News

Nominations are being accepted through Monday, Sept. 13 for the 2022 Stars Among Us Awards in multiple categories, including:

• Caregiver of the Year
• Rising Star Award (new award)
• Outstanding Leadership
• Volunteer of the Year
• Spirit of Aging
• Excellence in Practice for Process Improvement or Safe Care for Seniors

In July, 37 new members joined the ranks of LeadingAge Minnesota. Of the new members, 16 are provider members, two are associate members, 17 are individual members, and two are business partners.

Start thinking about your incredible staff, residents and volunteers in preparation for the 2022 Stars Among Us Awards. Nominations are open for individual and organizational awards through Sept. 13 in multiple categories, including the Caregiver of the Year, Outstanding Leadership, and the new Rising Star Award.

LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is releasing the latest Safe Care Living the Pledge activity, Self Care for Safe Care, to create an environment where teams can thrive and find joy.

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.

In May and June, the LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors officially approved 46 new members into the Association's ranks. Of the new members, 33 are provider members, 2 are associate members, 2 are individual members, and 9 are business partners.

Our Lady of Peace, a LeadingAge Minnesota member, has begun a capital campaign to expand the 21-bed residential hospice center at Cleveland and St. Anthony avenues. According to a recent Pioneer Press story, “the administration is looking at a $4 million expansion that could tentatively begin in December and allow for single-room occupancy.”

This month, Benedictine will appoint three new senior vice presidents into key roles within the organization. Sister Joan Marie Stelman has been appointed senior vice president for mission integration; Laura Campbell has been appointed as senior vice president for people development; and Gift Matemba-Mutasa will join Benedictine as senior vice president for marketing.

The LeadingAge Minnesota Board of Directors will meet for a virtual strategic planning retreat on June 22. We are asking each member site to respond to a quick, 4-minute survey to inform its work.

LeadingAge Minnesota’s Leadership Academy 2021 Class of Fellows has been selected and will convene virtually on June 2.

Since 2010, Leadership Academy has developed leadership capacity and core competencies of more than 300 aging services professionals by tapping their natural talents and authentic leadership style. It blends leadership theory, applied learning, and personalized coaching to mentor current and emerging leaders in our field.

Lifesprk and Tealwood Senior Living have partnered to bring 35 senior living properties across multiple states under Lifesprk Senior Living.

"The current senior housing market, accelerated by the pandemic, created significant opportunity to provide a markedly different approach to senior living," said Joel Theisen, RN, BSN, Lifesprk CEO.

St. Francis Health Services received the Award of Honor for Performance Excellence in Aging Services from LeadingAge Minnesota. The award recognizes an advanced level of continuous quality improvement and outstanding achievements in 24 management practices focused on leadership, strategy, customers, measurement, workforce and operations.

Vista Prairie Communities (VPC), a nonprofit provider of assisted living, independent living, memory care and care suites in Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio and Wisconsin, has announced the appointment of Dewey Pettit as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

LeadingAge Minnesota is seeking volunteers to help facilitate sessions at the 2021 Institute, which is occurring virtually from May 18-21.

Even in a virtual environment, it takes a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes work to make the Institute run as smoothly as possible. There are two opportunities to serve. One is acting as a session host. The role requires no previous experience, no public speaking, no need to appear on the screen and a very minimal time commitment, particularly for a session you might have been planning on attending anyway. We will provide a short list of simple instructions.

LeadingAge and Argentum, our national partners, are joining the Gerontological Society of America and AHCA/NCAL to promote Careers in Aging Week from April 18-24.

eMenuCHOICE, a LeadingAge Minnesota business partner and partner of the Savings & Solutions Center, is hosting a free webinar on April 13 from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. to review new dining requirements associated with assisted living licensure. Effective Aug. 1, assisted living settings in Minnesota must be licensed and, as a condition of licensure, assisted living providers must adhere to several new standards related to menus and food requirements, including:

Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging has changed its name to Trellis. The change signals an expanded mission for the organization, beyond the original mission as the area agency on aging for the metro area.

Trellis will continue to be a regional leader in aging but will also provide services, information and innovations that connect and improve the lives of people across Minnesota and in ten other states.

The Minnesota Veterans Homes’ four skilled nursing facilities in Fergus Falls, Luverne, Minneapolis and Silver Bay have all been recognized with the Pinnacle Customer Experience Award. The Homes’ “customer experience” is measured through Pinnacle monthly telephone interviews with residents and/or their families. Throughout the year, the survey results are reviewed to better understand residents’ needs and make improvements when necessary.

By March 26, 10,000 people will have been vaccinated against the coronavirus by Cassia, a LeadingAge Minnesota Member organization

Cassia began administering coronavirus vaccines to residents and staff in December 2020 through the organization’s own A&E Pharmacy. To date, 10,000 people have been vaccinated by Cassia.

The Minnesota Association of Geriatrics Inspired Clinicians (MAGIC) is actively seeking a new executive director.

The Minnesota Association of Geriatrics Inspired Clinicians (MAGIC) is a membership association whose purpose is to support its members as they advocate for and serve those with complex medical needs.