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Up to $2 million in grant funding is available from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to test technology solutions that improve care transitions, communication and care coordination. 

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) last week published a proposed rule that would weaken the Fair Housing Act enforcement tool to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing (AFFH).  

Sometimes data just isn’t enough. Storytelling is the most powerful tool to affect change. We need your help to bring the issues we advocate for on behalf of the people you serve to life. Help us tell the story:  

Are you ready to engage your front-line staff in quality improvmeent?  Register today for a webinar on Feb. 25 at 10 a.m. to learn more about our ICan: Driving Quality and Innovation from the Front-Line program and how your team could win $500 in our kick-off conteast. 

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has posted revised versions of the Electronic Monitoring consent forms originally released in December. To make it easier for consumers to find and access the forms, MDH has posted them to a newly-created webpage.  

One highlight of the Institute & Expo is the LeadingAge MN Foundation Silent Auction. The incredible donations from our members spurs a competitive spirit from our attendees. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 to support caregiver and leadership scholarships and workforce tools and resources to help you address your greatest challenge. Can we count on you to help us achieve our goal by donating an item to this fun and meaningful event?  

All rental property owners, managers or operators must provide a Certificate of Rent Paid (CRP) to each person who rented from them during the previous year by Friday, Jan. 31 unless the property is tax-exempt or if the resident's entire care is paid under certain goverment assistance programs. 

Sometimes data just isn’t enough. Storytelling is the most powerful tool to affect change. We need your help to bring the issues we advocate for on behalf of the people you serve to life. Help us tell the story:  

Need help in starting or enhancing intergenerational programs in your community? A new toolkit helps you plan, implement and evaluate programs and activities that connect older housing residents with young people in your community. The toolkit provides practical tools and tips to: 

The challenges faced by senior living providers are plentiful – oversupply pressures, broken capital structures, obsolete properties and inadequate payment models. But the greatest challenge continues to be workforce.  

The 2020 appropriations package that was signed into law in late December features key initiatives and funding for workforce, dementia, veterans and potential transportation solutions for rural and underserved communities.   

Don’t have time to read the entire Advantage newsletter? Prefer to listen to the latest headlines and news? Check out the new 2-Minute News, an audio recap of the most important news you need to know each week. 

There has never been a more dynamic and exciting time in the field of aging services. Together we are shaping the next generation of older adult services and, for all the challenges that will entail, it will be an amazing era of creativity – one fueled by the power of the professional and personal relationships we build with one another.  

There’s good news in the area of employee retention for care centers. Our recent analysis of the employee retention data reported by care centers on the 2018 cost reports found that rates returned to the relatively high levels of the early part of the decade.  

Sue Kiel truly embodies the mission of providing community access to compassionate care each day in her work and is a tremendous team member who all who live and work at North Shore Health in Grand Marais.  For her commitment to safety, respect and dignity, Sue Kiel is the most recent recipient of the Make Zero Harm Possible award from LeadingAge Minnesota.  

We will commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Leadership Academy at next month’s Institute & Expo and celebrate the cumulative 300 graduates who have completed this year-long leadership development program. Are you the next fellow in Leadership Academy?  

Are you developing or repositioning your senior living services? Join Baker Tilly at Institute on Feb. 6 to examine key risk areas and risk mitigation strategies associated with new construction or renovation of senior living buildings.  

Are you and your governing boards grappling with big issues? Engaging in generative discussion and strategic decision-making is essential to your success and viability. Join Vista Prairie and Benedictine Health System at the Feb. 5 Governance Intensive during Institute and participate in an interactive session as they share their experiences in strategic board work.  

Lynette Berglund, a care attendant at Grand Arbor in Alexandria, recently received the Make Zero Harm Possible Award from LeadingAge Minnesota. The award recognizes staff in aging services settings who demonstrate their commitment to safe, quality care and to treating the people they serve with respect and dignity – always. 

Senior living and care organizations are facing a time of great uncertainty, and the speed and diversity of change seems unparalleled. Health Dimensions Group (HDG) recently published its Top Trends in Aging Services: Preparing for Historic Changes list for 2020.

The Superior Health Quality Alliance (Superior Health) is rolling out new work to help nursing homes and community coalitions improve quality and safety.   

While the new standards for handling hazardous drugs in health care facilities went into effect for skilled nursing, long-term care and assisted living in December, there are many questions on who the rules apply to, who is enforcing the rule and how to be compliant in the various care centers. The following information answers some frequently asked questions:  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) unexpectedly announced last month that it posted a new draft version of the 2020 MDS item sets (v1.18.0) for skilled nursing settings that is scheduled to go into effect Oct. 1, 2020. Changes of note in this draft version: 

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the results of the second year of implementation of Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) for skilled nursing settings. The results are a mixed review for Minnesota care centers.   

LeadingAge Minnesota members who complete their Safe Care for Seniors Self-Assessment and successfully implement at least one action in each step of the 5-Step Action plan will be recognized at this year’s Institute & Expo as the inaugural members of the Action Honor Roll. The deadline for completion is Friday, Jan. 17. Enter the Safe Care for Seniors portal and show us your progress.  

An organization that averages 40 staff terminations per year is spending at least $180,000. What’s your turnover cost? A new online calculator from LeadingAge can help you see how much staff turnover is costing your community. 

The Minnesota Department of Health has released an Informational Bulletin and Consent forms for the Electronic Monitoring law that went into effect on Jan. 1.  

The State of Minnesota has set the statutory limits that Supplemental Nursing Services Agencies (SNSAs) can charge per hour for each type of staff. The new caps are effective Jan. 1, 2020.  

House and Senate leaders have reached a spending agreement and it is anticipated the final fiscal year 2020 appropriations package will be signed into law by midnight Dec. 20. 

Fifteen LeadingAge Minnesota members have been named to the Safe Care for Seniors Action Honor Roll.