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A New Americans Resource Map is now available on the LeadingAge Minnesota website! This interactive map of Minnesota’s community organizations, resources, and support is a new tool designed to connect your staff with resources and support that they need outside of work, and to subsequently strengthen our long-term care workforce.

LeadingAge Minnesota recently completed an updated version of our Sector Trends Report, which you can now access on our website.

When the legislative session officially adjourned last week, much of Minnesota’s $67 billion state budget remained unresolved. In the days since, lawmakers have continued working—largely behind closed doors—to finalize major spending bills.

You have knowledge and experience to share, and we invite you to do so! You are invited to submit one or more proposals to present educational programs at the 2026 Institute & Expo.

Celebrating 20 years in business is a milestone that humbles us. The road wasn’t always smooth, but the work—and the relationships—made every mile worth it. In 2005, Mike Bauer founded Bauer Design Build on a simple promise: help people with what they need and give back, no strings attached.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has weighed in on questions from LeadingAge National about how housing providers should handle retroactive payments resulting from the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA).

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Licensed Home Care (and Assisted Living) Provider Advisory Council, created through Minnesota Statutes, section 144A.4799, has issued an RFP with a response deadline of no later than 4:30 p.m. CDT, June 10. These grants are funded through fines collected from survey citations issued to Home Care and Assisted Living providers.

The Minnesota Legislature directed DHS to develop and implement a provider cost review for agencies that provide at least one service covered by the Disability Waiver Rate System, DWRS, (Minn. Stat. §256B.4914, subd. 10a).

Senior care providers are facing more disruption and uncertainty than ever—changing regulations, workforce pressures, and shifting public policies. The path forward can be complex, but you don’t have to navigate it alone.

LeadingAge Minnesota received an increasing volume of inquiries over the past several months regarding the ongoing COVID-19 requirements in both nursing homes and assisted living communities. In response, LeadingAge Minnesota has updated its materials to encompass a broader respiratory illness framework that includes both COVID-19 and seasonal influenza.

There are less than two weeks until the next required paid holiday under the Board’s holiday pay rule occurs. However, because the court has not issued its order yet, we have no new update about the situation in our ongoing legal challenge against the Holiday Pay Rule. That said, we are expecting the court to issue its order shortly. At the end of the hearing held in mid-February, the court indicated it would issue its order before the Memorial Day holiday (5/26), but that could literally mean the day before the holiday. Therefore, the pragmatic result is this: providers should continue to prepare for compliance with the rule (definitions of who gets paid the holiday pay, and how much they are paid on those 11 state holidays, or those holidays the employer worked with the employees to change the date or time of) for now. Once we receive the court’s order, we will notify members directly regarding what the decision means for your operations.

After the Minnesota Legislature adjourns on May 19, join us May 29 and June 23 to identify changes to state law that will impact the seniors you serve.

The federal government is moving to end certain temporary immigration statuses, impacting compassionate caregivers in the aging services workforce.

On May 11, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released legislation aimed at fulfilling budget reconciliation requirements, following the House's adoption of a broader budget resolution in April. The Committee’s proposal includes sweeping policy changes to reduce federal spending by $916 billion over the next decade, with the majority of cuts targeting Medicaid.

Legislative leaders and Governor Walz announced this morning that they’ve reached a preliminary budget agreement, with details still being ironed out. As lawmakers shift their attention from policy to omnibus budget bills, LeadingAge Minnesota and our Imperative partner will continue to closely track impacts on aging services. As we learn more, we will share more detailed information on budget bills over the next several days.

The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation (LAMF) is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced video production firms to develop a compelling video and photography series. The goal of this project is to help New Americans—immigrants and refugees—understand the opportunities and realities of long-term care careers and life in Minnesota.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Deadline for Bids: Noon, 12:00pm, Monday, June 2^nd, 2025

This project is administrated by the LeadingAge MN Foundation, a subsidiary of LeadingAge Minnesota, the state’s largest association of over 1,100 mission-driven organizations serving older adults in the places they call home. Our Foundation uses grant dollars and tax-deductible contributions to support initiatives that transform and enhance the experience of aging.  This project is made possible through support from the New Americans Long-Term Care Workforce grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services.  

For questions, please contact Kirstan Ketter, Foundation Project Manager at LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation.  

Quality impacts resident quality of life; how your organization succeeds in the marketplace, and your reputation and bottom line.

The 12th annual LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Tournament will be held on the afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 5, at the Prestwick Golf Club in Woodbury.

In 2024, over 1,000 OnTrack nursing assistants attempted the state exam to be placed on the Minnesota Nurse Aide Registry. OnTrack learners’ pass rates continue to surpass the state average.

This week, lawmakers took significant steps on funding and policy for human services. On Monday, the House of Representatives heard HF2434, the Human Services Finance Omnibus Bill as well as HF2115, the Human Services Policy Omnibus Bill.

Quality not only impacts resident quality of life; it drives how your organization succeeds in the marketplace, impacting your reputation and bottom line.

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, aging care and services leader Saint Therese announced it is acquiring The Belvedere of Heritage Retirement Communities of Westlake, Ohio.

Are you a Licensed Assisted Living Director (LALD) or Licensed Health Services Executive (LHSE) with a heart for guiding others? If so, we invite you to become a volunteer mentor and support the next generation of leaders in long-term services and supports.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is pausing its appeal of court rulings that blocked the agency’s April 2024 overtime rule, which sought to increase the salary thresholds necessary to exempt a salaried executive, administrative or professional (EAP) employee from federal overtime pay requirements under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

A recurrent question and citation for Assisted Living Facilities is offering meal plans that meet statutory requirements.

The LeadingAge Minnesota QUEST Report is now available for fourth quarter 2024. This quarterly analytic resource for association members focuses on key trends in the senior care sector.

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.)

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.

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.