All News

On Oct. 8, LeadingAge MN members have the unique opportunity to participate in a virtual Safe Table discussion that will provide insight and practical tips on how a Rapid Evaluation Team (RET) process can improve how staff call for and receive support in urgent or unexpected situations. An added bonus? Participating in this Oct. 8 virtual event will help you complete Action #3 in the Safe Care for Seniors 5-Step Action Plan.  

In recognition of their leadership to the field of the aging services and their many contributions to LeadingAge Minnesota, Mike Demmer and Craig Kittelson were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards.  

A common concern on staff engagement surveys is “lack of communication” or “leadership doesn’t follow up on my concerns.” Often it feels like there is a disconnect as supervisors say they follow up on concerns raised by staff. So that begs the question: Do staff feel they aren’t being listened to because the follow-up loop was not completed? 

A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, Elder Abuse: Federal Requirements for Oversight in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities Differ, examined the variations in oversight and abuse reporting requirements between nursing homes assisted living.   

A bill to reauthorize the Older Americans Act (OAA) would increase funding for programs that support older adults aging in place and includes provisions to help develop and expand the direct care workforce.  

The Nursing Home Workforce Quality Act (H.R.4468) introduced in Congress last week would remove the mandatory two-year waiting period to reinstate a nursing home provider's CNA training authority that is imposed when fines exceed a certain level.  

Citing the importance of direct care workers in all sectors of the long-term services and supports field, and the millions of workers who will be needed in the next five years, a new bill in Congress establishes grants to recruit, retain, and support direct care workers.   

21 LeadingAge Minnesota members were recently recognized for their commitment to protecting patient and resident health through high flu vaccination rates among health care personnel. Care centers across Minnesota can take proactive measures to protect the people you serve from the flu by enrolling in FluSafe.  

23 LeadingAge Minnesota members have been recognized on the Minnesota Antibiotic Stewardship Honor Roll for their commitment to antibiotic stewardship from the highest levels of administration to prescribers and caregivers.  

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released the 2019 -2020 Norovirus Toolkit for Long-Term Care Settings.  

Each day, dedicated staff in LeadingAge Minnesota member settings across the state are going above and beyond to create safe, trusted environments for the people they serve and their fellow team members. Today, we recognize four individuals and four staff teams with our Make Zero Harm Possible award.   

It is important that care centers remember that a mandatory Interim Payment Assessment (IPA) is required to transition from Resource Utilization Group, version IV (RUG-IV) to the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) as of Oct. 1.    

Do you know the six stages of your customer’s buying journey? DAYTA Marketing, a valued partner in the LeadingAge MN Savings & Solution Center, does and they are hosting an Oct. 14 webinar to share how this information will help you build a marketing and sales strategy that drives occupancy.  

Attention Directors and Service Coordinators of Affordable Housing and HUD Buildings: Be sure to attend our Oct. 22 workshop to receive critical and timely updates on state and national issues that affect your operations, funding and services to those you serve.  

Providers in Minnesota have said that one of the biggest needs in communities is training for staff on behavioral health. We listened, and it’s coming soon and it’s free!   

Assisted Living regulations are changing and there are heightened expectations of state surveys as a result of legislation passed in 2019. How can nurse leaders in Assisted Living keep up with all the changes? Attend one of the four Assisted Living/Home Care Nurse Leader Network (ALNET) meetings in October. 

You’re invited to attend the second annual MedFuse Conference on Oct. 24 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Registration is FREE for LeadingAge Minnesota members. Select the Medical Practitioner Ticket upon registration.   

Did you know that 91% of Millennial and Gen Z new hires say that a company’s technological sophistication weighs into their decision to accept a new job? It is time to embrace and invest in technology to improve staff efficiency and engagement. Need some ideas? LeadingAge Minnesota members are implementing some great solutions: 

Advocate: To change “what is” into “what should be.” LeadingAge Minnesota is pleased to present this year’s Spirit of Advocacy recipients – Deb Barnes, Lakeview Methodist Care Center in Fairmont, Kim Wraalstad, North Shore Health in Grand Marais; and Knute Nelson in Alexandria. 

LeadingAge Minnesota members last week elected two new members to the Board of Directors: Cami Peterson Devries, Vice President and Corporate Compliance and Ethics/Leadership Development for St. Francis Health Services of Morris, Inc.; and Kimber Wraalstad, CEO and Administrators of North Shore Health in Grand Marais. 

Katie Smith Sloan, President & CEO of LeadingAge National, recently put out a bold call to action to take long-term care from being a sleeper issue in election season to one that boosts a candidate out of the 2020 pack. It’s called #DearCandidate and you can help aging take the center stage.

LeadingAge National members are invited to join the Capitol Hill Insights Call on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. to get the latest news from Congress and how you can help us make a difference in aging services policy.  

Good news for providers and stakeholders who are finalizing their transition to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) that goes into effect Oct. 1: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the final version of the MDS 3.0 RAI Manual (version 1.17.1).  

LeadingAge Minnesota named Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm and Senator Paul Gazelka as its Public Officials of the Year. The Public Official of the Year award recognizes public servants who went above and beyond the normal call for action and made a significant difference to the field of older adult services and those we serve.   

The Minnesota Board of Cosmetology is proposing changes in rules related to certain salon licensing and practice requirements that could exempt some assisted living settings. The revised language states: 

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking proposals for the new Customized Living Quality Improvement Grants, which support provider-initiated projects that improve quality, encourage innovation and advance efficient, high quality service.  

October District Meetings will feature a one-hour session on the new electronic monitoring law that will take effect Jan. 1, 2020. Business Partner Attorney Rebecca Coffin will review what the current law says (and doesn’t say), as well as the changes ahead that you need to understand for when the people you serve want to install an electronic monitoring device.  

Governor Tim Walz appointed Gayle Kvenvold, President & CEO of LeadingAge Minnesota, to the newly-created Blue Ribbon Commission on Health and Human Services.  

Through a unique partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association nationally and here in Minnesota, the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to announce an opportunity for our assisted living members to participate in Project ECHO—an internationally recognized training program to build skills and capacity in serving those with chronic, common and complex diseases.  

Assisted Living/Home Care nurses won't want to miss the ALNET meetings in October where we will discuss top survey trends and regulations, professional practice, quality of care and more. The Duluth and the Twin Cities Metro Area meetings feature guest speakers from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the law firm Voigt, Rode, Boxeth & Coffin.