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A two-part governance workshop series for executive and board teams explores how to position your organization for strength and growth as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Want to know more about Safe Care for Seniors? Join our 3-part virtual workshop A Practical Guide to Providing Safe Care for Seniors on April 6, 13 and 20. This series is for organizations wanting to learn about this initiative and staff in participating organizations who have not yet completed training.

Click here to see details and register.

Calling all members – join our largest advocacy event of the year, the virtual Week at the Minnesota State Capitol, March 15-19. We need your voice to raise awareness for the needs of older adults and their caregivers with lawmakers.

Employer applications are being accepted for the 2021 Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP). Hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, home care providers and adult day services facilities are encouraged to participate on behalf of qualified students in their community.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), through the State Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) Initiative, is seeking proposals from qualified Minnesota Medicaid-Certified Nursing Facilities that are interested in implementing an online Dementia Care Training and Certification Program.

As part of our Safe Care for Seniors work, we have a process in place for collaborative learning and sharing called “Safe Tables.” A Safe Table is a safe space to come together and explore a specific and actionable quality/safety issue by conducting a deep dive into the key factors contributing to the issue and developing and sharing successful strategies and tools.

Federal lawmakers continue to move forward with a COVID-10 response package. Last weekend, the House passed the $1.9 trillion package and now the legislation is being considered in the Senate.
While the current package includes investments in infection control teams for care centers and an enhanced Medicaid match for HCBS Waivers, it fails to provide to the existing Provider Relief Fund.

The Minnesota Department of Health will host two webinars on assisted living licensure in upcoming days.

First, on March 4 from 10-11:30 a.m., MDH will host a presentation regarding assisted living licensure in relation to customized living providers. Presentation materials will after the call at Assisted Living Fact Sheets.

Join us on March 17 at 2 p.m. for an open discussion on the application process for licensing as an Assisted Living Director (LALD). To accommodate a Minnesota Department of Health webinar on assisted living licensure on March 18 from 10 - 11:30 a.m., we moved the LALD Coaching Room from its original date and time.

The Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, is soliciting grant proposals from providers of adult day care, home care, and housing with services to provide educational scholarships for their employees. You can find the HCBS Scholarship Program details, application, and forms on the MDH website.

The Minnesota Department of Health Case Mix Review team released information on updated documentation requirements when isolation is coded on the MDS under O0100M. This updated information will be effective for all MDS’ with an assessment reference date (ARD) on or after Friday, March 5. In order to correctly code O0100M, Isolation on the MDS, case mix review auditors will check for required documentation in the resident’s medical record. This required documentation includes:

On Feb. 18, DHS sent a communication to all enrolled customized living providers about new assisted living facility licensure requirements and how they affect providers’ ability to provide customized living services. The communication was sent to each provider’s MN-ITS.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services, through the Nursing Facility Rates and Policy (NFRP) Division and the State Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) Initiative, is seeking proposals from qualified Minnesota Medicaid-Certified Nursing Facilities that are interested in implementing a Dementia Live Training Program.

If you have questions about applying for a Courage Fund through LeadingAge MN Foundation (LAMF), join a 45-minute Grant Responders’ Call from 11 - 11:45 a.m. on March 11. Register for call in advance.

Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

In senior care, many of us are doubling up on trauma exposure, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is one thing to experience a traumatic event personally—and another to do this in addition to watching others cope with trauma daily. This can have negative effects on our well-being. Fortunately, we can experience post-traumatic stress without this becoming a long-term issue. Our resilience strategies can help. 

On February 10^th, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a MMWR article discussing well-fitting masks. The study shows the better a mask fits around the user’s face, the better the protection against contracting COVID-19. Methods to increase mask fitting include a mask fitter, tucking and looping a surgical or procedural mask, or wearing a cloth mask over the surgical or procedure mask.

In the most recent update from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), based on data through last Wednesday, clear progress on completing vaccination clinics has been made. At that point, 43% of care centers had completed their third vaccination clinics, and 56% of assisted livings had conducted a second clinic. Both numbers rose dramatically in just the last week, keeping the program on track to complete all clinics in a few weeks.

MDH was able to order a large number of doses of the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson Janssen Ad-Vac (J&J), which utilizes 1 dose to vaccinate against COVID-19. The doses will be delivered to the state mid-week.

Heath care workers (HCW) and travel is a topic that continues to elicit questions because of the complexity and multivariate nature of the guidance. Current guidance from the Minnesota Department of Health recommends abstaining from travel due to the pandemic. If HCWs decide to travel, you should consider the following information as you create organizational protocols that best address your expectations regarding travel to keep staff and residents safe.

As March begins, state health officials reported a new vaccine milestone. As of March 2, 53% of Minnesota seniors received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Building off this announcement, Governor Tim Walz stated that his administration will not move on from the current vaccine distribution phase until 70% of Minnesotan’s ages 65 and over have been fully vaccinated. With the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine arriving in Minnesota this week, Walz believes the state can reach the 70% senior benchmark by April. Here is what you need to know about what’s happening at the Capitol:

To survive and thrive in a post-COVID reality, nonprofit providers will need to maintain their missions of service while operating and performing like a business. Our two-part governance workshop, Next Gen Governance for a Next Gen World is for executive and board teams will explore governance practices that will help your organizations emerge strongly through the pandemic and beyond.

Attend a 3-part virtual workshop A Practical Guide to Providing Safe Care for Seniors starting April 6. This series is for organizations wanting to learn about this initiative and staff in participating organizations who have not yet completed training.

Join us on March 18 at 10 a.m. for an open discussion on the application process for licensing as an Assisted Living Director (LALD). The session will provide an overview of the application process for individuals who qualify as legacy directors. There will be ample time for individual questions.

Cassia, a LeadingAge Minnesota member organization, has acquired a minority ownership share in Genevive, complementing the existing ownership of Allina Health and Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS). Genevive is a geriatric medical practice and care management organization providing comprehensive care for over 7,000 older adults throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, is soliciting grant proposals from providers of adult day care, home care, and housing with services to provide educational scholarships for their employees. You can find the HCBS Scholarship Program details, application, and forms on the MDH website.

Last year, we recognized the first fifty-one LeadingAge Minnesota members who had been named to the Safe Care for Seniors Action Honor Roll. This year we are on track to recognize several additional organizations that have demonstrated key actions within each of the 5 Safe Care Action Steps. We will also be recognizing our first group of members who have achieved the highest level of Safe Care – the Excellence Level.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services, through the Nursing Facility Rates and Policy (NFRP) Division and the State Civil Monetary Penalties (CMP) Initiative, is seeking proposals from qualified Minnesota Medicaid-Certified Nursing Facilities that are interested in implementing a Cycling Without Age (CWA) Program.

Our partners at LeadingAge Housing Advisory Group now have five Workgroups to share information among members, to improve programs, and to inform LeadingAge advocacy to HUD and to Congress.

On February 19, HUD opened the application period for Calendar Year 2021 (CY21) Service Coordinator program renewals in GrantSolutions. Under a compressed timeline for the delayed grant renewals, applications are due by March 22, with disbursements projected for June or July.

Under CMS emergency preparedness regulations, nursing facilities are required to conduct two emergency preparedness testing exercises annually – with exercises alternating between full-scale functional exercises and exercises of choice (mock drill, table-top exercise, workshop).