News

As Minnesota is in peak summer season, a familiar seasonal illness is drawing extra attention this year. Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness that is the subject of a large multistate outbreak that has sickened more than 18,000 people nationally, with a subcluster tied to iceberg lettuce from a Taylor Farms supplier sourcing from central Mexico.

New videos, on-demand webinars and practical tools help aging services providers recruit, support, and retain New American employees while creating stronger, more welcoming workplaces for everyone.

The 2026 LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation Golf Tournament helped raise record-breaking funds for the next round of caregiver scholarships. In total, thanks to golfers, sponsors, volunteers, on-course games, and ticket sales, the event raised nearly $108,000 before expenses.

In response to discussions with LeadingAge Minnesota, The Department of Public Safety (DPS) has created an additional topic on their Alcohol & Gambling Enforcement (AGE) website intended to give clarity to apartment buildings.

The work of building a strong assisted living operation does not end when the license is issued. Whether an organization is preparing to welcome its first resident or has served residents for years, the same challenge remains: turning complex regulatory requirements into policies, training, documentation and everyday practices that work together.

Minnesota's plan to redesign its disability waiver system is still moving forward, but providers will have more time to prepare. The Department of Human Services (DHS) has confirmed that the new Disability Waiver Program will not launch January 1, 2027, as originally planned. A new implementation date has not been announced.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized changes to COVID-19 vaccination reporting requirements under the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program (SNF QRP).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has officially released the FY 2027 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) Final Rule, and the biggest takeaway is one of stability. The final rule closely mirrors the proposed rule issued earlier this year, with very few substantive changes. While there were no major surprises, there are several important updates that skilled nursing providers should understand as they prepare for the years ahead.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has updated the Five-Star Quality Rating System Technical Users' Guide to reflect changes to the Quality Measure (QM) domain rating thresholds, which will take effect with the quarterly Five-Star refresh scheduled for July 29, 2026.

Please note that the LeadingAge Minnesota Data Portal will be unavailable beginning Friday, August 7, at approximately 2:00 p.m. as we proactively shut down office-hosted IT services ahead of a scheduled building power outage.

Independent living housing managers are invited to join our next IL Operators Professional Networking Group on Tuesday, August 11, at 10 a.m.

Stars Among Us Awards nominations are open through Sept. 28. You don't have to be a professional writer to submit a great award nomination. The strongest nominations have one thing in common: they tell a story. The Stars Among Us Nomination Guide can help.

St. Francis Health Services of Morris, Inc. (CEO, Carol Raw) and Benedictine (CEO, Jerry Carley) have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to explore an affiliation between the two Catholic, nonprofit organizations in which Benedictine would become the sole corporate member of SFHS. If the membership substitution occurs, Duluth Benedictine Ministries would, subject to its own agreement, become the Catholic sponsor of SFHS.

LeadingAge Minnesota member Vivie has announced the appointment of Mike Fryar as its new chief revenue officer. In this newly created executive role, Fryar will lead efforts to align marketing, sales and growth strategies across the organization's expanding continuum of services. Read the full press release below to learn more about Fryar's background and Vivie's vision for this new leadership position.

Every day across Minnesota, aging services professionals, volunteers, leaders, board members, and organizations make a difference in the lives of older adults. Some moments are extraordinary. Many are quiet acts of compassion, leadership, innovation, and service that deserve to be recognized.