News

Each week we summarize and provide links to new tools and resources developed by LeadingAge Minnesota to help you respond to COVID-19. This week we feature tools in the area of workforce, testing and emergency staffing, as well as talking points and promotional materials for next week’s Long-Term Care week.  

LeadingAge Minnesota’s Leadership Academy 2020 Class of Fellows has been selected and will convene on May 13. In this extraordinary year when nothing is business-as-usual, this cohort will have the distinction of being the first to begin their journey via virtual conferencing technology.  

This week we share three links to resources we shared in the past week: Basic Care Aide, a Cohorting Messaging Toolkit, and Responding to Negative Views in a Pandemic.  

LeadingAge Minnesota is excited to announce that Kari Everson, RN, BSN, MSN, MHA, LNHA, has officially joined our team as our Director of Clinical Care and Nurse Consultant.  

This week we link you to six tools we provide over the past week: Surge Assessment; updated decision trees for the Confirmed Case Checklist and Managing a Resident Admission from a Hospital; a flow chart of E-FMLA and E-PSL; new guide for Independent Living and Housing with Services; and a messaging and letters to the editor for adult day providers. 

Investing in the professional development of the aging services workforce is more important now than it has ever been. The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is offering over $30,000 in scholarships to eligible caregivers and other employees of our member organizations for 2020. 

Lifesprk has raised a $16.1 million Series A round of funding that is plans to use to invest in an electronic-records system, step up hiring and create new partnerships. 

We’ve added three new resources in our COVID-19 Tool Library that focus on what to do when a family member wants to move a loved one home, care for people with Alzheimer’s during COVID-19 and tips to improve infection control compliance. 

Professional caregivers provide critical support to those most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 – our seniors. They deserve our gratitude. Face Aging MN has launched a new #ThankACaregiver campaign to encourage Minnesotans to share a message of appreciation with a senior caregiver via a web portal.  

The American Red Cross will stop offering nursing assistant training courses in April. Organizations that utilized the Red Cross courses are encouraged to reach out to OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training to continue developing a pipeline of caregivers.  

Dr. Sharon Aadalen, a member of the Board of Directors for Jones-Harrison in Minneapolis, was recently named Board Trustee of the Year by LeadingAge Minnesota. 

Have you signed up for our annual Day at the Capitol yet? It's not too late! Join us at the Capitol on March 19 to show lawmakers that we are committed partners in our shared goal to assure access to safe, quality care for older Minnesotans in the communities they call home.   

Craig Stewart has been described as the enduring spirit of Ecumen Meadows in Worthington who makes life better for residents and staff alike. He recently received our prestigious Volunteer of the Year award for his deep commitment to the well-being of others and mission to give people with dementia the gift of memory. 

Visionary Leader. Consummate professional. Highly skilled operator. Those words define Jennifer Pfeffer, Senior Regional Director of Operations at Ecumen, who was recently honored by LeadingAge Minnesota with the Kal Michels Outstanding Leadership Award.  

Harold Hansen, who lives at Saint Therese of Woodbury, was recently honored by LeadingAge Minnesota with the Spirit of Aging Award.  

Volunteers of America in Minnesota is one of 18 aging services providers who received new grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to support affordable housing for older adults. 

LeadingAge Minnesota last week recognized 12 aging services providers for their achievements in quality, continuous improvement and performance excellence. Awards of Merit for Performance Excellence in Aging Services were provided to eight members and four members were recognized with the advanced Award of Honor. The providers are:  

Doing ordinary things with extraordinary love is the mission of Saint Therese and you need not look further than a receptionist, volunteer and two nursing assistants from that community to see individuals who are living that mission and demonstrating their commitment to their Safe Care for Seniors pledge. Meet the latest recipients of our Make Zero Harm Possible awards:  

Teamwork makes the dream work. At the Minnesota Veteran’s Home in Luverne, there is a team of dedicated safety and quality champions that are making a positive difference in the health and wellness of the veterans they serve. Meet the Buddies Forever Champions, our latest recipient of the Make Zero Harm Possible award in our Safe Care for Seniors program.  

One highlight of the Institute & Expo is the LeadingAge MN Foundation Silent Auction. The incredible donations from our members spurs a competitive spirit from our attendees. Our goal this year is to raise $10,000 to support caregiver and leadership scholarships and workforce tools and resources to help you address your greatest challenge. Can we count on you to help us achieve our goal by donating an item to this fun and meaningful event?