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On March 10, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated two quality and safety oversight memos to align more closely with the previously updated guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Two weeks ago, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, and other providers licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) transitioned back to fingerprint-based background studies beginning for new employees.

The Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging (MNLCOA) invites you to join a virtual Combating Ageism workshop on March 24 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Through our partnership with the Performance Excellence Network (PEN), LeadingAge Minnesota members receive discounted registration for the May PENworks Conference. This year’s conference theme is “CHARTING THE COURSE: Leading Forward” and features over 25 local, regional and national speakers, each sharing best practices centered on visionary leadership, organizational resilience, valuing people, and innovation. 

Registration is open for the Minnesota Health Care Engineers Association (MHCEA) Spring Conference, set for May 5-6 at Grand Casino Hinckley. 

On-demand content from the Virtual Institute and select sessions from the in-person conference are now available online for registered participants. Content is available for viewing and earning CEUs through April 30, 2022.

The application deadline for the 2022 Leadership Academy is Tuesday, March 15.

“Life changing.”

“Best leadership training I’ve ever had.”

“A smart investment in our future.”

Registration is open for the 2022 Sales & Marketing in Senior Living Certificate Program, happening in person on April 12, May 10, and June 14.

LeadingAge Minnesota presented the District Caregiver of the Year Awards at the recent Institute & Expo.

The District Caregiver of the Year Award honors individuals in older adult services who demonstrate exceptional commitment to older adults and enhance and enrich the quality of life of those in their care. The honorees were selected for the regional award out of a field of 50,000 professional caregivers throughout the state.

Erin Huppert has joined the LeadingAge Minnesota team as the Vice President of Advocacy. We asked Erin five questions to help you get to know her.

Employer applications are being accepted for the 2022 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 White House’s strategy to address the national mental health crisis, outlined on March 1 in a fact sheet and formally announced during President Biden's March 2 State of the Union speech, includes training HUD service coordinators, housing counselors, and fair housing grantee staff to be equipped to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and addiction among those they serve. HUD will train staff in these roles to recognize the signs of emotional distress and connect residents with mental health resources.

During the Coaching Room on March 1, members asked questions about tuberculosis (TB) programs in assisted living. As a result of the questions from the Coaching Room, we've taken the two most asked questions and responded.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has posted an updated flyer with information on physical inspections during the COVID-19 pandemic, replacing an earlier version published in 2021.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced an enforcement memorandum for a short-term increase in highly focused inspections directed at hospitals and skilled nursing care facilities that treat or handle COVID-19 patients.

The Pipeline Dual Training Grant officially opened for application this week. Applications will be accepted through April 12 for up to $150,000 in grants to help employers build dual-training programs.

This week, the House Human Services Committee took up HF 2283, a bill to allow Minnesota to fully implement the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a nationally recognized and supported community-based model of care for frail older adults.

This May 16-18, thousands of senior living professionals, operators, owners, executives, and community leaders will gather in Minneapolis for the next edition of the Senior Living Executive Conference & Expo, the official meeting of Argentum.

Join the Minnesota Department of Health's Health Regulation Division starting March 8 to learn how your Assisted Living facility can prepare for emergencies. The first Lunch and Learn will provide an overview of emergency preparedness and why the requirements in the law are essential to protect Minnesotans residing in assisted living facilities.

Next Wednesday, March 9, at 11 a.m, CliftonLarsonAllen is offering a free webinar on Provider Relief Fund (PRF) reporting. The webinar will address the complexity associated with compliance audits of the use of PRF funds and general reporting issues, including allowable uses of the Nursing Home Infection Control Payments.

“One of the best investments we have made is sending people through Leadership Academy.” This was spoken by the CEO of a member organization at the recent Institute & Expo. “They are our succession plans – we need this now more than ever!”

Jill Gustafson, Director of Nursing at Lake Ridge Care Center in Buffalo, MN, was honored by LeadingAge Minnesota with the Outstanding Leadership Award at the LeadingAge Minnesota Institute & Expo.

We are pleased to announce that Erin Huppert has joined LeadingAge Minnesota as the Vice President of Advocacy. She will lead public policy and advocacy strategies on behalf of the organization and its members.

Pre-meal safety checks can help prevent harmful mistakes related to food allergies and modified food textures. A new LeadingAge Minnesota Safe Care resource, Preventing Dietary Safety Events, is available to address these two dietary safety issues that have emerged from analysis of OHFC substantiated event reports and Immediate Jeopardy citations:

With a goal of eliminating preventable harm in the course of caregiving, the LeadingAge Minnesota Safe Care initiative directly addresses the White House’s recent call for nursing homes to prevent resident harm and improve safety and quality.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) recently informed LeadingAge Minnesota that they are ending this current round of Assisted Living Resident Satisfaction surveys. The surveys are currently being conducted under contract by Vital Research.

As case counts are starting to decrease in Minnesota, questions about eye protection arise. The level of community transmission guides the use of universal eye protection. Those individuals in counties with high to substantial transmission rates are more likely to have contact with someone who is asymptomatic and positive for COVID-19.

On Jan. 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2. There were two small changes to the guidance.

The Minnesota Office of Management and Budget (MMB) released the February budget forecast earlier this week. This budget will guide lawmakers as they determine their spending priorities in the current legislative session. Since the last forecast in November, the budget surplus for the two years ended June 30, 2023, has grown by $1.5 billion to a historic $9.25 billion.

This week President Biden announced a wide-ranging nursing home reform initiative to be implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The announcement was timed to coincide with the State of the Union Address, but President Biden made only a very brief reference to one small part of his reform package in his speech Tuesday evening. After analyzing the proposal, we have more questions than answers, and the timeline for change is unclear.