News

Occupancy in care centers has improved slightly over the past year and key indicators in workforce trends show a mixed result in Housing-with-Services, according to recent surveys by the Long-Term Care Imperative. 

Governor Mark Dayton yesterday announced a broad set of reforms and investments that strengthen the regulation of senior care providers and enhance penalties for perpetrators of elder abuse. The proposal reflects the recommendations of the Governor’s Consumer Task Force on Elder Abuse convened by AARP late last year and a recent program evaluation of Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) from Office of Legislative Auditor. 

LeadingAge Minnesota created a new tool to help members assess what they should be taking into consideration in their strategic planning process and share key trends that affect long term services and supports with their leadership teams, boards and other key stakeholders. You’ll want to download our new State of Long Term Services and Supports! 

When it comes to quality, you can’t afford to wait. In just one week, LeadingAge Minnesota members from across the state will take their first steps on a path continuous quality. You can join them by registering today for the March 15 kick-off meeting for Performance Excellence in Aging Services. 

Members of the Minnesota Senate Aging and Long-Term Care Policy Committee listened to impassioned testimony today from eight providers of long-term services and support who each showcased the work they do to ensure a high quality of life for older adults. 

The LeadingAge Minnesota YouTube Channel is an important tool we use to communicate with our members. If you are not subscribed to our channel, here are a few things you might have missed: 

Finding a better way to finance long-term services and supports (LTSS) for older Americans could be within grasp, according to a new report from the LeadingAge LTSS center. 

The 2018 Minnesota legislative session has begun. It's a short legislative session, with just three months to conduct business. Here’s a rundown on some of the key factors and issues that will define the coming weeks, including our proactive proposal to prevent and deter maltreatment of vulnerable older adults. 

Do you have individuals on your team who may be interested in advancing their education and careers in aging services? Share this promotional flyer/poster with your team to help promote the Foundation’s Scholarship Program.  

Dan Johnson, President and CEO, Catholic Eldercare, received the Kal Michaels Outstanding Leadership Award at the Institute & Expo earlier this month. 

The 2018 Day at the Capitol will be held on March 28 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Join your fellow members and be an advocate for those you serve and their caregivers. REGISTER TODAY! 

Julie Fuchs, an LPN with Belgrade Nursing Home, was named Caregiver of the Year at last week’s LeadingAge Minnesota Institute & Expo.  

The first edition of our new The Essential Guide: Senior Housing, Housing with Services and Assisted Living in Minnesota is the perfect tool that every housing manager and campus administrator needs on their desk for handy reference!  

Benedictine Living Community of Duluth, Knute Nelson and Walker Methodist were recently recognized for their demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and advancing performance excellence. The Awards of Merit for Performance Excellence in Aging Services were presented during last week’s Institute & Expo. 

Two Minnesota Senate committees held a joint hearing last week regarding the state’s handling of vulnerable adult maltreatment complaints. LeadingAge Minnesota and its partner in the Long-Term Care Imperative (LTCI) testified at the hearing, and shared several recommendations for policy reforms that could be passed in the next legislative session to address ongoing concerns. 

This is your last chance to submit ideas to the Workforce Challenge! The Workforce Challenge is an opportunity for you to impact the educational experiences students have prior to entering the workforce. 

In the wake of last fall’s dramatic and disturbing Star Tribune series on the rising number of abuse and maltreatment reports in Minnesota, Governor Mark Dayton created a special work group charged with developing recommendations to improve the care and safety of older and vulnerable adults in nursing homes and assisted living and “strengthen the rights of residents and their families.” The workgroup,  delivered their report to the Governor on Monday, simultaneously releasing it to state legislators and the public. 

Almost two months have passed since the new skilled nursing facility survey went into effect and provider feedback and data trends reveal meaningful differences in the survey process and experience. Hear about the experiences and trends by joining a facilitated conference call on Feb. 19 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. 

We know it’s going to take a lot of us working together to best prepare Minnesota for the impact and opportunities of its fast-growing aging population. We need your help to start this important conversation in communities across the state. Join us in promoting the new Face Aging MN interactive map. 

The first step to quality improvement begins with recognizing that an opportunity for improvement exists. Do you know how to recognize opportunity? Watch our new Performance Excellence in Aging Services webinar to learn how to get started on a guided path to continuous quality.