pro Seniors, the Ohio Department of Health, the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman and the Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program discussed resident rights, Medicare counseling, advocacy services and options for addressing concerns about care.
For providers, the event highlights the importance of making information about resident rights and outside resources accessible to residents and families. The Ohio Senate announcement also provides contact information for the Ohio Department of Health’s health care facility complaint line, the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Medicare counseling through OSHIIP and Pro Seniors. Read the original Ohio Senate announcement. The Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announced that the Next Generation MyCare program is now available in all 88 Ohio counties. The program serves Ohioans eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, integrating the two programs under a single health plan.
The statewide rollout follows a phased implementation that began in the original MyCare Ohio counties and expanded to additional regions throughout 2026. The program provides coordinated care and services for older adults and individuals with complex care needs, including enhanced behavioral health services, transportation and mobility supports, and long-term care and community-based services.
ODM has published resources for members and providers covering eligibility, benefits, enrollment and frequently asked questions. Top U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., introduced the Medicare At Home Act, which would establish a new Medicare benefit covering up to 20 hours per week of assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. The benefit would be covered under Medicare Part B and would be separate from Medicare’s existing home health benefit. Eligibility would require assistance with at least two activities of daily living, two instrumental activities of daily living or a combination of the two.
LeadingAge supports the proposal as part of its work to expand access to home- and community-based services. The legislation would address a gap in current Medicare coverage by helping older adults and people with disabilities receive personal care services in their homes and communities, while reducing reliance on out-of-pocket spending and unpaid family caregivers. Read the joint announcement from Dingell and Kim for additional details. Top The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed that the recent increase in K915 citations may be related to surveyors’ access to the Ohio Department of Medicaid’s list of facilities approved to participate in the ventilator program. K-tag 915, Electrical Systems – Essential Electric System Categories, addresses whether resident care areas are served by the appropriate essential electrical system (EES) based on the level of risk that an electrical system failure could pose to residents. Facilities should understand how resident care areas are categorized and ensure the electrical system is appropriate for the care and services provided.
- Category 1 – Critical Care Rooms: Areas where electrical system failure is likely to cause major injury or death, including rooms where electric life-support equipment is required. These areas must be served by a Type 1 EES.
- Category 2 – General Care Rooms: Areas where electrical system failure is likely to cause minor injury to residents. These areas must be served by a Type 1 or Type 2 EES.
- Category 3 – Basic Care Rooms: Areas where electrical system failure is not likely to cause injury to residents. Category 3 rooms and rooms other than resident care areas are not required to be served by an EES.
- Type 3 EES: The life safety branch must have an alternate source of power capable of providing power for 1½ hours.
Facilities should review resident care areas with maintenance staff and qualified electrical professionals to verify that the electrical system serving each area is appropriate for its use. Particular attention should be given when adding new services, introducing electrically powered medical equipment, or caring for residents with higher-acuity needs, as changes in how a space is used may affect the applicable electrical system requirements.
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has developed a Preventative Maintenance Manual for Long-Term Care Facilities that includes a comprehensive checklist of required preventative maintenance activities, along with the applicable NFPA standards and regulatory requirements. Facilities should use this resource to verify that all required inspections, testing, and maintenance are completed on schedule and appropriately documented. Top Data mining and analysis, once the purview of Fortune 500 companies and broad sectors like healthcare, finance, and retail, is now being leveraged in innovative ways by life plan communities (LPCs). Over the past five years, two visionary leaders, Tom Akins, president and CEO of LeadingAge North Carolina, and Carol Barbor, CEO of VigR Health, a LeadingAge Business Member, have analyzed big batches of data to yield very specific, very tailored applications that benefit LPCs and residents—in very different ways. Read how here. Join LeadingAge for its annual all-resident panel at the August LPC Network Meeting. Hear a diverse group of LPC residents talk about ‘hot topics’ in the field – and their unique viewpoints. The panel will include National Continuing Care Residents’ Association (NaCCRA) Vice President Richmond Shreve, who presented at the Boston Annual Meeting and is the author of a forthcoming discussion paper concerning resident trustees. You can read an article by Mr. Shreve in the latest NaCCRA Lifeline newsletter. The meeting is on Thursday, August 27, at 2 p.m. All LeadingAge provider members (and residents) are welcome. Email Dee for the invite or register here. Top Jennings invites you to its annual fundraiser on October 2, 2026, at the newly renovated and historic Agora in Cleveland. The event brings together supporters, community members and friends of Jennings to celebrate the organization’s mission and its work serving older adults throughout Northeast Ohio for more than eight decades.
Take part in the live and silent auction and raffles for the chance at amazing prizes and packages. A plated dinner, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, and open bar are included in the ticket price.
For more information about Spirit and Splendor 2026, visit the event webpage. Top LeadingAge Ohio holds valuable education webinars and in-person events throughout the year. Opportunities are added weekly. See the complete Schedule of Events. Enrollment is now open for the Winter 2027 session of the Core of Knowledge, a program designed for Administrators-in-Residence that fulfills the academic requirement set by the Board of Executives of Long-Term Services and Supports (BELTSS) for qualifying to sit for the state licensure board examination to become a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA).
The three-week course will be held January 11–28, 2027, Monday through Thursday, at the OCLC Conference Center. This is one of only two opportunities to complete the required coursework in 2027.
The deadline to register is December 11, 2025. Learn more and register for the 2027 Winter Core of Knowledge. For additional information, contact Corey Markham at cmarkham@leadingageohio.org. Ohio nurses must meet specific continuing education requirements to renew their licenses, and rule changes taking effect with the 2027 renewal cycle will alter what they need to track. Join LeadingAge Ohio for the Nursing Law webinar from 1 to 2 p.m. September 22 for a focused review of Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 4723-14, license renewal requirements, qualifying continuing education and common misunderstandings that may affect compliance.
Participants will earn 1.0 Category A contact hour and hear from Brittany Turner, MSN, RN, CNEcl, NPD-BC, director of continuing education at the Ohio Nurses Association. The session will explain the 2026 rule changes and help nurses prepare before the next renewal cycle. The Ohio Nurses Association is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Register for the Nursing Law webinar. Top
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