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With support from DHS’ GEAR Division, and guidance from our foundation’s Immigrant Voices and Employer Voices Advisory Councils, we’ve transformed lived experiences into a practical, four-part webinar series focused on what’s actually working in aging services. 

Don’t miss your chance to make the most of your 2026 Institute experience. On-demand access to the 2026 Virtual Institute & Expo education sessions — including bonus content — is available only through April 30 for registered participants.

Falls continue to be a significant challenge across long-term care, affecting resident wellbeing, staff workflows, and quality outcomes. As technology continues to evolve, many providers are exploring new tools to better understand risk and support prevention efforts.

In October, 2024, Eventide Senior Living Communities and Tabitha Senior Care, a Nebraska-based senior living organization, officially joined forces through a strategic affiliation agreement, marking a significant milestone in enhancing support for seniors across the Midwest. 

Operators of Independent Senior Housing are invited to participate in the monthly IL Operators Professional Networking Group. Our IL Operators Professional Networking Group meets the second Tuesday of each month.

Applications are open! Employer applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP). Nursing facilities, home care providers, assisted livings, adult day service facilities, hospitals, and clinics are encouraged to participate. The deadline to apply is Friday, Apr. 17.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, May 6 at 11:30 a.m. and join the Fund Developer Network for an in-person networking lunch at Our Lady of Peace in St. Paul. Enjoy lunch, connect with peers, explore how AI is shaping fundraising, and take a tour.

A March 26, 2026 Executive Order (EO) prohibits federal contractors from engaging in “racially discriminatory DEI activities” described as unethical and inefficient.

As Older Americans Month approaches this May, LeadingAge Minnesota is proud to introduce our new Celebrate Aging apparel and merchandise collection—created to honor the impact, wisdom, and contributions of older adults, as well as the dedicated professionals who serve them every day.

MDH recently notified nursing homes that submitted proposals in the current moratorium exceptions round of their approval status. All five proposals were approved, representing a total annual state cost of just under $1.1 million.

Mark your calendars for two of LeadingAge Minnesota’s signature events this summer and fall, designed to support both operational excellence and strategic leadership across aging services.

As a reminder, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) maintains several very useful and informative websites for nursing home providers. 

• Nursing Homes (main page): The MDH Nursing Homes webpage serves as a central hub for information on regulation, licensing, and oversight of nursing homes in Minnesota. Users can also access survey results, complaint information, quality improvement resources, and provider guidance, along with announcements and training updates related to regulatory changes. The page is a key resource for staying informed about compliance expectations, quality oversight, and support tools for Minnesota’s nursing home sector. 

• Nursing Homes: Resources for Providers: This site is a centralized resource designed specifically for nursing home operators and staff. The page connects providers with essential resources, including licensing and certification information, regulatory updates, survey guidance, and required forms and documents. It also offers links to federal CMS materials, training opportunities, and quality improvement initiatives to help facilities meet both state and federal standards. 

• Nursing Homes: Regulatory Updates: This page includes information about upcoming regulatory webinars and slides, recordings, and reference materials from past trainings, allowing providers to stay current on regulatory changes, survey processes, and policy interpretations. Overall, the site serves as a key resource for keeping providers informed and prepared by offering timely education, practical guidance, and access to past training materials that support compliance and quality improvement efforts. 

Late last week, CMS released the annual proposed PPS rule. That rule, which will be adopted in final form around Aug. 1, implements annual rate updates and other Medicare policy changes impacting SNFs. This year’s rule proposes a 2.4% increase in SNF rates effective Oct. 1, reflecting relatively low inflation. Wage index values also update on that date, meaning the actual rate increase will vary from the inflation increase. 
  
The rule also includes a “request for information” related to increase in case mix under the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Despite multiple previous adjustments to rates to control for case mix increases under PDPM, CMS continues to see what they describe as a difference between “actual and expected” case mix values. They are asking for input on how to address the case mix increase, and they include an analysis showing that case mix would be reduced an average of over 4% if the “expected” values are used. If such an adjustment is adopted in the final rule, then Oct. 1 rates will amount to decreases for most SNFs. 
  
The proposed rule also includes updates to the Quality Reporting Program (QRP). CMS has proposed removing two COVID-19 vaccination measures from QRP—Vaccination Coverage Among Healthcare Personnel and Percent of Patients/Residents Who Are Up to Date—meaning facilities would no longer report healthcare personnel vaccination data through NHSN, and the resident vaccination item would be eliminated from the MDS starting in FY 27 if finalized. CMS also proposes revising QRP data submission requirements and expanding the program to include all SNF patients, regardless of payer. In addition, the agency is seeking input on adding Advance Care Planning as a future quality measure. 

As the demands on aging services professionals continue to grow, access to timely, practical education is more important than ever. LeadingAge Minnesota is offering two valuable virtual learning opportunities this spring designed to support both frontline clinical teams and organizational leaders navigating policy changes.

LeadingAge Minnesota members Continuum Therapy Partners and St. Francis Health Services of Morris have announced a new partnership that will expand therapy services and strengthen care delivery across Minnesota.

Episcopal Homes of Minnesota is pleased to announce the acquisition of The Willows of Ramsey Hill, a specialized memory care community located in St. Paul's Summit-University neighborhood.

Chris Knoll, a LeadingAge Minnesota member and CEO of Minnewaska Community Health Services, has secured the Republican endorsement for Minnesota Senate District 21. The endorsement was announced following the district convention, where party delegates selected Knoll as their preferred candidate to succeed retiring Senator Bill Weber. 

After forty years of unwavering, visionary leadership at Mount Olivet Careview Home, Mount Olivet Home, and Mount Olivet Day Services, Tim Hokanson will retire on June 1, 2026.

Registration is now open for a series of free virtual learning sessions from the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation (LAMF), at no cost to members!

LeadingAge Minnesota is pleased to share the release of our 2025 Annual Report—a reflection of a year defined by challenge, resilience, and meaningful progress for aging services across our state. Yes, we know…it’s April 2026. But as you’ll see, the work captured in this report is well worth the look back.

In a response to concerns about possible increases in eviction filings related to Operation Metro Surge, the St. Paul City Council recently approved a temporary 60-day pre-eviction filing notice ordinance on a unanimous 7-0 vote.

A couple weeks ago, Governor Walz released his supplemental budget proposal, which would make significant cuts to Minnesota’s long-term care system—putting seniors and their caregivers at serious risk during an already critical time.

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Falls remain one of the most persistent and costly challenges in long-term care, impacting resident wellbeing, staff response time, quality measures, and regulatory performance.

United Properties has broken ground on Amira Corcoran, a new 143-unit, 55-plus active adult rental community located at 7330 Brockton Lane N. in Corcoran, Minnesota. The four-story development expands the Amira senior living portfolio in the northwest Twin Cities metro and responds to growing demand for high-quality housing for older adults.

Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce the addition of Nancy Hooks as Catholic Elder Care and Post-Acute Specialist for the firm’s Senior Living Finance Practice.

Brenda Brandl will join Benedictine as Vice President of Clinical Operations beginning April 13.

Employer applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP). Nursing facilities, home care providers, assisted livings, adult day service facilities, hospitals, and clinics are encouraged to participate.

Registration is now open for a three-part virtual learning series this April from the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation, offered at no cost to members. 

A recent visit to member site Our Lady of Peace Hospice (OLP) occurred on the day the team had gone through training on their recently deployed PockeTalk translation devices. These translation devices can deliver amazing results to teams in member settings.

We’re hearing from providers across Minnesota about a shared challenge: strong, committed nursing assistant (CNAs) learners who struggle—not because they can’t do the work, but because training materials don’t fully support how they learn. That’s why OnTrack has expanded support for multilingual learners in CNA programs.