10 Best Nursing Homes in Cleveland, OH

Cleveland families can choose from several private and public assistance options to pay for senior care. An assessment of your family’s financial situation is key in determining which methods will best cover your loved one’s care costs.

Even if you’re planning to primarily use private pay methods to pay for your loved one’s care, it’s still worth checking their eligibility for public aid. If they qualify for assistance, their private pay options may go even further toward their care.

Ohio senior care facilities are regulated to help ensure residents’ health, safety, and well-being. Cleveland nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and memory care facilities are all required to be licensed by the Ohio Department of Health (ODH). The ODH performs inspections on each senior care facility before granting it a license, and they then inspect the facility a minimum of every 15 months after licensure.

Ohio nursing home staff requirements

Ohio nursing homes have staff requirements that they must meet to ensure they offer an appropriate standard of nursing care. Each facility must have a registered nurse on staff to operate as the director of the facility. Facilities must also have enough registered nurses and licensed practical nurses on staff to provide each resident with a daily minimum average of 2.5 hours of direct nursing care. Any time a nurse is not on duty at a given facility, the facility must have one on call.

Residents in Ohio skilled nursing facilities are entitled to, at minimum, the following services:

• A personalized care plan based on a comprehensive assessment of their unique physical and psychological needs
• A minimum three daily meals, prepared with food-related health and safety standards
• Assistance with eating, if needed
• Support in maintaining their highest level of functioning and independence
• Supervision of residents who are at risk of wandering, elopement, or falling

Ohio assisted living and memory care staff requirements

Ohio has no minimum staff requirements for assisted living and memory care facilities. However, these facilities are required to keep specific types of personnel on staff.

Ohio assisted living and memory care facilities must adhere to the following staff requirements:

• An administrator. Each facility must employ an administrator responsible for managing operations. The administrator is required to be on the premises 20 hours per week at minimum, and available around the clock when off-site.
• Direct care staff. Each facility must employ direct care staff. If the facility offers personal care, they must have at least one staff member trained in first aid on-site at all times.
• Medical staff. Each facility that provides medication administration must have a registered nurse, physician, or licensed nurse practitioner certified in medication administration on staff.

Memory care facilities have one additional staff requirement: each facility must have a psychologist or physician either on staff or contracted to oversee the care of residents with late-stage cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. Ohio assisted living and memory care staff are required to undergo proper training for their responsibilities, as outlined in Ohio Administrative Code Rule 3701-16-06.

Ohio assisted living and memory care service requirements

Residents in Ohio assisted living and memory care facilities are entitled to the following services, at a minimum:

• Assistance with activities of daily living
• Laundry, linen, and housekeeping services
• Planned recreational and social activities
• Either a minimum of three meals per day or food-safe storage to keep their own food on hand

Ohio senior care facility building standards

Ohio nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care facilities are required to comply with state building code standards for health and safety. Each senior care facility must be approved by the local certified building department.

Ohio senior care facilities are required to have plumbing, electrical, and sanitation systems in safe and working order. They must comply with fire and carbon monoxide safety, have evacuation and disaster preparedness plans, and complete and document routine evacuation drills.

Search Ohio senior care facility inspection details through the Health Care Provider Search tool. To search a specific assisted living or memory care facility, select the “Residential Care or Assisted Living Facility” from the “Provider Type” drop-down menu. Narrow your search by entering the county, the city, the name of the specific organization you’d like to view reports on, or any information you have for the corresponding fields. While the search tool does show whether an Ohio assisted living or memory care facility has an active license, it does not reveal the full report.

You can search and compare nursing home facilities using the federal Medicare nursing home Care Compare tool.

For additional information on senior living rights and resources, view the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging Housing Guide for Seniors and Individuals Who Have a Disabilities.

Ohio Department of Health contact information

Ohio Department of Health
246 N. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-466-3543

Cleveland Department of Public Health
75 Erieview Plaza
Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: 216-664-2324

COVID-19 regulations for Cleveland nursing homes

Ohio nursing homes, assisted living, and memory care communities are recommended to take precautionary measures to protect residents, staff, and visitors from COVID-19 in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each community may have its own rules in place, so it’s best to call prospective communities ahead of time to ask what specific guidelines they have in place.

Cleveland assisted living and memory care communities cultivate an environment where seniors can receive personal care services that foster wellness, independence, and quality of life. They’re beautifully designed with cozy communal areas where residents can relax, mingle with friends over meals and cups of coffee, and enjoy daily leisure activities.

While A Place for Mom does not partner with nursing homes, 20% of our Cleveland memory care and assisted living partners offer on-site skilled nursing care as an additional service. Read on to learn more about what you can expect from our assisted living and memory care partners.

Multiple tiers of care on one campus

Out of our 35 partnered Cleveland communities offering assisted living and memory care, 31% provide a combination of independent living, assisted living, and memory care all on one campus, and 20% offer on-site skilled nursing. Senior living communities that integrate multiple levels of care offer residents the option of a seamless transition to a support level that fits them if their needs change, making them ideal for aging in place. These types of communities can also be an excellent fit for couples who may need different levels of care.

Cleveland personal care services

Cleveland senior care communities offer residents an array of services, from dignified personal care to relief from the responsibilities of home maintenance. Services in Cleveland assisted living and memory care usually consist of the following:

• Assistance with activities of daily living
• Ambulatory assistance
• Diabetic care
• Incontinence support
• Medication management
• Restaurant-style dining
• Housekeeping and home maintenance
• Transportation services
• Laundry and linen services
• Planned events and recreational activities
• Grocery and errand services

Private amenities in Cleveland senior care

Cleveland senior care residents’ personalized care services can be administered within the privacy of their own living accommodations. Most Cleveland assisted living and memory care apartments often include the following:

• Multiple floor plan options
• Ground floor units available
• Private patios or balconies
• Kitchenettes
• High-speed internet
• Private bathrooms
• Wheelchair-accessible showers
• Bath tubs
• Cable or satellite television

Community amenities in Cleveland senior care

Cleveland assisted living and memory care facilities offer community-wide amenities to pamper residents, support relaxation, engage them in social activities, help them exercise, and more. Most Cleveland assisted living and memory care community amenities typically include the following:

• Main dining rooms
• Cafes/bistros
• Bars/pubs
• Patios
• Fitness centers
• Beauty salons/barbershops
• Central fireplaces
• TV and movie lounges
• Libraries/media centers
• Game/craft rooms

Our memory care partners in Cleveland strive to offer customized Alzheimer’s and dementia care. In addition to the amenities listed above, Cleveland memory care communities generally feature the following:

• Indoor and/or enclosed outdoor walking spaces
• Activities designed to support cognitive function
• Alert systems to prevent wandering and elopement

Nursing homes in the surrounding Cleveland suburbs

Beachwood, Highland Hills, and Hudson are all popular neighborhoods with luxury Cleveland assisted living, memory care, and other senior living options in quieter and more residential settings than you’ll find nearer to downtown. Senior care communities in these high-end areas of town may be a bit more costly, though much of the cost is due to them having even more amenities to offer. The combined average cost of our assisted living and memory care partners within a 10-mile radius was $4,799 per month in 2022-2023, while the average within a 25-mile radius was a bit higher, at $4,913 per month.

While A Place for Mom partners with a total of 35 assisted living and memory care communities within a 10-mile radius of the city center, we have 106 assisted living and memory care partners in a 25-mile radius, giving your family even more options to choose from when seeking the right care facility for your loved one.

Health care for seniors in Cleveland

Residents of Cleveland senior care facilities have access to several highly reputable medical centers and teaching hospitals.

Transportation for seniors in Cleveland

In addition to having excellent public transportation, downtown Cleveland is very walkable and bike friendly, making it ideal for outings with a caregiver or family members. Further out from the city center, however, your loved one will need to rely on their senior living facility’s transportation services, as the city becomes less walkable the further you travel from downtown.

Of our assisted living and memory care partners in Cleveland, 80% offer transportation services, either complimentary or at-cost. Community transportation fees depend on the senior living facility’s individual policies and whether the services are prescheduled or on-demand.

The Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority offers different options for getting around the city, with safety, connection, and inclusion kept at the fore. When traveling with a caregiver or family member, your loved one has several options between railway lines, bus routes, a downtown trolley, and paratransit services designed for those with disabilities.

Senior activities in Cleveland

Cleveland residents never run out of things to do, see, and eat. The city is a hub of performing and visual arts, professional sports, rock and roll history, nostalgia, and cultural neighborhoods like Little Italy. Explore some featured Cleveland attractions below.

Cleveland outdoors

Cleveland is a perfect metropolis for those who love both the city life and outdoor adventures alike. Cleveland residents and visitors have access to the majestic Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which is ideal for hiking, jogging, and biking. The Holden Arboretum contains 3,500 acres of scenic natural areas, gardens, and trails. You can also visit the Cleveland Cultural Gardens or the lakeshore’s Edgewater Park.

Cleveland for families

Cleveland has much to offer in the way of sports, music, culture, and so much more. Take in the Cleveland orchestra, or catch a Cavaliers basketball game, a Monsters hockey game, or either a Guardians or Browns baseball game. You can also check out the many sites in the arts district University Circle, which is home to historical landmarks, art galleries, museums, and botanical gardens.

Cleveland has plenty of attractions for the whole family to enjoy, including the following:

• “A Christmas Story” House
• Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
• Greater Cleveland Aquarium
• Children’s Museum of Cleveland
• Cleveland Botanical Garden
• Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

Cleveland Dining

Cleveland is a melting pot of many cultures, but in terms of the cuisine, it is perhaps most known for its Polish, Irish, and German-inspired eats. You’ll find a lot of bratwurst and kielbasa, corned beef on rye, savory pierogis, and for sweet treats and fat Tuesday indulgences, the famous fruit-filled Pazckis.

Like any Midwest metropolis, Cleveland also has a vast collection of restaurants encompassing a variety of other cultural cuisines. There are also foods that belong mainly to Cleveland herself. Cleveland even has its own Cleveland-style pizza, piled extra high with cheese and delicious toppings. If your loved one prefers to get out earlier in the day and be back for dinner with their community, don’t worry — Cleveland has breakfast and brunch options to spare.