Ohio Department of Aging

What Ohio Department of Aging does

The Ohio Department of Aging is a cabinet-level state agency of Ohio, founded in 1965 and headquartered at 30 E Broad St, 22nd Floor, Columbus. Designated by the U.S. Administration for Community Living as Ohio's lead entity for Older Americans Act services, the agency also administers certain Medicaid programs under contract with the Ohio Department of Medicaid. It coordinates programs spanning long-term care, nutrition, caregiver support, falls prevention, chronic disease self-management, and elder rights, serving approximately 2.8 million older Ohioans across all 88 counties through 12 regional Area Agencies on Aging.

The agency's core digital products include Ohio Aging Compass (a centralized resource platform announced May 2026), the Long-Term Care Quality Navigator (a nursing home and assisted living facility comparison dashboard), and the Golden Buckeye Card discount program, described as the oldest and largest partnership between businesses and state government in the country. Programmatic offerings include the PASSPORT and Assisted Living Waiver Medicaid home- and community-based services programs, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), the Long-Term Care Ombudsman program, STEADY U Ohio (falls prevention), HEALTHY U Ohio chronic disease self-management programs (developed with Stanford University and the University of Illinois at Chicago), the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, the Healthy Aging Grants program, and the Ohio Scholars in Aging educational program (158 scholars since 2013).

The agency operates as a publicly funded entity with no fees charged to beneficiaries; programs are financed by the federal Older Americans Act, Medicaid contracts, and state appropriations. Distribution is hybrid—delivered through the centralized 51-100-employee cabinet office in Columbus, the 12 Area Agencies on Aging network, thousands of Golden Buckeye participating businesses, public libraries, and senior centers, with marketing channels spanning the agency's website, Constant Contact email newsletters, and four social media platforms (Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn). The leadership team is led by Director Ursel J. McElroy (appointed January 2019 by Governor Mike DeWine) and includes Chief Program Officer Jamie Carmichael, Chief Legal Counsel Matt Lampke, Chief Administrative Officer Christine Kidd (joined June 2024), Chief Legislative Officer Alex Lapso, Medical Director Dr. John Weigand (the agency's first), and Senior Policy Advisor Dr. Mina Chang.

Name

Ohio Department of Aging

Legal name

Ohio Department of Aging

Website

https://aging.ohio.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ohio Department of Aging is a cabinet-level state agency administering Older Americans Act and select Medicaid programs for 2.8 million older Ohioans through 12 Area Agencies on Aging and digital platforms including Ohio Aging Compass and Golden Buckeye Card.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Government Aging Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Administration of Public Health Programs (923120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Elder Services & Aging Support (BPAGAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing & Placement Coordination (Assisted Living, Memory Care, SNF) (HSABAIAL), Caregiving, Aging-in-Place & Home Safety Education (For seniors & family caregivers) (EDAAAMAL)

Keywords

• Aging services
• Elder care programs
• Disability services
• Public health programs
• Senior services

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Ohio Department of Aging is a cabinet-level state government agency that administers programs and services for older Ohioans aged 60 and over, as well as people with disabilities. It coordinates a statewide network of area agencies on aging, distributes federal Older Americans Act funding, oversees Medicaid-funded long-term care programs, and provides caregiver support, nutrition programs, and community-based aging services. The agency also publishes public health and aging data, supports the PASSPORT Medicaid waiver program, and runs the Long-Term Care Consumer Guide for Ohio.

Product overview

The Ohio Department of Aging operates as a unified platform offering multiple interconnected programs and services for older Ohioans. The core offerings include the Ohio Aging Compass (a consolidated digital resource hub), the Long-Term Care Quality Navigator (facility comparison dashboard), and the Golden Buckeye Card discount program. These are supported by a network of 12 Area Agencies on Aging providing Medicaid programs (PASSPORT, Assisted Living Waiver, PACE), health initiatives (STEADY U Ohio falls prevention, HEALTHY U Ohio chronic disease management), the Ombudsman advocacy program, satisfaction surveys, and educational programs like Ohio Scholars in Aging. The portfolio functions as a coordinated ecosystem connecting resources, care settings, and support services for the state's 2.8 million older adults.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Golden Buckeye: A discount card program connecting businesses with older adults and people with disabilities, offering special savings on goods and services
• Ohio Aging Compass
• Long-Term Care Quality Navigator
• STEADY U Ohio
• HEALTHY U Ohio

Products and services

• PASSPORT Program
• Long-Term Care Consumer Guide
• Area Agency on Aging Network Services
• Caregiver Support Programs
• Older Americans Act Funded Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 300,000+ Ohioans connected with needed resources annually through area agency call centers
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ohio Association of Gerontology and Education (OAGE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOAGE is a partnership organization of educators, researchers, practitioners, and students that promotes gerontological education. It supports Ohio's aging network as a resource for research and practice and provides professional development. OAGE co-sponsors the Ohio Scholars in Aging Program with the department.
• 12 Area Agencies on AgingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe department designates and funds 12 area agencies on aging to coordinate local services and supports across Ohio's 88 counties. These agencies serve as the primary delivery mechanism for aging services.
• Ohio State Parks (Ohio Department of Natural Resources)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolden Buckeye Card holders receive significant discounts on camping, cottages, and getaway rentals at Ohio State Parks.
• Golden Buckeye Participating BusinessescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThousands of Ohio businesses participate in the Golden Buckeye Card program, offering discounts to eligible older adults and people with disabilities at no cost to the businesses.
• Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with the department to conduct Family Satisfaction Surveys for nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
• Vital ResearchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent interviewers from Vital Research conduct in-person Resident Satisfaction Surveys at long-term care facilities.
• Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartners with HEALTHY U program to encourage OPERS Retiree Health Care Plan participants to attend chronic disease self-management workshops.
• Ohio Older Adult Falls Prevention CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with the department to offer Tai Chi and other falls prevention programs through a network of local instructors.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AARP: The national nonprofit advocating for Americans 50+; while not a government agency, AARP's policy research, caregiving resources, and public-education campaigns overlap substantially with the Ohio Department of Aging's mission.
• U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL): The federal agency that designated the Ohio Department of Aging as Ohio's lead agency for Older Americans Act services; ACL funds and oversees the broader state-units-on-aging network, making it the federal-level counterpart and overall system steward.
• National Association of State Units on Aging (NASUA): The membership association representing the 50 state units on aging — including Ohio — providing policy advocacy, technical assistance, and information sharing across the network of state aging agencies.

Direct peers

• New York State Office for the Aging: New York's state agency that coordinates aging services through 59 area agencies, administers the NY Connects resource navigation system, and manages long-term care programs — a direct functional peer in both mission and operating model.
• Illinois Department on Aging: Illinois's state unit on aging that administers Older Americans Act services, the Community Care Program, and the Senior Health Assistance Program through a network of regional provider agencies — a Midwestern peer with similar governance and program scope.
• Pennsylvania Department of Aging: Pennsylvania's cabinet-level department overseeing 52 Area Agencies on Aging and administering the PACE, OPTIONS, and caregiver support programs — directly comparable in structure, area-agency delivery model, and program mix.
• Florida Department of Elder Affairs: Florida's lead state agency for elder services, operating the Department of Elder Affairs and administering Medicaid waiver programs, SHINE (Medicare counseling), and the Long-Term Care Ombudsman — a close peer given the large older-adult population both states serve.
• California Department of Aging: California's cabinet-equivalent state agency administering Older Americans Act services, long-term care programs, and caregiver supports for older adults — directly comparable in mandate, funding model, and program portfolio to the Ohio Department of Aging.
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission (Aging Services): Texas delivers aging services through a division within HHS, administering Area Agencies on Aging, the Community Attendant Services program, and the PACE program — comparable in scale and structure even though housed inside a broader human services umbrella.

Emerging players

• National Council on Aging (NCOA): A national nonprofit focused on improving the health and economic security of older adults through programs like Falls Free Initiative and chronic disease self-management — operates as a partner/adjacent organization to state aging agencies rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/OhioDeptOfAging
• Facebookfacebook.com/OhioDepartmentOfAging
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ohio-department-of-aging
• Instagraminstagram.com/ohiodeptofaging

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ohio Department of Aging