Public commenters and senior advocates told the Cincinnati City Council Healthy Neighborhoods Committee on Aug. — that several local nursing homes are in visibly poor condition and that more consistent oversight and family monitoring are needed. The session brought health department staff, a long‑term care ombudsman and local advocates to explain what the city can and cannot do and how residents can report problems.

The concerns: why it matters

Stefan Pryor, a public commenter who has toured multiple facilities, described black mold in rooms at Astoria Place and said he had seen “a hamburger bun with French fries, no meat” served to a resident. “It’s real bad in there,” Pryor said of several homes he visited.

Sandra Jones Mitchell, founder of SOACT and president of the Avondale Community Council, told the committee she has worked with nursing homes for decades and said poor nutrition, staffing turnover and limited family visits contribute to declining resident health. “The food has to change, you guys. The food is not good,” Mitchell said. She also urged use of Esther’s Law to allow family‑installed cameras in nursing‑home rooms.

What city and nonprofit officials said

Dr. Grant Musman, head of the Cincinnati Health Department, told the committee the city runs primary‑care clinics and can inspect for environmental health complaints such as mold and sanitation, but does not regulate standards of clinical care inside nursing homes. “Responsibility for inspections and regulations for nursing homes generally lies with the state,” Musman said. He reiterated that the health department will respond to healthy‑homes complaints filed through 311 or the department and that the city manager’s office has set up a direct line with Pro Seniors for egregious cases.

Eric Carpenter, program director for the long‑term care ombudsman program at Pro Seniors, described the ombudsman role and how people can report problems. “We are resident‑rights advocates,” Carpenter said. He said ombudsmen cover nursing homes, assisted living and certain group homes across a five‑county area and are required to conduct a regular‑presence visit to every facility in the region each quarter. Carpenter urged residents to call the ombudsman helpline about discharge problems, missing medications, care planning and dignity complaints and provided the local ombudsman number: (513) 458‑5518. He also gave Pro Seniors’ legal hotline as (513) 345‑4160.

Discussion vs. authority: what the transcript shows

City officials and advocates distinguished three buckets of oversight: city‑level environmental and building enforcement (mold, trash, locked exits, ADA accessibility), state regulatory authority over clinical standards and food quality, and nonprofit/legal support for residents (Pro Seniors ombudsmen and legal aid). Musman emphasized the city’s role in environmental complaints and said the city can be part of a response when the state regulatory system falls short. Carpenter outlined common ombudsman complaints: involuntary discharge (often tied to Medicaid enrollment), shortcomings in care planning, medication problems, dignity/respect issues and hygiene/incontinence care.

Steps reported or discussed

- The city manager’s office has established a referral line with Pro Seniors for severe or recurring problems that the city can help address. Carpenter said Pro Seniors is building a formal referral process with the city building department to trigger inspections for environmental issues when ombudsmen or Pro Seniors staff observe problems.
- Committee members and advocates asked the city to engage state representatives to clarify frequency of state inspections and legislative remedies.
- Advocates promoted family monitoring under Esther’s Law (state law allowing family‑installed cameras in nursing‑home rooms with restrictions) and urged the city to press for enforcement where facilities limit family monitoring by blocking Wi‑Fi or otherwise.

Practical guidance for residents

Speakers repeatedly directed residents and family members with concerns about care, discharge or abuse to the ombudsman helpline at (513) 458‑5518 and to call 311 or the Cincinnati Health Department for environmental or sanitation complaints.

Context and next steps

Advocates said long‑term problems predate the pandemic and pointed to staffing and funding pressures; Mitchell said she observed the city once had inspectors and nurses embedded in facilities and urged reinstating coordinated aging‑friendly committees and more funding. Committee members agreed to follow up with the city manager’s office and departmental directors about the newly formed referral pathway and to invite state representatives for clarification of state inspection frequency and regulatory authority.

Ending

Committee members filed a communication from Pro Seniors and senior services for the public record and urged residents to use the helplines and 311 for immediate problems; they signaled further follow‑up with the city manager’s office and state officials about inspection and enforcement roles.