Ursel J. McElroy, MA
The State Aging Director
Director, Ohio Department of Aging
Last verified November 6, 2026
Overview
30-year Ohio state government official. No corporate affiliations, no PE ties, no lobbying registrations. Administers Ohio's PASSPORT Medicaid waiver for home-based long-term services. Chaired Governor DeWine's Nursing Home Quality & Accountability Task Force. The relevant context is structural. The nursing home industry spent $6M+ on Ohio politics in five years, and Governor DeWine, who appointed McElroy, received at least $300,000 from nursing home operators. In May 2026 she and DeWine launched the Ohio Aging Compass, a navigator comparing more than 1,700 long-term care facilities. Her department's draft 2027-2030 State Plan on Aging went out for comment in August. Amy Acton, a Democrat, won the governorship on November 3, 2026 and succeeds DeWine, who appointed her.
Since March 2026
What has changed
- May 1, 2026Unveiled the Ohio Aging Compass with Gov. DeWine: a long-term care navigator comparing more than 1,700 facilities, a resource hub, and a data dashboard, at Compass.Aging.Ohio.gov. source
- August 6, 2026Department released its draft 2027-2030 State Plan on Aging (required by the Older Americans Act) for public comment through Aug 30, 2026, with eight priority areas. source
- November 3, 2026Democrat Amy Acton defeated Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio governor and will succeed term-limited Gov. DeWine, who appointed McElroy in 2019. source
Career arc
Professional timeline
2019–Present
Director
Ohio Department of Aging
President
ADvancing States board (as listed by CMS)
Various roles
Ohio Attorney General's Office (10 years)
Various roles
Ohio Department of Youth Services
Various roles
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Adult Protective Services
Presented at White House Conference on Aging
Red flags
Conflicts and concerns
Structural capture: Ohio's aging policy ecosystem is heavily influenced by the nursing home industry ($6M+ in Ohio political spending in five years). DeWine (who appointed McElroy) received $300,000+ from nursing home operators.
Neil Clark, powerful GOP lobbyist for Ohio Health Care Association (nursing home trade group), indicted in corruption scheme before dying by suicide in 2021.
No personal misconduct found: the structural capture of the ecosystem she operates in is the relevant context.
Physician-owned hospitals
No connection to physician ownership. Focuses on long-term care, Medicaid waivers, and aging services. No stated interest in physician-owned hospital policy.
Sources