SEIU 1199 nursing home employees demand that their ideas be heard about how to improve Ohio’s nursing homes. 

Governor Mike DeWine’s Nursing Home Quality and Accountability Task Force will hold a listening session on March 28 at 2 p.m. at the Wood County Senior Center, according to SEIU 1199 members’ press release. 

Ohio’s nursing home industry has been ranked 39th in the United States in terms of quality, some of the worst in the country. There is currently a 25% shortage of nursing home workers due to poor working conditions and low wages.

“Seniors and people with disabilities are suffering due to the catastrophic staffing crisis in all of Ohio’s nursing homes,” said Becky Williams, President of SEIU District 1199. “The only way to fix the broken nursing home systems in our state is to increase care hours, hire more staff, pay a living wage and respect staff enough to work with them to create sustainable solutions.”

Governor DeWine’s task force did not plan to include nursing home workers in its listening session, but SEIU 1199 workers felt that their perspectives were relevant and valuable.

They urge Governor DeWine to prioritize care over profits, according to SEIU 1199 members’ press release.