News

Staff recognition builds morale and increases retention. Research shows it doesn’t have to take a big investment of time, effort or money to recognize team member contributions in a meaningful way. One of the most impactful, low-cost or no-cost strategies is meaningful, personal recognition.   

The Workforce Innovators Podcasts from the LeadingAge Center for Workforce Solutions brings you interviews with various leaders in our field focused on programs to help address workforce challenges.  

Interested in the growing Medicare Advantage opportunity? Here are five numbers you need to know: 14, 3-5, 4, $218,000 and 300.  

Getting staff input on decisions is important. When staff feel their opinion matters, they feel empowered in their roles and connected to the organization. 

Open enrollment for Medicare Advantage and Special Needs Plans begins Oct. 15 and presents a great opportunity for all housing and service providers to engage with those individuals whom they serve about their options. 

A common concern on staff engagement surveys is “lack of communication” or “leadership doesn’t follow up on my concerns.” Often it feels like there is a disconnect as supervisors say they follow up on concerns raised by staff. So that begs the question: Do staff feel they aren’t being listened to because the follow-up loop was not completed? 

Assisted Living regulations are changing and there are heightened expectations of state surveys as a result of legislation passed in 2019. How can nurse leaders in Assisted Living keep up with all the changes? Attend one of the four Assisted Living/Home Care Nurse Leader Network (ALNET) meetings in October. 

You’re invited to attend the second annual MedFuse Conference on Oct. 24 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Registration is FREE for LeadingAge Minnesota members. Select the Medical Practitioner Ticket upon registration.   

Did you know that 91% of Millennial and Gen Z new hires say that a company’s technological sophistication weighs into their decision to accept a new job? It is time to embrace and invest in technology to improve staff efficiency and engagement. Need some ideas? LeadingAge Minnesota members are implementing some great solutions: 

Virtual reality, predictive analytics, sensors, and other artificial intelligence (AI) solutions are helping keep older adults from falling, according to a recent HealthTech article.  

Staff at all levels should be considered the expert in their roles. Serving on internal committees and task forces are ways to uniquely engage staff in the organization’s vision while tapping into their personal strengths and positional expertise.   

How will senior living attract more residents and cultivate new revenue streams? The American Seniors Housing Associated (ASHA) has released a new issue brief that challenges the status quo and provides guidance for how senior living can improve.  

Experience mapping is an excellent tool to improve an organizational policy, procedure or practice. It provides a visual example of what a person experiences while completing an activity.

Knowing staff as individuals means knowing about their major personal accomplishments. Is a staff member running a marathon? Graduating from nursing school? Welcoming a new baby (remember new moms and dads)? Congratulate them!  

Gov. Tim Walz issued a proclamation naming Aug. 14 as Lawrence Massa Appreciation Day in Minnesota in honor of Massa’s distinguished career in advance of his retirement Sept. 6. Massa has been the president and CEO of MHA for the past 11 years and served as chief executive officer of Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar from 1994 to 2008.  

A recent article in Senior Housing News highlights that the “dots aren’t being connected” in senior living to get innovation past the pilot stage to make a true impact. 

Mentor programs offer an important opportunity for staff to develop positive relationships, interact with friends at work, receive the peer support needed to succeed in a job, and increase meaning and purpose in their day. Beyond that, mentor programs have been proven to positively impact team member retention and satisfaction in all departments.  

“A person’s name is to him or her the sweetest and most important sound in any language.”  -Dale Carnegie. Yet one thing we hear periodically on staff satisfaction surveys is, “my supervisor doesn’t even know my name.” 

As first reported by McKnight’s Senior Living, the 2019 Milliman Long Term Care Insurance Survey shows average individual long-term care insurance claim amounts for care in assisted living settings are much higher than claim amounts for home care or care in nursing homes.  

Whether you hang a whiteboard in a break room, create an online forum on your organization’s intranet, or establish a staff-focused Facebook page, consider giving staff a modern forum to express their ideas, suggestions and opinions.