COLUMBUS — Ohio Department of Aging Director Beverley Laubert has appointed Erin Pettegrew as the state long-term care ombudsman.

Pettegrew has served as acting state ombudsman since December 2017. As state long-term care ombudsman, Pettegrew will continue to promote person-centered care for all of Ohio’s long-term care consumers, putting them at the heart of all care decisions and giving them a voice about what care they receive, from whom, when and where.

“With this appointment, Ohioans have a stalwart advocate and champion in their corners,” Laubert said. “Erin has an accomplished track record and brings a dedicated focus on improving the quality of care and the quality of life. Under her leadership, I am confident the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman will continue to be a national leader in long-term care advocacy.”

Pettegrew has served the Ohio Department of Aging and the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman for nearly 13 years. As the ombudsman projects coordinator, she oversaw Ohio’s Nursing Home Quality Initiative, including quality improvement projects, Person-Centered Staff Engagement and Music & Memory, and managed the long-term care facility resident and family satisfaction surveys. As the state ombudsman, she coordinates the Ohio interagency resident transition team in the event of a long-term care provider closure, assuring the safety and rights of residents as they move. She provides training and technical assistance to regional long-term care ombudsmen and assists in quality improvement and monitoring programs. She also serves as vice chairwoman of the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care Leadership Council.

Prior to joining the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, Pettegrew served as a budget analyst with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission and as a local government liaison with the Ohio Department of Development. She is a graduate of Ohio University with a Bachelor of Science in Communications in interpersonal communication and an Master of Arts in political science. She completed the Series in Applied Gerontology Education program through the Ohio State University, as well as the requirements to be a certified dementia care practitioner.