Report warns projected spike in older population in Ohio could strain state finances

As Ohio’s aging population grows, the state’s health care systems will likely face significant challenges to meet a heightened demand for intense and costly care, a new study warns (Source: “As Ohio’s populations ages, hundreds of thousands will need long term care,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Feb. 25).
 
Ohio had nearly 2.86 million residents aged 60 or above in 2020, ranking sixth highest in the nation. That population is set to spike by the beginning of the next decade, according to a report on nursing homes from the Ohio Department of Aging and Miami University Scripps Gerontology Center.
 
The study warns that the spike could put a strain on state finances as state policymakers wrestle with budget challenges.