All News
National Adult Day Services Week: Ending Social Isolation
On August 28, 2019 by Roni Falck
National Adult Day Services Week, which takes place Sept. 15-21, is a great opportunity to highlight the important work these valued providers do every day. Our theme this year is focused on raising public awareness on how Adult Day Services can help prevent loneliness and social isolation.
MN-DONA Conference Registration Open
On August 20, 2019 by Sue Boyd
The 36th Annual MN-DONA “THE FUTURE IS US” Fall Conference, which is designed for nurse leaders in long-term care and assisted living, takes place Oct. 9 – 11 at Breezy Point Resort.
Sept. 5 Workshop Webinar: HCBS Scholarship Grant Application Process
On August 20, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
The Minnesota Department of Health will host a Workshop Webinar on the Home and Community-Based Services Scholarship Program and Application Process on Sept. 5. Make plans now to participate and then apply for tscholarship grants that will help you recruit, retain and create career pathways for your staff.
Care Centers: Moratorium Exceptions Process Webinar is Sept. 11
On August 20, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
Need financial support to invest in needed construction at your care center? Join us for a webinar on Sept. 11 that will equip you with the information and resources to apply for the Moratorium Exceptions Process through the Minnesota Department of Health.
Dementia Care Certificate Program Begins Aug. 29 – Register Now
On August 20, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
The 2019 Dementia Care Certificate Program is newly updated and meets Minnesota’s current mandatory dementia care training requirements for home care, Housing with Services/Assisted Living staff and care center staff. This certificate series will not be repeated in 2019 – register now to ensure completion by the end of the year. T
New Certificate Program Helps You Stay Up-to-Date with Changes in Infection Control Requirements
On August 20, 2019 by Sue Boyd
As an Infection Preventionist in a long-term care setting, how do you keep up to date with the changes in infection control and the regulatory requirements? The answer is to attend our new “Effectiveness and Core Components for Infection Preventionists in SNFs” Certificate Program, Sept. 4 -5 at the North Metro Event Center in Shoreview.
The Power of Appreciation
On August 20, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
The power of positive thinking! Mike Robbins, author of Focus on the Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation, says positive acknowledgement is “a crucial aspect of our being able to celebrate, appreciate, and express gratitude for the people around us.” He offers five ways to positively acknowledge others:
Job Board Price Change Effective
On August 20, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
The rate to post a job on the AgingServicesJOBS.Org, a cutting-edge employment marketplace that matches employers with job-seekers based on skills, interests and job requirements, has changed.
True Innovation is Needed in Senior Living
On August 20, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
A recent article in Senior Housing News highlights that the “dots aren’t being connected” in senior living to get innovation past the pilot stage to make a true impact.
eMenuCHOICE Continues Growth, Adds Service to 5 Senior Living Communities in July
On August 20, 2019 by Guest Contributor
eMenuCHOICE, a leading dining management and point of sale (POS) application for senior living communities, added five new clients in July. The following communities have chosen eMenuCHOICE to support their dining service management needs:
New Rule Could Reduce Immigrants’ Use of Long-Term Care Services
On August 20, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
The National Council on Aging has denounced a new inadmissibility rule that could force immigrant seniors to choose between paying for long-term care support and losing their immigration status.
Registration Open for Health Care Engineers Conference
On August 20, 2019 by Jonathan Lips
Registration is open for the Minnesota Health Care Engineers Association (MHCEA) Fall Conference and Vendor Show that takes place Sept. 11-13 at Grand Casino Hinckley.
Housing Support Approved as New Medicaid Benefit
On August 20, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Minnesota seniors and people with disabilities soon will have more help finding and keeping housing, thanks to new services coming to the state’s Medicaid program next year.
Oct. 8 Safe Table: DNR Status and Response
On August 20, 2019 by Julie Apold
Does our staff know how to access a resident’s DNR status in an emergency or what to do – without delay – when they find a resident unresponsive? Are they confident to take those next important steps? Join us Oct. 8 for a Virtual Workshop that will explore those questions and more, as we provide a new systematic approach called Rapid Evaluation Teams to help improve your organization’s process for staff to call for and receive support to rapidly evaluate and address an urgent or concerning situation.
Survey Tip: CMS Clarifies Transfer/Discharge Documentation Questions
On August 20, 2019 by Jonathan Lips
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Central Office recently shared survey guidance relating to a couple of transfer/discharge documentation issues.
Ban on Flushing of Hazardous Medications Takes Effect Aug. 21
On August 20, 2019 by Sue Boyd
Under regulations enacted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hazardous waste pharmaceuticals may not be sewered (flushed or poured down a drain) for disposal after Aug. 21, 2019.
Back to School Specials: Dementia Care Certificate Program; Infection Preventionist Certificate; Drive Occupancy Through Buyer Experience
On August 13, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
The final installment of the 2019 Dementia Care Certificate Program is now open for registration; we have more details and registration information on our new Infection Preventionist Certificate Program, and you won't want to miss an October webinar on how to create the buyer experience that will drive occupancy. Get up to speed on these great programs:
MDH Posts Notice on Distribution of New Home Care Bill of Rights Language
On August 13, 2019 by Bobbie Guidry
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) this week issued an update that addresses changes to the Home Care Bill of Rights that went into effect Aug. 1. MDH is working on updating each version of the Home Care Bill of Rights with the changes and will post them on its website when they are available. In the meantime, MDH is directing providers to the following notice to Home Care Providers to guide distribution of the new Bill of Rights language:
Aug. 15 Free Webinar Explains New Retaliation Law
On August 13, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
Are you ready to comply with the new retaliation protections that went into effect on Aug. 1? Join our free webinar tomorrow (Aug. 15) to learn how these protections apply to residents and staff in care centers and assisted living/housing with services and how you can stay in compliance
Connect Conference Near Sellout
On August 13, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
Our first annual Connect Conference, Aug. 20-21 in Brooklyn Center, is near capacity with more than 450 people attending from the home- and community-based services continuum.
Annual Meeting Deadlines This Week
On August 13, 2019 by Heidi Simpson
Friday, Aug. 16 is the deadline for both early bird registration and application for scholarships for the Annual Meeting a& Leadership Forum. Thursday, Aug. 15 is the deadline to cancel Madden’s lodging reservations and receive a partial refund.
Create Your Nursing Assistant Training Program with OnTrack’s Hands-On Support
On August 13, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
Long term care providers in Minnesota have a lot on their plates. As much as you may want to build your workforce pipeline by starting a Nursing Assistant Training Program, it may feel like more work than you can add to your plate.
Establishing a Peer Mentor Program
On August 13, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
Mentor programs offer an important opportunity for staff to develop positive relationships, interact with friends at work, receive the peer support needed to succeed in a job, and increase meaning and purpose in their day. Beyond that, mentor programs have been proven to positively impact team member retention and satisfaction in all departments.
HCBS Settings Rule Guidance Provides Path Forward for New Construction Settings
On August 13, 2019 by Bobbie Guidry
In last week’s Advantage, we featured a story on new guidance for heightened scrutiny review of newly-constructed presumptively institutional settings under the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Settings rule. This week we are sharing additional detail from the Bulletin on how new construction settings required to undergo heightened scrutiny can qualify for Medicaid (waiver) reimbursement and providing examples of reimbursement pathways for new construction settings.
RAD for PRAC Implementation Guidance Delayed
On August 13, 2019 by Bobbie Guidry
The release of guidance implementing Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) for PRAC, expected earlier this spring or summer, is still delayed and may not be issued until early fall.
CMS Updates Recently-Revised Appendix Q
On August 13, 2019 by Sue Boyd
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued additional updates to the State Operations Manual Appendix Q, including guidance to surveyors on citing immediate jeopardy.
Help Recruit Staff and Create Career Pathways: Apply for HCBS Scholarship Grant
On August 13, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
The Minnesota Department of Health is soliciting grant proposals from providers of adult day care, home care and housing with services to provide educational scholarships for their employees. Find the HCBS Program detail, application, and forms on the MDH website here.
DHS Launches New Web Site Geared Toward People with Hearing Loss
On August 13, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
People with hearing loss can learn more about assistive technology, communications access and other issues at a new website launched this week by the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
Jodi Harpstead Named DHS Commissioner
On August 13, 2019 by Jodi Boyne
Governor Tim Walz has named Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota President Jodi Harpstead as the new commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS).
Direct Caregivers Make Direct Impact on Quality
On August 13, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman
Quality improvement projects developed by Health Support Specialists from Avera Marshall, Three Links, Traverse Care Center and Regent at Burnsville were recently selected as the winners of the ICan Innovation Contest.
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