News

A new job board is launching soon on LeadingAge Minnesota’s AgingServicesJobs.Org website. Recruitment is a key initiative of our workforce strategy, and the new vendor will provide this important service for members within the next few weeks.

Featuring Susan Hildebrandt, VP of Workforce Initiatives at LeadingAge

There is still time to complete your survey! In 2021, LeadingAge National is helping provider members focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a key component of its recently adopted strategic plan. Over the next 3 years, LeadingAge aims to offer all member organizations the tools and resources they need to develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce, and this effort begins with you.

Featuring Susan Hildebrandt, VP of Workforce Initiatives at LeadingAge

We need your help! In 2021, LeadingAge National is helping provider members focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as a key component of its recently adopted strategic plan. Over the next 3 years, LeadingAge aims to offer all member organizations the tools and resources they need to develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce, and this effort begins with you.

We are happy to announce that Matt Steele has joined LeadingAge Minnesota as the Director of Government Affairs. Matt joins the advocacy team, focusing his work on legislative policy solutions.

In December, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) published Proposed Rules and Notice of Hearing in the State Register. This effectively begins the formal public comment period on the proposed rules that will govern licensed assisted living settings after Aug. 1, 2021. This is a significant advocacy opportunity for LeadingAge Minnesota members, as the process invites the public to weigh in on the rules and express support or concerns.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is now accepting applications for the position of Heath Regulation Division Director. A summary of the role, a list of qualifications and a channel for submitting an application are available through this job posting.

Last week, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) published Proposed Rules and Notice of Hearing in the State Register. This effectively begins the formal public comment period on the proposed rules that will govern licensed assisted living settings after Aug. 1, 2021. This is a significant advocacy opportunity for LeadingAge Minnesota members, as the process invites the public to weigh in on the rules and express support or concerns.

Minnesota's Serious Illness Action Network

To address urgent needs in serious illness care during (COVID-19), Stratis Health and Minnesota Network of Hospice & Palliative Care (MNHPC) convened a virtual forum in August 2020, resulting in a new report that includes action plans for the pandemic and beyond.

We are proud to announce the 2020 Leadership Academy cohort has completed their program year in the most remarkable of circumstances. In a year like none other, this year’s class of 26 fellows gathered entirely in the virtual world for personal and professional leadership development, concluding with last week’s session on Transformational Leadership.

The Minnesota Health Care Loan Forgiveness program cycle is now open and accepting applications through Jan. 15, 2021. The Loan Forgiveness program is available for various health care professio

LeadingAge National has launched a new podcast called The Mentor’s Voice. This podcast, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, and other platforms, provides students and young professionals an opportunity to candidly learn from leaders in the field of aging. The goal is to disseminate wisdom and knowledge to emerging leaders and to inspire and inform their career journey.

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.

Appropriate use of gloves and hand hygiene practices related to glove use is an important component of effective infection prevention practices and is a practice that is frequently cited during infection control surveys.

Join Your Colleagues in Creating Safe Hand Hygiene and Glove Use Habits across our communities. The Living the Pledge Campaign monthly infection prevention campaign is now entering its second full month to help keep residents and fellow team members safe from harm.

Members interested in submitting one or more proposals for the May 19-21 LeadingAge Minnesota Institute have until 5 pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 to respond. Proposals can be sent using this link. Questions may be directed to Heidi Simpson at hsimpson@leadingagemn.org. Individuals and companies who submitted proposals in the summer 2020 CFP round have been contacted and asked to make a choice about how they would like their original proposal(s) handled. Copies of original proposal submissions may be requested by contacting Terri Foley tfoley@leadingagemn.org.

LeadingAge Minnesota is excited to announce that Luke Jenkins has accepted the position of Director of Membership. Luke comes to LeadingAge Minnesota with almost 10 years of experience in the senior care field, most recently serving as Director of Community Relations and then Corporate Marketing & Sales Consultant with Ebenezer. He has also been active in LeadingAge Minnesota—he is a member of our Stars Among Us Awards Committee, serves as faculty for our Sales & Marketing Certificate Program, and is a Leadership Academy fellow. Luke is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BA in Speech/Communications and a BS in Operations & Supply Chain Management. Luke’s first day is December 3. Please join us in welcoming Luke Jenkins to LeadingAge Minnesota!

At noon tomorrow (11/12), LeadingAge Minnesota CEO Gayle Kvenvold will be featured as part of LeadingAge National’s Annual Conference. Kvenvold was asked to provide a Mission Moment—a personal reflection on our missions of service in these challenging times.

A common struggle for family members of older individuals who are beginning to exhibit memory challenges is the discussion regarding stopping driving or “driving retirement.” CarFreeMe is a program for people with memory loss living in Minnesota who are considering retiring from driving or are acclimating to driving retirement. Information is available for anyone interested in participating in the program and study.

November marks National Family Caregivers Month, which celebrates the often-invisible workforce of family caregivers supporting vulnerable adults living at home. A recent AARP study estimates that nearly 42 million Americans care for family members above the age of 50, an increase of 20% from 2015. Family caregiving is both a gift and a challenge, and like so many things in 2020, the challenges of family caregiving have become more acute due to limited mobility and access to services. 

The Minnesota Healthcare Engineers Association (MHCEA) will host its 2020 Fall Conference on December 3-4.  Registration for the conference is now open, with an early-bird rate available until this Friday, Nov. 6.