All News

Last week we launched the 2025 series of Nurse Lunch & Learn webinars. The April 16 recording – Charting Medications that Can’t Be Given – is now available for download in the Resource Center. This is a member benefit, so there is no charge to view this timely content (member login required.)

We’re excited for our second annual Technology Conference on April 30 at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center. April 27 is the last day to pre-register online for this high-energy event packed with learning, vendor exhibits, demonstrations, and hearing from your peers about their technology experiences.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Independent Living Executives Networking Group on Wednesday, April 23. We are especially grateful to Rob Lahammer, vice president of engagement and advocacy at Presbyterian Homes & Services, for leading a thoughtful and engaging session on purposeful living in senior living communities.

Are you—or someone on your team—new to LeadingAge Minnesota? Join Barbara Landeen and Jessica Lacher on Thursday, May 1 at 1:30 PM for a New Member Orientation and learn how to make the most of your membership in 2025 and beyond.

With new changes in immigration enforcement policies, we have released a new free, member-only resource— Immigration Enforcement Guide: Preparing for ICE Activity — to help aging services organizations prepare to create safe, informed, and responsive environments in the event of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity.

Quality care starts with understanding. EduCare is excited to announce several courses are now available in Spanish.

There is a lot going on these days. A lot. Organizations serving the senior community are facing a growing number of complex challenges and the path forward is not always clear.

Staff from HUD have announced publicly - at both the LeadingAge Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. and a recent NAHMA conference – that there will be a delay in requiring providers to comply with HOTMA (Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act).

Late on Wednesday afternoon the Department of Human Services (DHS) notified NETStudy 2.0 system users via a GovDelivery message that the NETStudy 2.0 system will be offline for a server upgrade starting on Friday, 4/25, at 7 p.m. and expected to return to normal operations on Monday, 4/28, at 8 a.m.  During this server upgrade, do not log into NETStudy 2.0 until you receive an all-clear message from DHS.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) uses the MN–ITS PRVLTR Mailbox as a primary method for communicating important updates.

Recent survey trends have revealed a notable uptick in deficiencies tied to the identification of resident changes in condition and the timely completion of follow-up comprehensive assessments.

In a shorter-than-usual State of the State address, Gov. Tim Walz cast Minnesota as a national model of bipartisan cooperation and progressive achievement. He emphasized the state’s leadership in education, labor rights, health care access and economic growth.

On-demand session content from the 2025 Institute & Expo is available for registered participants through April 30. This is convenient way to gain new knowledge and earn CEUs for LNHA members who still need them by this year’s renewal deadline.

In less than two weeks, our second annual Technology Conference happens - April 30 at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center.

Earlier this week, Vista Prairie Communities (VPC) is pleased announced the return of Kacey Kasel, RN, BSN, PHN, LALD as a Regional Director of Operations (RDO). In this expanded leadership role, Kacey will provide additional operational support to VPC’s communities, ensuring a continued focus on excellence in care, team development, and resident well-being.

The Office of Rural Health and Primary Care has opened the application period for the 2025 Workplace Safety Grants for Health Care Entities. Application submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on June 13. Long-term care facilities are eligible to apply for funding with awards up to $50,000.

Nursing homes must now submit off-cycle revalidations by August 1. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) enacted a final rule in November 2023 implementing portions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which added a section to the Social Security Act related to ownership, management, and related parties.

The slow developing HCBS workforce incentive grant program, which was created and funded by the 2023 Legislature, has still not reached the point of sending money to employers, despite a plan to have done so by the end of March.

Assisted living facilities that provide customized living (CL) services to people on the Brain Injury (BI) and Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) waivers must follow specific limitations based on the setting’s CL enrollment date.

Too often, the loudest voices in senior care focus on challenges and shortcomings. But across Minnesota, providers are demonstrating excellence, innovation, and high performance. Our new series, Quality in Action, aims to spotlight these success stories—highlighting senior care organizations that are achieving exceptional results through their commitment to quality and safety.

The Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) has been accepting grant request applications for its workplace Ergonomic Safety Grant Program since summer 2023. To date, 75 of 79 awarded grants have been provided to nursing home applicants with several more requests due to be awarded soon.

During a roundtable on Tuesday, April 15, Governor Tim Walz said: “If you think we’re in a crisis now, especially for seniors living in rural Minnesota, cut Medicaid and find out what happens. There’s no way the state of Minnesota can come close to back filing what’s lost.”

Nurse Lunch and Learn webinars offer quick, focused sessions for nurse teams, emphasizing staff and direct care nurses. Each virtual webinar begins with a brief presentation on key topics, followed by a small group exercise for hands-on application of the learning outcomes.

Join us April 30 at the Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center for the 2025 Technology Conference—your final opportunity to earn up to 6.5 NHA CE clock hours for this year’s renewal period.

Is your organization receiving job seeker matches? CaringCareersStartHere.com is helping connect job seekers with long-term care employers and elevating careers in aging services across the state.

Are you involved in fundraising for your organization? You’re invited to be part of our Fund Developers Professional Network — a supportive community of peers working in senior care.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services has released changes to the Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification. Employers should review their current I-9 form’s expiration date and begin integrating the new I-9 form into their employee verification systems and processes.

The Office of Higher Education's (OHE) Dual-Training Pipeline Grant is open for applications until April 15.

The Next Generation Nursing Assistant training program, “NextGen”, ends May 1st, leaving many high schools students unable to afford their state Nurse Aide exams. Now is a perfect time for employers to get involved and support our future workforce.

Did you know that Minnesota has a Reframe Aging Initiative? The Center for Healthy Aging and Innovation and the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging are sponsoring a series of sessions, titled, “Free Framer Fridays” to engage Minnesotans in championing a Minnesota free of agism.