SUMMIT COUNTY, OH — A nursing home task force in Summit County is releasing new recommendations on how residents can be better served.
The task force made up of 29 members was formed back in 2019, the same year Fairlawn Rehab and Nursing Home Center on Ridgewood Road closed. In a review of the nursing home on U.S. News & World Report, the facility fell short in numerous areas, some of which were critical in their severity.
According to our partners at the Akron Beacon Journal, the 2019 report documented overflowing human waste from toilets, untreated bedsores and unbearable patient room conditions among several other problems that ultimately put dozens of senior residents' lives at risk.
On a mission to save them and turn things around, the county officials approved the Summit County Nursing Homes and Facilities Task Force, and its members went straight to work.
“That was something many of just couldn’t tolerate, not in our own backyard. We have to do something better,” said Jeff White, Summit County City Council District 4 representative and chairman of the Summit County Nursing Homes and Facilities Task Force.
On Thursday, White joined the task force in sharing its recommendations to implement change saying, “This doesn't end here with this presentation. We have a plan going forward here in 2021 to continue the work.” The group’s findings have been somewhat derailed by the pandemic.
White explained the group “wanted to examine current functions, practices and environments in nursing homes in Summit County” from perspectives including regulatory structure, financial considerations and general best practices.
“The county can only regulate and oversee the food services in the nursing homes in Summit County. Everything else goes to the state; the state health department oversees our nursing homes," White said.
The task force's 21-page PowerPoint focused on four priority areas, including staffing, legislation, operations, and visitation at the county's facilities. It suggests immediate changes like improving facility transportation, creating ageism and aging programs, addressing language barriers, improving technology for virtual visits and creating a residents and family workgroup.
“This is fact finding effort here identify some areas where we can improve the service,” said Sam McCoy, Co-Chair of Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging.
Other recommendations include improving some programs and initiatives already in place at nursing homes and long-term care facilities throughout the county.
