News Archives
March 2026 Archives
Below is a list of all of the articles published in the selected month, ordered from most recent to least.
United Properties Breaks Ground on New Facility in Corcoran
On March 26, 2026 by LeadingAge Minnesota
United Properties has broken ground on Amira Corcoran, a new 143-unit, 55-plus active adult rental community located at 7330 Brockton Lane N. in Corcoran, Minnesota. The four-story development expands the Amira senior living portfolio in the northwest Twin Cities metro and responds to growing demand for high-quality housing for older adults.
Ziegler Announces Nancy Hooks as Catholic Elder Care and Post-Acute Specialist
On March 26, 2026 by LeadingAge Minnesota
Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce the addition of Nancy Hooks as Catholic Elder Care and Post-Acute Specialist for the firm’s Senior Living Finance Practice.
Benedictine Names New Vice President, Clinical Operations
On March 26, 2026 by LeadingAge Minnesota
Brenda Brandl will join Benedictine as Vice President of Clinical Operations beginning April 13.
Excitement Around PockeTalk Translation Devices
On March 26, 2026 by Shelli Bakken
A recent visit to member site Our Lady of Peace Hospice (OLP) occurred on the day the team had gone through training on their recently deployed PockeTalk translation devices. These translation devices can deliver amazing results to teams in member settings.
Supporting Multilingual Nursing Assistant Learners Without Lowering Standards
On March 26, 2026 by Anna Mowry
We’re hearing from providers across Minnesota about a shared challenge: strong, committed nursing assistant (CNAs) learners who struggle—not because they can’t do the work, but because training materials don’t fully support how they learn. That’s why OnTrack has expanded support for multilingual learners in CNA programs.
The Future of the Falls with Major Injury Quality Measure: What SNFs Need to Know
On March 26, 2026 by LeadingAge Minnesota
Falls with Major Injury (FMI) has long been one of the most closely watched quality measures in long-term care. It directly affects public reporting, survey scrutiny, and Five-Star Quality Ratings. However, a major shift is underway in how this measure is calculated.
LTC Imperative Completes Surveys that Support Legislative Efforts
On March 26, 2026 by Jeff Bostic
Each year, The Long-Term Care Imperative conducts a Workforce and Financial Conditions survey to gauge key metrics for the aging services sector.
Health Dimensions Group Names Julie Flaig Smith Senior Vice President of Community Sales and Marketing
On March 19, 2026 by LeadingAge Minnesota
Health Dimensions Group (HDG) has named Julie Flaig Smith as its senior vice president of community sales and marketing.
New Multilingual Audio Glossary Supports Aging Services Workforce
On March 19, 2026 by Kirstan Ketter
A new resource is now available to support the aging services workforce: the Multilingual Audio Glossary of Aging Services Language.
Developed with funding from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) GEAR division, this tool helps staff learn and understand key vocabulary used in aging services settings.
New Resource: IT Outsourcing Assessment Tool
On March 19, 2026 by Julie Apold
LeadingAge Minnesota is pleased to introduce a new resource for members: the Roadmap to IT Outsourcing in Senior Care, developed with support from the LeadingAge Minnesota Technology Work Group. This resource is designed to help organizations thoughtfully assess their IT outsourcing options and make informed technology decisions.
Register Your ICan Quality Improvement Team
On March 19, 2026 by Julie Apold
Don’t miss your chance to participate! The deadline to register a team for the 2026 ICan Quality Improvement Contest is Tuesday, March 31.
New Immigration Enforcement FAQs to Respond to Member Questions
On March 19, 2026 by Anna Mowry
Members have asked practical questions about how to respond if immigration enforcement activity occurs near their communities. LeadingAge Minnesota has expanded its guidance with new FAQs and an updated resource page, bringing all tools together in one place.
“Free the Happy Hour” Bill Picks Up Steam—Sparking Legislative Support and National Media Coverage
On March 19, 2026 by Ben Hansen
“Just because we are older, and live in an assisted living, doesn’t mean that we should have fewer freedoms than anyone else.”
Governor Walz Releases Supplemental Budget that Includes Substantial Long-Term Care Cuts
On March 19, 2026 by Jeff Bostic
On Tuesday, March 17, Governor Walz announced his supplemental budget recommendations. Despite the improved state budget forecast that came out a little over two weeks ago, the new budget proposal includes significant cuts to long-term care, in an effort to “control the growth of spending in those programs,” as the Governor continues to assert.
Strengthen Your Team: Upcoming Training for Nursing and Operational Leaders
On March 12, 2026 by Sharon Hollister
Registration Open: Operations Certificate Program
Build the operational leadership skills needed to manage today’s complex long-term care environment.
Registration is open for the 2026 Operations Certificate Program, a comprehensive professional development opportunity designed for leaders and operational staff in assisted living and care center communities. This program provides practical tools and strategies to strengthen operational leadership in long-term care settings.
Carver County Rent Assistance Program Open Now
On March 12, 2026 by Shelli Bakken
Members who provide housing or assisted living in Carver County should be aware of a limited program of rent assistance that could help renters who are experiencing financial hardship for their housing costs.
Release of FY 2026 Income Limits Delayed by HUD
On March 12, 2026 by Shelli Bakken
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) bases its median family income estimates on data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS). In November, the Census Bureau announced a delay in its release of ACS data.
CMS Updates for Complaint, Survey, Enforcement Processes; MDH Webinar
On March 12, 2026 by Mark Schulz
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released updates to the State Operations Manual on January 30, 2026. The new changes are effective March 30, 2026. Updates were made to Chapter 5, which outlines complaint investigations and processes, and Chapter 7, which relates to the long-term care survey process.
2026 DHS PIPP Request for Proposals Now Available
On March 12, 2026 by Julie Apold
The 2026 Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Nursing Facility Performance-Based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) Round 20 Request for Proposals (RFP) information is now available.
Legislation Allowing Resident Happy Hour Without a Liquor Permit Advances in Senate
On March 12, 2026 by Erin Huppert
This week, legislation to exempt senior care settings from needing a liquor license for resident happy hours advanced in the Senate Commerce Committee.
New Americans Workforce Resources Now Available for Members
On March 5, 2026 by Kirstan Ketter
LeadingAge Minnesota members now have access to a new collection of workforce resources to help New Americans succeed in aging services careers.
Saint Therese Receives Approval to Expand Corcoran Senior Community
On March 5, 2026 by LeadingAge Minnesota
Less than two years after opening Saint Therese of Corcoran, Saint Therese is expanding its footprint in the fast-growing west metro city. Last week, the Corcoran City Council approved the new construction that will add 31 new independent living apartments to Saint Therese’s existing community that currently has independent living, assisted living and memory care apartments.
2026 Scholarships Available Through LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation
On March 5, 2026 by Lori Meyer
The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to offer almost $60,000 in educational scholarships to eligible caregivers and other employees of our member organizations for 2026. Investing in the professional development of the aging services workforce is more important now than it has ever been.
Save on Hiring with the AgingServicesJobs.org Member Discount
On March 5, 2026 by Anna Mowry
Finding the right talent is critical — and LeadingAge Minnesota members have an exclusive opportunity to save while recruiting. Members can post open positions on AgingServicesJobs.org, the premier job board for aging services employers, at a significantly reduced rate.
Advocating For Minnesota Seniors on Capitol Hill
On March 5, 2026 by Kelly Conrad
Last week, Kari Thurlow, LeadingAge Minnesota’s President and CEO and Kelly Conrad, Director of Assisted Living Services, joined Argentum in Washington, D.C. to advocate for policies that strengthen senior living communities and support older adults across Minnesota and the nation.
What Adult Day Providers Should Know About On-Site Revalidation Screening Visits
On March 5, 2026 by Kelly Conrad
To strengthen program integrity and address concerns about waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid programs, the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has designated 13 provider categories as “high-risk,” including Adult Day services. As a result, Adult Day providers must complete an off-cycle revalidation by May 31, 2026 in order to remain enrolled in Minnesota Health Care Programs (MHCP).
New QUEST Report Available: Third Quarter Insights
On March 5, 2026 by Julie Apold
The LeadingAge Minnesota QUEST Report for the third quarter, 2025 is now available, providing members with timely insights into trends shaping the senior care sector.
LeadingAge Minnesota Testifies in Opposition to Legislation Attempting to Add Staffing Mandates to Senior Care
On March 5, 2026 by Erin Huppert
This week, the Senate Human Services Committee heard two bills that would adversely affect senior care services.