COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio officials launched a new online platform designed to simplify how older residents and their families find care, services, and data, after years of complaints from residents and caregivers that aging resources were hard to find.
Gov. Mike DeWine made the announcement on May 1 at a news conference. The tool, called the Ohio Aging Compass, brings together information related to health care, housing, caregiving, transportation, and long-term care into a single website. State officials say the platform is intended to make the system easier to understand for Ohioans navigating aging-related decisions.
DeWine said the initiative builds on years of feedback from families who struggled to find reliable information when making major care decisions.
“For years, families across Ohio have told us really the same thing,” DeWine said. “When it came time to find care for a loved one, they felt that the process was really just overwhelming.”
State officials launched the Aging Compass during Older Americans Month as part of Ohio’s broader healthy-aging initiative.
A single starting point
The new platform builds on previous state efforts to improve transparency in long-term care. In 2023, DeWine created a Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force, leading to the 2024 launch of the Long-Term Care Quality Navigator, which lets users compare nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Officials said while thousands have used the tool, it did not fully address broader needs identified in surveys and listening sessions.
“We need a centralized place to find the care, services, and information we need,” DeWine said, quoting feedback from residents in the 2023 Ohio Governor’s Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force Recommendations Report. “You shouldn’t have to visit 20 different websites to find the resources that you need.”
The Aging Compass is designed to serve as that single entry point, combining multiple tools into one platform.
Three tools in one platform
The site integrates three main components:
- Long-Term Care Quality Navigator, which allows users to compare care facilities
- Healthy Aging Resource Hub, a directory of services, programs and events
- Aging Data Explorer, a dashboard tracking more than 80 metrics tied to state aging priorities
Ohio Department of Aging Director Ursel McElroy described the platform as a “one-stop shop” for aging-related resources and services. “This is more than a website. It is a gateway to aging well,” she said.
McElroy said the system was built using input from residents across all 88 counties, including town halls, focus groups and statewide surveys.
“We didn’t start with assumptions. We started with people,” McElroy said. “We heard from hundreds of older adults and caregivers who provided feedback with candor and heart.”
Features aimed at everyday users
State officials emphasized practical tools to simplify real-world decisions.
A resource hub includes a searchable database of more than 6,000 local services, ranging from meal delivery to transportation and caregiver support. Users can filter results by location and service type, and save or share information with family members.
The platform also includes a “resource finder” quiz that directs users to relevant services based on their needs, and an events calendar highlighting statewide programs.
Data explorer lets users track how their community is performing in areas such as health outcomes and quality of life, with county-level comparisons and demographic breakdowns.
“The data explorer is your window into our performance and progress,” McElroy said. “It’s where you can clearly see what’s working, what needs attention, and how we’re delivering on our commitments.”
Focus on transparency and accountability
Officials said the site gives residents greater public access to government data and decision-making tools.
“The Ohio Aging Compass is a major step forward in transparency and accessibility,” DeWine said in a statement.
The system is also tied to the state’s federally authorized State Plan on Aging, which guides funding and policy decisions. The dashboard allows users to compare current performance against state targets.
McElroy said future updates may add artificial intelligence features, including a chatbot to help users navigate services in real time.
Support from advocacy groups
Advocates for older adults and caregivers said the platform addresses a critical gap in access to information.
Jenny Carlson, state director for AARP Ohio, said the tool reflects long-standing calls for a more user-friendly system.
“Older adults and family caregivers repeatedly tell us the same thing. They want clear, reliable information that they can actually use,” Carlson said.
She said the centralized platform could be especially valuable for caregivers balancing multiple responsibilities.
Ohio has about 2.2 million family caregivers, many juggling jobs, raising children and managing their own health needs, Carlson said.
“Giving them a clear place to start is what truly matters,” she said.
Supporting caregivers
State officials say the Aging Compass is part of a larger “age-friendly Ohio” initiative to help residents remain independent and engaged in their communities.
The platform is designed for individuals, families, policymakers, service providers and community organizations seeking data to guide planning and investment.
“With millions of Ohioans now aged 50 and older, having a trusted, consumer-friendly place to find aging information is incredibly critical,” Carlson said.
Looking ahead
Officials described the launch as an early step, not a finished product.
“This launch is an important first step,” McElroy said. “It is an iterative foundation in our work toward fewer clicks, clearer pathways, and more accessible resources.”
The state plans to continue collecting feedback and expanding the platform’s features over time.
The Ohio Aging Compass is now available online at compass.aging.ohio.gov.
Rosie Palfy former Marine Corps combat correspondent. Award-winning #homeless advocate & #veterans advocate and Signal Cleveland Documenter.
