09/17/2026

Phase II Resident Satisfaction Survey Interviews Begin Across Ohio

What You Need To Know

• The Ohio Department of Aging is beginning Phase II of the 2025-2026 Ohio Resident Satisfaction Survey for nursing facilities and assisted living facilities. The survey includes long- and short-term residents, and long-term care facilities are required to cooperate under Ohio Revised Code 173.47.
• Vital Research, the state’s survey contractor, began contacting Phase II facilities in August to schedule in-person interviews. Interviews begin in September and are scheduled to continue through February 2027. Facilities included in Phase II should expect direct outreach from Vital and must respond to complete scheduling.
• Interviewers will select a random sample of residents. Residents may be excluded only if they are in isolation, too ill to participate or have a documented refusal from a legal guardian. Facility staff cannot decline participation on a resident’s behalf. Residents who participate may stop the interview or skip a question at any time.

What Happens Next

• Vital will contact each facility to schedule its interview date and provide instructions for submitting resident census information. Facilities may also contact Vital at 888-628-3681 to schedule.
• Facilities should plan to notify residents and family representatives in advance of the interviews. Legal guardians who do not want a resident interviewed must notify the facility before the visit, and facilities are responsible for tracking those refusals.
• The Ohio Resident Satisfaction Survey project site includes census templates, sample notification materials, frequently asked questions, copies of the surveys and other facility resources.

What to Do

• Respond promptly when Vital contacts your facility and begin preparations at least three weeks before the scheduled interviews.
• Update contact information for resident representatives and include short-term and long-term residents, as well as residents living in memory care, when preparing census information.
• Follow the secure submission instructions provided for the census list. Do not send census lists or resident-identifying information through regular email. The facility documents page includes census templates, notification letters, sample surveys and other materials.
• On the day of the interviews, provide interviewers in person with the names of residents who are in isolation, residents whose legal guardians declined participation and residents living in memory care, if applicable. Do not email this information.