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Senior care rules in your state, in plain language

Every state regulates senior care differently. These are the rules that change decisions.

Quick answer

Ohio licenses assisted living as a single Residential Care Facility type under ORC 3721, and certifies memory care only for RCFs serving Assisted Living Waiver residents.

HomeSenior care rules in your state, in plain language
How your state licenses assisted living. Ohio licenses assisted living as a single Residential Care Facility (RCF) type under ORC 3721, with a 120-day skilled-nursing cap. Read the full explanation →

Guides to your state's rules

You can check any facility's record free. The Ohio Department of Health licenses and inspects RCFs and nursing homes; ask any community for its most recent state inspection report directly. Read the full explanation →

Questions families ask

What license does Ohio require for assisted living, and what law covers it?

Ohio licenses assisted living as a Residential Care Facility (RCF) under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3721, with day-to-day operating rules in Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701-16. The Ohio Department of Health issues and inspects the license.

Does Ohio require a separate certification for memory care?

Only in one specific context: Residential Care Facilities serving residents under Ohio's Assisted Living Waiver must be certified for memory care under OAC 173-39-02.16. Private-pay memory care units outside that waiver are not certified the same way.

How does Ohio license nursing homes differently from assisted living?

Nursing homes are licensed under a separate administrative rule chapter, OAC 3701-17, distinct from OAC 3701-16 for Residential Care Facilities. Nursing homes are also federally certified and CMS star-rated, which assisted living in Ohio is not.

How many days can an assisted living community in Ohio provide skilled nursing before a resident must transfer?

Ohio caps the skilled nursing an RCF may provide at 120 days in any 12-month period per resident, under ORC 3721.011, with exceptions for physical/occupational/speech therapy and hospice residents.

Is independent living licensed the same way as assisted living in Ohio?

No. Independent living is generally unlicensed housing in Ohio because it does not include personal care. Assisted living is licensed as a Residential Care Facility specifically because it involves hands-on help with daily activities.

Where can I see a facility's Ohio inspection record before touring?

Ask the community directly for its most recent Ohio Department of Health inspection report, or contact the Ohio Department of Health directly to request survey history for a specific facility.

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