News

Assisted living providers routinely face difficult questions about whether a person can safely move in (or remain in the community) when decision-making, communication or disability-related needs complicate the situation. Two new Minnesota laws change how providers must approach those decisions.

Beginning Aug. 1, Minnesota’s vulnerable adult maltreatment system will change in three connected ways: the definitions are broader, county responsibilities are clearer, and investigative records may remain available longer.

New Maltreatment Definitions Expand the Reporting Lens

The updated definition of sexual abuse addresses nonconsensual sexual interactions as well as sexually harassing conduct through oral, written, gestured, or electronic communication. It also expressly includes making, viewing, or sharing sexual images or videos involving a vulnerable adult.

Financial exploitation now includes wrongfully coercing a vulnerable adult to perform work or services for another person’s profit or benefit.

The revised self-neglect definition adds a resident’s own financial mismanagement to the definition of self-neglect thereby allowing lead investigative agencies to find that the vulnerable adult cannot manage their financial affairs and are thus eligible for county adult protective services and other county-based services.

These changes may affect situations that staff previously viewed primarily as boundary, behavioral, or financial-management concerns. Simply updating the VA policy alone might not be enough for staff to fully understand the new sexual abuse definitions. Providing staff with practical examples that show when uncomfortable, inappropriate or concerning conduct crosses the line into a mandated report. Review the updated definitions.

APS Will Operate Under Clearer Expectations

Counties will have more standardized responsibilities for screening, assessment, intervention and intercounty conflicts. Emergency reports require immediate screening and, when accepted, an in-person assessment within 24 hours. Counties generally must make an initial decision on other referrals within seven days.

APS also has clear authority to enter licensed settings, interview individuals and obtain records needed for an assessment or investigation. Providers should make sure frontline staff know how to respond promptly while protecting confidentiality and the reporter’s identity. Review the APS provisions.

Older Reports May Remain Part of the Story

The law establishes different agency retention periods based on the report’s outcome:

• False reports: three years for MDH or DHS; five years for county APS
• Inconclusive reports: four years for MDH or DHS; five years for county APS
• Substantiated reports: seven years
• Reports without an investigation or final disposition: three years for MDH or DHS; five years for county APS

This does not create a new provider record-retention mandate. It does mean prior reports may remain available when agencies evaluate later concerns or possible patterns. Review the retention requirements.

What Providers Should Do Now

Providers should review their vulnerable-adult maltreatment policies, employee training, reporting procedures and incident-review tools to ensure they reflect the expanded definitions and APS requirements. That review should include:

• Updating examples of sexual abuse to address sexually harassing messages, gestures, images, videos and other electronic communication—not only physical contact.
• Training staff to distinguish consensual resident expression from conduct that may involve coercion, harassment, exploitation or an inability to consent.
• Examining whether resident work, assistance or other activity could improperly benefit another person without appropriate authority or compensation.
• Helping staff recognize when a resident’s inability to manage finances may constitute self-neglect and require reporting or referral for support.
• Reviewing procedures for suspected theft, misuse of resident funds, unusual transactions and financial exploitation.
• Ensuring employees know how to respond when APS arrives at a licensed setting or requests interviews, records, medical information or other nonpublic data.
• Clarifying who coordinates the organization’s response to APS while preserving confidentiality and protecting the reporter’s identity.
• Updating incident-review forms so reviewers consistently consider the new definitions, document the reporting decision and record any immediate protective action taken.

The goal is not simply to revise policy language. Best practices include providing staff with practical examples that help them recognize when a concerning interaction, electronic message or financial situation may cross the line into reportable maltreatment.

Want to learn about other laws passed in 2026 that impact senior service organizations? Check out LeadingAge MN’s 2026 Legislative Report.

Every election season, senior housing communities receive calls from candidates asking to visit residents. These requests can raise as many questions as opportunities. While candidates are eager to meet older voters—one of the most civically engaged groups in Minnesota—property managers are focused on resident comfort, safety, and operations.

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.

A licensing concern, background study issue or missing record may no longer remain confined to one part of an organization. Under Minnesota's new program integrity laws, compliance problems can quickly spread across licensing, billing, managed care and payment systems, with potentially significant financial consequences for providers.

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.

Federally regulated affordable housing programs, including Section 202 and elderly-designated Section 8 communities, are subject to complex reporting and compliance requirements. Staying current on evolving HUD expectations is essential to reducing compliance risk.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on May 21, 2026 issued a new requirement for certain federally assisted housing providers to reverify the immigration status of certain tenants within 30 days.

Every day, someone in your organization makes a difference.

Maybe it's the caregiver who consistently goes above and beyond for residents. The maintenance technician who quietly solves problems before anyone notices. The dining team member who brightens every meal. The volunteer who gives their time so generously. Or perhaps it's a team whose innovation has improved care, safety, or quality of life.

Join us for our final two Fund Developer Network meetings of the year, both held virtually over the lunch hour.

Yesterday marked the completion of the second of four webinars for LeadingAge Minnesota’s Emergency Preparedness Training Series for assisted living providers and nursing homes.

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. 

A review of mechanical lift–related falls in Quarter 4 of 2025 reveals clear, recurring patterns. These events highlight system-level gaps that can be addressed with reliable processes and consistent practices.