News

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.

Cassia, a LeadingAge Minnesota member organization, has acquired a minority ownership share in Genevive, complementing the existing ownership of Allina Health and Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS). Genevive is a geriatric medical practice and care management organization providing comprehensive care for over 7,000 older adults throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

Lifesprk been named a Top USA Workplace and #1 in healthcare for mid-size companies in the Top Workplaces Industry and Culture Excellence Awards.

Ecumen, a nonprofit provider of housing and services for older adults, has announced that Jim McAlpine has joined its senior management team as senior vice president, legal affairs and corporate general counsel.

This month, Friendship Village of Bloomington will officially open the first phase of its new health center to area seniors. The project adds 16 assisted living apartment homes and five memory care suites to the senior living community, bringing the total communitywide capacity to 42 assisted living apartments and 32 memory care suites. The three-story building is equipped with a secure memory care courtyard, game and activity room, and spa bath.

Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Commissioner Jan Malcolm visited Jones-Harrison to highlight Minnesota’s successful vaccination effort in long-term care settings on the afternoon of Tuesday, Feb. 9.

LeadingAge Minnesota extends our deep appreciation and gratitude to Sue Voigt, partner at Voigt, Rode, Boxeth & Coffin Law Firm, for her years of dedicated service to our field and our association. Sue has announced she has stepped away from her practice as of Feb. 1, 2021.

Just last week, Matt Steele joined the LeadingAge Minnesota advocacy team. We want you to get to know Matt so we asked him five questions:

As we turn the page on a new year, we invite you to get involved in LeadingAge Minnesota committees in 2021. Ongoing COVID-19 response and recovery, implementation of new Assisted Living Licensure requirements, protection of Value Based Reimbursement for care centers—just a few of the impactful issues facing senior care in the coming year. Through it all we have a tremendous opportunity to improve the aging experience for those we serve, and we encourage everyone’s involvement in our committees to shape the important work ahead.

The Metro Healthcare Coalition is offering a mini-webinar on management and tracking of PPE on Monday, December 28, at 1:00pm. Mary Ryan and Aaron Aslakson from Walker Methodist will share tools created and used at their organization to track and manage PPE supplies. The webinar will be approximately 30 minutes and will include time for Q&A. If you’d like to attend this webinar, register HERE.

Start 2021 off with new staff joining your team!

Skilled nursing facilities have the ability to train caregivers quickly using the Basic Care Aide and Paid Feeding Assistant programs from EduCare. The expedited training programs are eligible under the current 1135 waiver, allowing you to train Basic Care Aides in just 9 hours and paid feeding assistants within 2 hours. Basic Care Aides are eligible to work in place of traditional nursing assistants.