News Archives
September 2021 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
Fall Conferences Update: Connect Conference Goes Virtual; Quality Conference Moves to Institute
On September 30, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
2021 has seen its share of changes to the best-laid plans. That includes LeadingAge Minnesota events and conferences planned as in-person gatherings that were subsequently converted to virtual learning experiences in the face of COVID-19 and the spread of variants. Our fall conferences are the latest to be impacted.
Search for CEO Successor Underway
On September 30, 2021 by LeadingAge
The LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors approved an executive position profile at its meeting last week, and the search for a new President and CEO of LeadingAge Minnesota has commenced.
October District Meetings Now Virtual
On September 30, 2021 by Luke Jenkins
With much deliberation and collaboration with the district officers, that upcoming district meeting will be virtual, given the spike in COVID-19 cases and the difficulty in getting away from your communities.
Practice Random Acts of Kindness With Your Words
On September 30, 2021 by Julie Apold
Sharing your Random Acts of Kindness can make others more aware of the many opportunities around them to perform random acts of kindness every day. Self Care for Safe Care Random Acts of Kindness Posters can be printed and placed throughout your community to encourage sharing examples of acts of kindness with others.
Funding Available for Resident and Family Peer Support Group Program
On September 30, 2021 by Lori Meyer
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is seeking proposals from qualified Minnesota Medicaid-certified nursing facilities interested in implementing a resident and family peer support group program.
Live Webinar for Employee Engagement CMP Grant Funds
On September 30, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman
Care centers have access to an engagement, retention, and leadership building platform for free through a grant for Align’s Employee Engagement Solution. A new grant window opened on Sept. 22 and closes on Nov. 23. Subsequent cycles will open over the next two years.
Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Application Portal Open
On September 30, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Earlier this week, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) opened the application portal for the latest Provider Relief Funds (PRF) round. In this round, $25.5 billion in funding is available for health care providers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assisted Living Licensees come in all Sizes and Locations
On September 30, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
This week’s report from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) on the status of current assisted living licensees provides a glimpse at the composition of assisted living around the state. Of the currently licensed 1973 assisted living facilities, 1337 of those are in the seven-county metro area, leaving 636 throughout the rest of the state.
Last Chance to Affiliate Background Studies from Home Care to Assisted Living Record
On September 30, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
Starting Oct. 15, non-renewed home care licenses that expired or were closed due to conversion to an assisted living facility license will also have their background study records closed.
At the Capitol: Senate Hearing on Elderly Waiver and Vaccine Requirements
On September 30, 2021 by Matt Steele
The Senate Human Services Reform and Finance Committee recently met to address a wide array of topics that included Elderly Waiver implementation and vaccine requirements in various long-term care settings.
DHS to Provide Background Studies Update at Next Week’s Coaching Room
On September 30, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
Dawn Davis, head of the Background Studies unit at the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), will join the LeadingAge Minnesota Coaching Room on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. to provide an update and answer questions about the transition back to fingerprint-based studies.
Outbreak Testing: Who to Test and What are the Parameters?
On September 30, 2021 by Kari Everson
Top of mind for many members is the CDC guidance regarding testing during an outbreak. When a new facility onset case of COVID-19 is found in a staff member or resident, the organization must proceed with outbreak testing. So how do we know who to test and what are the testing parameters? The information below may give you the answers you need.
State Medical Director Updates Testing Orders, Allows Broader Use of Antigen Testing
On September 30, 2021 by Kari Everson
Recently, Minnesota's state medical director eliminated a significant barrier to using antigen testing in assisted living settings.
Payment Committee Hosting Special Meeting on Care Center Rates
On September 30, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The LeadingAge Minnesota Payment Committee is holding a special meeting next Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 10 a.m. to discuss the status of care center Medicaid rates for 2022 in light of recent information from DHS on their plans to implement cost offsets due to federal aid received by providers.
Statewide Survey on Staffing Crisis Will Inform Solutions
On September 30, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
LeadingAge Minnesota has been working intensively with state agency leaders to illustrate the seriousness and urgency of the workforce crisis facing providers and collaborate on identifying solutions and support to respond.
Oct. 13-14 - Quality & Patient Safety Conference and Workshop
On September 23, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
The Quality and Patient Safety Conference on Oct. 14 in Bloomington and the pre-conference workshop, Foundations of Quality Improvement, on Oct. 13 focus on building and improving quality programs in all aging services settings.
Nursing Leadership Certificate Program Begins Sept. 29, Final Week to Register
On September 23, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
It's the last week to register for the Nursing Leadership Certificate Program, LeadingAge Minnesota’s highly acclaimed training series to prepare new nurse leaders for a successful career in older adult services.
Sept. 24 is Connect Conference Early Bird Deadline
On September 23, 2021 by Heidi Simpson
Register by this Friday, Sept. 24 to get early-bird pricing on the 2021 Connect Conference. The conference will bring together senior housing, assisted living, and home care on Oct. 27-28 at Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center.
Practice Random Acts of Kindness through Your Words
On September 23, 2021 by Julie Apold
Offering kind words to others doesn’t just make them feel good. It also gives you a rush of good feelings. That positive energy grows and spreads whenever you share it. Mother Theresa once said, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
Second Round CMP Grant Now Open: Employee Engagement with Align
On September 23, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman
Care centers have access to an engagement, retention, and leadership building platform for free through a grant for Align’s Employee Engagement Solution. A new grant window opened on Sept. 22 and closes on Nov. 23. Subsequent cycles will open over the next two years.
Influenza & Vaccinations in the COVID-19 Era
On September 23, 2021 by Kari Everson
Fall is here again, and so are hot chocolate, cozy sweaters, crackling fires, cool nights, and influenza vaccines! Long-term care settings should begin planning for annual influenza vaccinations, as they do each fall.
HUD Announces Fourth Round of COVID-19 Supplemental Payments
On September 23, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
On Sept. 16, HUD announced the fourth round of COVID-19 Supplemental Payments (CSPs) for Multifamily housing providers. The funds are available to help Section 8, Section 202, and Section 811 properties prepare for and respond to COVID-19. Requests are due to the agency by Nov. 19 and can cover expenses incurred between April 1 and Oct. 31.
Apply to Join the Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee
On September 23, 2021 by Roni Falck
Through Oct. 31, 2021, DHS is accepting applications from people to join the new Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee (WRAC). The committee will provide input about the implementation of Waiver Reimagine and help develop the program during virtual meetings held every other month.
New Limitations for Customized Living in Small Residential Homes
On September 23, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
Legislation that became effective July 1 directed the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) to stop enrolling new customized living settings serving four or fewer people in single-family homes for individuals served through the Brain Injury (BI) and Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) waivers.
Respiratory Protection Program Requirements
On September 23, 2021 by Kari Everson
As COVID-19 crashed into our lives, so did the awareness of and need for respiratory protection programs in long-term care settings. Respiratory protection programs are designed to ensure all employees are protected from respiratory hazards, such as the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen.
Vaccination Rates Now Available on Care Compare
On September 23, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
Earlier this week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that staff and resident vaccination rates for all care centers have been posted on the Care Compare website.
Do You Have Assisted Living Required Postings?
On September 23, 2021 by Bobbie Guidry
As we settle into the new assisted living requirements, it is a good time for self-auditing. According to the new law, an assisted living must post the following:
MDH Engages Contractors to Conduct Nursing Home Surveys
On September 23, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
Beginning this week, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is utilizing contractors from an agency called Healthcare Management Solutions (HMS) to conduct nursing home recertification surveys, which are currently backlogged at the Department.
MDH Releases BCA Transition Details
On September 23, 2021 by Jenna Kellerman
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released a notice via GovDelivery indicating a transition pathway for Basic Care Aides (BCA) to become Nursing Assistants through an expedited process before the end of the 1135 Waiver.
New Member Orientation – 30 Minute Zoom Session
On September 15, 2021 by Luke Jenkins
Are you new to LeadingAge Minnesota? Don’t know where to start? Don’t know what we do?
Join the recurring LeadingAge Minnesota New Member Orientation Session that happens every fourth Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. Sign up can be found at the bottom of the Advantage newsletter, or you can click here to register for the session that works best for your schedule. The next session is on Sept. 28.