Ohio Veterans Home ranked state's best nursing home

PERKINS TWP. — Sandusky's Ohio Veterans Home received recent national recognition as it appeared on Newsweek's Best Nursing Homes list for 2023. Furthermore, the publication graded this facility as the No. 1 nursing home in Ohio. "It's quite an honor to earn this rating from Newsweek given that publication's longstanding reputation and all that factors into it, including data that shows our department was able to hold up to the many challenges that accompanied the COVID-19 health crisis," according to Jeff Rapp, a spokesman with the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, which oversees the Ohio Veterans Home. "Providing comfort and care to combat-era veterans who need our help is an awesome, everyday responsibility, so we are so grateful to see assessments that indicate we are meeting and exceeding standards in the industry," Rapp said. A couple of other prominent officials also commented on the honor: • Maj. Gen. Deborah Ashenhurst, state veterans services director: We're mindful of the fact that there are a lot of ways of measuring facilities like ours, and we're grateful for the recognition at both of our campuses. Our staff works hard every day to serve the veterans who live here. They really stepped up to provide care during the pandemic, and we're committed to continuing that care in the years to come. • Ross Matlack, Ohio Veterans Home superintendent: Being recognized by Newsweek as the No. 1 nursing home in Ohio is an honor. The pandemic's impact is still being felt, but, through it all, this amazing group of caregivers stayed focused on caring for our veterans. This recognition would not be possible without their dedication and the strong support the Ohio Veterans Home receives from Gov. (Mike) DeWine and the state of Ohio. Our home in Georgetown (near Cincinnati) also made the list, ranking seventh in the state. We take great pride in serving those who served. Sandusky's Ohio Veterans Home is a 427-bed nursing home facility offering two levels of care: • Standard care for those in need of any intermediate level of care • Special care for those with memory care needs The home opened in 1888 to care for veterans of the Civil War and has been in continuous operation since, providing care to Ohioans who served in military conflicts. It's one of the country's largest nursing care facilities.