Assisted living is one of the fastest growing sectors of the long-term care profession. That growth has brought with it interest on the part of lawmakers, advocacy groups and the media. In an effort to convey the assisted living message fully and accurately, the Ohio Health Care Association formed an affiliate group called the Ohio Centers for Assisted Living (OCAL).

OHCA has been a leader in assisted living development in Ohio, and was the first organization to represent assisted living providers statewide. OCAL is a natural outgrowth of those early efforts, combining the strength of OHCA's solid reputation, experienced staff and government relation's expertise with a singular focus on assisted living growth and development.

OCAL's objectives are twofold. First, to ensure that senior Ohio residents have access to quality assisted living services and the means to acquire those services. Equally important, the organization strives to create an environment that affords assisted living providers ready access to available resources and opportunities for advancement.

OCAL members also believe that consumer preferences and internal quality improvement programs are the best industry regulators, and that government rules and regulations should not stifle individual initiative. To date, involvement of government in the assisted living industry has been minimal. However, that situation is changing rapidly as state and federal agencies have begun examining licensing, regulation and funding issues more closely. OCAL expects their attention and scrutiny will only increase as the assisted living industry continues to grow.

At the Ohio Centers for Assisted Living, we strive to provide leadership, governmental support and continuous professional education so our assisted living members can grow in their profession and achieve the highest level of quality and value for the individuals they serve.

Click here for membership_application