News Archives
July 2021 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
Emergency Preparedness in Assisted Living (July 22 Webinar)
On July 14, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
Get a detailed overview of the new requirements for disaster planning and emergency preparedness as part of Minnesota's Assisted Living Licensure, which takes effect on Aug.
2021 Annual Meeting is In-Person, Sept. 21-24
On July 14, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum returns to an entirely in-person event Sept. 21–24 at Madden's in Brainerd. We are looking forward to reuniting and reconnecting.
2021 Billing University for Care Centers is Aug. 10-11
On July 14, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
Registration is open for LeadingAge Minnesota’s popular annual conference for business office professionals, Billing University for Care Centers, on Aug. 10 and 11. The all-virtual Billing U equips business office staff with the knowledge, skills and resources necessary to capture appropriate reimbursement and revenue for services provided. Its core curriculum is updated each year.
Stars Among Us Award Nominations Open for 2022 Institute
On July 14, 2021 by Barbara Landeen
The 2022 Stars Among Us Awards are open for nominating individuals and organizations through Sept. 12 in multiple categories, including the Caregiver of the Year, Outstanding Leadership, and the new Rising Star Award.
New Polling Data Shows Overwhelming Support for Investment in Older Adults
On July 14, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran
Americans strongly back more significant investments in services to support older adults, finds a new LeadingAge poll of U.S. adults.
American families face a crisis as millions of us are growing older without access to affordable care and the support we need.
Foundation Seeking Silent Auction Donations for Caregiver Scholarships
On July 14, 2021 by Lori Meyer
Our fifth annual LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Silent Auction is rapidly approaching and will occur this year as part of the 2021 Foundation Golf Tournament rather than our usual Institute event. Can we count on you to help us make this year's auction a success?
LeadingAge National Advocates for Members on CMS Vaccination Rule
On July 14, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
On behalf of members across the country, the LeadingAge national team has submitted comments to CMS on the recently-issued rule requiring nursing homes to offer COVID-19 vaccine to residents and staff, to educate residents and staff regarding the benefits and potential side effects of the vaccine, and to report COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutics treatment information to NSHN.
Assessments Versus Monitoring: What’s the Difference?
On July 14, 2021 by Kari Everson
With the implementation of the new assisted living requirements on Aug. 1, organizations are attempting to work out their policies and processes related to assessments and ongoing review and monitoring. A comprehensive assessment, with the items listed as required in the uniform assessment tool, must be offered to all residents moving into an assisted living. The resident has the option to refuse this assessment. If the resident refuses the assessment, the organization should document this refusal.
Vaccination Rates for LTC Staff Moving Slowly Toward Goal
On July 14, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The most recent Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) update on long-term care vaccination shows slow progress toward the goal rates continuing for staff, while resident rates remain outstanding.
MDH Confirms Continuation of Nursing Assistant Training and Competency Waiver
On July 14, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
With the end of Minnesota’s Peacetime Emergency, our team has been closely tracking how the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will manage the transition from various COVID-19 related waivers. Last Friday, we received the welcome news that a Minnesota statute addressing nursing assistant training and competency will continue to be waived, so long as CMS continues to waive the related federal requirement.
Effective Date for OSHA COVID-19 Standard Is Drawing Near for Minnesota Providers
On July 14, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
As members are aware, federal OSHA issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) on June 21 to protect health care and health care support service workers from occupational exposure to COVID-19.
MDH Expecting Individualized Abuse Prevention Plans for All Assisted Living Residents
On July 14, 2021 by Kari Everson
Assisted living settings are working diligently to have the necessary components in place by Aug. 1.
Under the new assisted living license, which goes into place on Aug. 1, all assisted living residents must have an individualized abuse prevention plan (IAPP).
2021 Institute Content On-Demand Access Ends July 31
On July 7, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
On-demand access to more than 100 educational sessions from the 2021 virtual Institute is available to registered individuals for viewing and earning CEUs through July 31. Only three weeks remain to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to extend your learning and potential to earn CEUs.
2021 Billing University for Care Centers - August 10-11
On July 7, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
LeadingAge Minnesota’s popular annual conference for business office professionals, Billing University for Care Centers, will be offered in virtual format on Aug. 10 and 11.
2021 Annual Meeting Preview, Sept. 21-24
On July 7, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
“Forward Together” is the theme for our Annual Meeting & Leadership Forum, an in-person event from Sept. 21 – 24 at Madden’s in Brainerd. We are looking forward to reuniting and reconnecting.
Futurist and author Jack Uldrich will join us on Wednesday, Sept. 22, with a keynote entitled "Fast Forward: The Emerging Age of Reimagination, Redesign, and Regeneration."
Deadline Approaches - LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Tournament and 5K Run/Walk
On July 7, 2021 by Jenny Prosser
The eighth annual LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Tournament and 5K Run/Walk is Aug. 3, and time is running out to register to play golf or join the 5K. The registration deadline is this Friday, July 9.
Transition BCA to Nursing Assistant with OnTrack
On July 7, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman
Many skilled nursing facilities are planning ahead and transitioning caregivers and Basic Care Aides into Registered Nursing Assistant positions. The 1135 Waiver and corresponding MDH approvals that allow nursing assistants to work without being on the Registry still apply. However, there is growing concern amongst members on making the transition in advance of the waiver discontinuing.
New Report Outlines Workforce Vision
On July 7, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman
LeadingAge National's LTSS Center @UMass Boston released a report titled Feeling Valued Because They Are Valued, describing “a vision for professionalizing the caregiving workforce in the field of long-term services and supports.”
HHS Special Session Bill Extends Leave Days for Housing Support Program (GRH)
On July 7, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
An extension to Housing Support payments for days absent was included in legislation passed during the legislative session.
The change requires that an agency must continue to pay an additional 74 days per incident, not to exceed a total of 92 days in a calendar year, for a person who is temporarily absent due to admission at a residential behavioral health facility, inpatient hospital, or nursing facility.
HHS Bill Addresses Requirements for Settings Exempt from Assisted Living Licensure
On July 7, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
The Health and Human Services (HHS) omnibus budget bill passed by lawmakers last month included important policy provisions that ensure that licensed assisted living providers and those providers exempt from assisted licensure will be eligible to receive customized living payments. This legislation paves the way for the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to issue the Assurance Form for settings that are exempt from assisted living licensure and will ensure residents receiving services in these settings are not disrupted.
MDH Implementing Assessment Changes from Special Session
On July 7, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Legislation approved during the special session that wrapped up last week made a couple of changes to resident assessment practices that care center members know. The first is the implementation of the requirement for a significant change assessment after therapy services end or after the completion of a period of required isolation for an infection. Those changes are effective Aug. 1.
No Cost Mental Health First Aid Course – Sessions Added
On July 7, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman
Three additional certification cohorts are now available after the first sessions were filled within a week. The new registration deadline is Aug. 16 by noon.
State Initiates Demobilization of Emergency Support Services
On July 7, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
This week, the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) initiated a plan to demobilize COVID-19 emergency services for long-term care providers over the next several months. Noting significant progress in the fight against the virus, the SEOC has set a timeline for winding down services relating to crisis staffing support, personal protective equipment (PPE), testing/swabbing services, and vaccination administration support.
Private Room Waiver Ending
On July 7, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
With the conclusion of the state peacetime emergency agreed to by lawmakers last week, one of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) policies that ends with it is a waiver of specific requirements around single rooms. Because of the frequency of quarantining of residents during the pandemic, DHS released a memo in November of 2020 that waived two policies around single rooms for quarantine situations:
Resilience Tips: Post-Traumatic Growth
On July 7, 2021 by LeadingAge
Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology
Undoubtedly, everyone has been impacted by COVID-19. For those of us in senior care facilities, the likelihood that we've experienced trauma is high—the pandemic provided "collective" traumatic experiences.
Lawmakers Wrap Up Work on State Budget
On July 7, 2021 by Kari Thurlow
With a final push and some surprise twists, Minnesota lawmakers dodged the threat of state agency and services shutdowns, just barely meeting their deadline to pass a $52 billion state budget. Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. was lawmakers' deadline to get all 13 of their state budget bills through both chambers of the Legislature and to Governor Walz's desk for his signature. Governor Walz has signed the 12 budget bills and the tax bill, averting the potential disaster of state agency shutdown.
What Waivers Are Still in Place Now that the Peacetime Emergency is Over?
On July 7, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
With Minnesota's COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency ending July 1, a question on members' minds is what waivers are still in place and for how long. We do not have a lot of detail yet, but here is a summary of what we currently know.
President and CEO Gayle Kvenvold to Retire from LeadingAge Minnesota After 40 Years of Service
On July 1, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran
Board of Directors Begins National Search for a Successor
SAINT PAUL, MN (July 1, 2021) – LeadingAge Minnesota recently announced that Gayle Kvenvold, the association's long-time President and CEO, will retire at the end of 2021.
For 40 years, Kvenvold has led dramatic change in services and supports for Minnesota’s senior population. She spent 32 years of her 40 years at the association as the organization’s president and CEO. Under her leadership, LeadingAge Minnesota – once named Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance and then Aging Services of Minnesota – has grown into one of the largest associations addressing senior care in the nation.