News

LeadingAge Minnesota has added a COVID-19 facility assessment policy template to the resource library as a companion document to the facility assessment workbook provided last week.

Minnesota State provides the required training to work as a Medication Aide in a skilled nursing facility. They have new classes set up for June and will have July classes posted by the end of this week. Students will develop an understanding of drug administration with this comprehensive training program.

Grants are available through the State Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) Initiative to participate in the LifeBio program. The program uses resident interviews and journals to create a resident life story.  The stories can be shared with family, staff, and other residents to enhance resident care and quality of life. 

The Higher Education Omnibus bill (HF 2073) has now passed both the House and Senate and is awaiting a signature from the Governor. The measure will include a one-time investment of $3 Million for the Next Generation Nursing Assistant (NextGen) training program over the 2024-2025 biennium.

Remote adult day services will be a permanent option for licensed adult day services providers beginning July 1.

A licensed assisted living facility in Minnesota is required to comply with the Minnesota Food Code and have a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM).

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) summarizes data used to depict the state of antibiotic stewardship in Minnesota’s nursing homes in its newly released report, Antibiotic Use and Stewardship. The report outlines opportunities for MDH and clinical partners to use antibiotic stewardship programs.

In continuing to advance the 2023 Long-Term Care Imperative legislative agenda, LeadingAge Minnesota is working with lawmakers to continue and improve the Next Generation Nurse Aide Program (NextGen). This program has been funded with federal COVID dollars and now has the potential to receive base funding from the Legislature in the next biennium.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has announced that the temporary fourth testing attempt to pass the nurse aide knowledge test is now a standard in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Departments of Health (MDH) and Human Services (DHS) recently responded to inquiries about proper agency staff contacts for questions about nursing home closure.

In assisted living and assisted living with dementia care licensing surveys completed in the first quarter of 2023 by the Minnesota Department of Health, the average number of survey citations is 13.85. Analyzing the survey data can help assisted living settings provide safe, quality care and avoid citations on future surveys.

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Department of Human Services (DHS) have postponed the webinar scheduled for 1 p.m. on April 17 to provide information on nursing home topics including:

• Receivership
• Closure and emergency relocation procedures
• The role of governing board

In a recent bulletin, the Department of Human Services (DHS) reminded providers that effective Jan. 11, 2021, an age limitation was applied to new customized living (CL) services settings for Brain Injury (BI) and Community Access for Disability Inclusion (CADI) waiver programs. Customized living services settings operational on or after Jan. 11, 2021, are limited to serving people on the BI and CADI waivers who are age 55 and older. This change was announced in the Implementation of the HCBS rule tiered standards, effective Jan. 11, 2021.

The Minnesota Department of Health’s Health Regulation Division (HRD) will host the Board of Executives for Long-Term Care Services and Supports (BELTSS) for a webinar on Wednesday, April 19, at noon to present the most frequently asked questions about Licensed Assisted Living Director (LALD) licensure and practice requirements.

Many hospitals decided to discontinue mask use creating confusion regarding the use of masks in nursing homes and assisted living organizations. The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) clarified mask use during the Long-term Care COVID-19 Call yesterday.

WCCO political analyst Blois Olson hosted a new Fluence Forum, a conversation about the caregiving crisis in Minnesota.

LeadingAge Minnesota continues to use earned media to garner support for our legislative agenda and keep pressure on lawmakers. In addition, we’ve recently launched a paid media campaign in strategically targeted areas.

When Adult Day Service (ADS) sites were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, adult day service providers responded to the needs of their clients by developing a “remote” service. The services were permitted under a COVID-19 waiver, which will expire shortly after the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE).

On Thursday afternoon, several nursing home providers from across the state visited the Capitol to support funding for nursing homes in the House Human Services bill. 

On July 1, the Housing Support maximum monthly room and board rate will increase to $1,135.