News
Category: COVID-19 News
Resilience Tip: Embracing “Good Enough”
On February 24, 2021 by LeadingAge
Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology
Today we’re focused on the drive to be perfect (or darn close). It’s not inherently bad; in fact, it has propelled many of us to get to our current status in personal and professional arenas. It can, however, take its toll on our well-being to be in pursuit of perfection versus accepting of “good enough.”
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Progressing
On February 24, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
According to a Minnesota Department of Health survey reflecting data through last Wednesday, 98% of care centers have completed two vaccination clinics, and almost all assisted living settings had completed a first clinic. Additionally, 12% of assisted living had conducted a second clinic, a number which will rise rapidly in the next couple of weeks.
Rural COVID-19 grants Available through LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation
On February 24, 2021 by Terri Foley
LeadingAge Minnesota members operating in rural Minnesota can now access a second round of COVID-19 related grants through LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation (LAMF).
Resilience Tip: Grief & Resilience
On February 17, 2021 by LeadingAge
Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology
Grief and resilience: you can have both!
You probably understood that going to work in a senior care facility meant you would experience death more often than people working in other environments. However, expecting this and going through it are quite different things – especially when death rates are (sometimes significantly) higher than usual as we’ve seen during the COVID pandemic.
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Progressing and Staff Vaccination Rates Improving
On February 17, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
According to data collected by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), resident vaccination rates remain high and staff vaccination rates are improving.
Reporting Employee COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Deaths to OSHA
On February 17, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
A recent Star Tribune story on Minnesota OSHA inspections raised questions from a few LeadingAge Minnesota members. The story was not specific to health care or to long-term care, but it did note that MNOSHA had fined a nursing home for not reporting that one of its employees had been hospitalized with COVID-19.
State Support Still Available for PPE, Testing, Staffing
On February 17, 2021 by Jonathan Lips
While COVID-19 cases in aging services settings have fallen sharply in recent months, we know the virus is still having a serious impact on many providers.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) wishes to remind providers that it continues to have resources available for nursing homes and assisted living providers that need support:
Resilience Tip: Sleep & Resilience
On February 10, 2021 by LeadingAge
Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology
You are in good company if you have noticed changes in your sleeping patterns during COVID-19. Because of factors like extra screen time, change in routines and increase in stress, we are prone to poor sleep at this time. Sleep is important not only for our well-being and stability of mood, but it is also linked to immune system function.
CMS Director Joins LeadingAge Call to Answer Questions about Visitation Guidance Changes
On February 10, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran
Evan Shulman, Director of the Division of Nursing Homes, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will answer questions about how CMS is approaching any changes in visitation guidance on Thursday, February 11 at 2:30 on the Coronavirus Update Call hosted by LeadingAge, the national partner of LeadingAge Minnesota.
MAGIC Launches Resource to Address Vaccine Hesitancy
On February 10, 2021 by Libbie Chapuran
This week, the Minnesota Association for Geriatrics Inspired Clinicians (MAGIC) launched a new video resource to help providers address vaccine hesitancy in long-term care settings.
Resilience Tip: Taking Back Control
On February 3, 2021 by LeadingAge
Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology
As helpers, we pride ourselves on assisting those who have lost control of their lives in some manner. Residents may have memory loss, an injury, a loss of independence or feeling they’ve lost control of decisions made about their lives. For leaders, it’s important to guide staff with a sense of control that’s flexible and also conveys confidence and security.
Now Enrolling Next AHRQ ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network Cohort
On February 3, 2021 by Kari Everson
The Hennepin Healthcare ECHO Training Center is recruiting an additional cohort for the AHRQ ECHO National Nursing Home COVID-19 Action Network. The first session will start Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. They will be enrolling 33 nursing facilities in this cohort.
Minnesota Faring Well at Vaccinating Residents and Staff for COVID-19
On February 3, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently released a report on COVID-19 vaccination rates under the Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program (PPP) using data submitted to the CDC from the pharmacies enrolled in that program. The report shows rates of vaccination for both residents and staff in care centers in Minnesota that exceed the national averages.
Resilience Tip: Getting Past A COVID-19 Wall
On January 27, 2021 by LeadingAge
Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology
COVID-19 has been making our work and personal lives more difficult for close to a year now. During that time, you’ve probably hit a few walls of exhaustion. You might not be sure how you’ll keep going. And you’ve maybe hit this kind of wall more than once throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 Communicative Technology Grant Opportunity
On January 27, 2021 by Lori Meyer
The deadline is fast approaching for nursing facilities that have not already applied for the COVID-19 Communicative Technology Grants available through the Minnesota Department of Human Services utilizing Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funding. Facilities have until March 1, 2021 to submit an application.
COVID-19 In-Person Visitation Aid Grant Opportunity
On January 27, 2021 by Lori Meyer
Nursing facilities are eligible to receive up to $3,000 in Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) funds to purchase equipment that facilitates in-person visitation during the COVID-19 emergency. Facilities that have not already applied have until June 1, 2021 to submit an application.
MDH Launches Portal to Connect 1A Tier 3 Health Care Workers with Available Vaccines
On January 27, 2021 by Kari Everson
The Minnesota Department of Health has launched a web portal to help identify health care workers in 1A Tier 3 who have not been able to receive the vaccine from their employers in an effort to connect them with vaccines that may become available.
Resilience Tip: Building Resilience with Meditation Moments
On January 20, 2021 by LeadingAge
Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology
Short meditations on kindness provide a way to instill self- and other-focused compassion in order to combat our harsh and often hostile environments at home and as a larger community.
Business Covid-19 Relief Payments Going to Some Members
On January 20, 2021 by Jeff Bostic
In a December special session, the Minnesota Legislature approved relief payments for certain hospitality businesses that have been closed due to one of the governor’s emergency orders. The list of businesses eligible for grants include fitness centers and restaurants, and some members who provide those services to the public may be eligible for grants. Last week, the Minnesota Department of Revenue sent checks to businesses they determined to be eligible, and one of the limiting factors that will impact some of our members even if they do offer these services to the public is that a recipient must have had $10,000 in sales in 2019.
Minnesota Announces Vaccine Distribution Pilot Program
On January 20, 2021 by Kari Everson
Minnesota is launching a COVID-19 vaccine pilot program, partnering with local public health and school districts, Governor Tim Walz announced on Monday. These sites will initially serve adults 65 years of age or older, as well as prekindergarten through grade 12 educators, school staff, and child care workers. The community vaccination pilot program will be the foundation for mass vaccination clinics in Minnesota communities once the federal government increases vaccine supply. The nine pilot sites will launch this week with a small number of doses for eligible Minnesotans.