LeadingAge Ohio honors Oelslager with Public Service Award

LeadingAge Ohio, Ohio’s voice for the continuum of long-term services and supports, presented Rep. Scott Oelslager (R-North Canton) with its Ohio Public Service Award.

The LeadingAge Ohio Public Service Award is bestowed upon legislators who emerge as leaders in the aging sector and show a commitment to taking on the issues most important to older adults and aging services providers in Ohio.

Founded in 1937, LeadingAge Ohio is a nonprofit organization that represents over 400 long-term care organizations and hospices, as well as those providing ancillary health care and housing services, in more than 150 Ohio towns and cities.

Through Oelslager’s leadership, Ohio’s state budget bill (HB 110) included public-policy provisions to improve services for Ohio’s most high-risk population. As the chairman of the House Finance Committee, he heard the concerns raised throughout the budget process and worked with advocates to ensure that Ohio’s tax dollars were utilized to improve quality and increase access to critical home- and community- based services.

“I’m very proud of what we accomplished in House Bill 110 when it comes to protecting some of our most vulnerable citizens,” said Oelslager. “The budget-reform package includes significant investments to support our seniors with increases to home- and community-based service providers to help homecare, expansion and aid to quality care in nursing facilities, and to protect senior citizens from adverse conditions amid the pandemic. ... I am honored to receive this award from LeadingAge Ohio.”