Oct. 30, 2019

Featured News

Help Minnesota Develop an Assisted Living Report Card

On October 28, 2019 by Bobbie Guidry

Assisted living residents, family members, advocates, providers and other stakeholders can help the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) develop a new Assisted Living Report Card by completing an online survey and/or attending a statewide livestream event in November. 

This is your opportunity to help develop a meaningful tool for Minnesota’s older adults and families. We encourage you to participate in developing this tool by completing the survey and encouraging your residents, their family members, and staff to also participate. 

Background

The 2019 Legislature funded the development of an Assisted Living Report Card that will complement the Minnesota Nursing Home Report Card as a tool families can use to make decisions about long-term services and supports. 

Survey

All interested stakeholders can take the assisted living survey through the end of November.

The survey is being used to get feedback on the importance of resident quality of life, safety, health outcomes, staff quality and other aspects of assisted living. It was developed by the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health, in partnership with the DHS Aging and Adult Services Division and the Minnesota Board on Aging. 

Livestream Event

Providers and other stakeholders are also invited to participate in the Assisted Living: A Community Conversation livestream event. This free event takes place Monday, Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. to Noon and will be livestreamed to a variety of locations statewide. 

An expert panel in St. Paul and local facilitators throughout Minnesota will host a conversation about assisted living. Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the Assisted Living Report Card and learn about regulatory changes during the next several years and the implications for people served in these settings. 

To learn more or to register, visit Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging - Assisted Living: A Community Conversation. To submit requests for reasonable accommodations, email Rajean Moone. 

Additional opportunities

Stay up to date on future opportunities to participate in the development of the Assisted Living Report Card by subscribing to the stakeholder email list on the DHS Assisted Living Report Card webpage.

Promising Practice - Workforce: Resident Concierge Representatives

On October 28, 2019 by Jodi Boyne

Thinking of ways to expose potential employees to your community for possible recruitment? Give the prospective employee – and you – a chance to try out older adult services by creating a new position called a Resident Concierge Representative (RCR). Cassia, an affiliation between Elim Care and Augustana Care, created this new position at a few of its sites and is already seeing positive outcomes in recruitment and retention.   

RCRs are paid workers who perform tasks that do not require a license. For example, responding to call lights, delivering trays, taking residents to and from meals and activities, making beds, etc. 

Where to start? Reach out to your local workforce training centers. These organizations assist people who may be in a transitional period of their lives, or, are new to the workforce. Some may pay part of an RCR’s wages and offer support if the individual decides to enter a nursing assistant training class. High schools are also an option: work closely with your local schools that provide career or health care exploration programs to recruit students. 

What would your community need to do? RCRs are paid a lower wage – usually $3-4 less than a nurse aide’s salary – and do not receives overtime benefits, as they are limited to a maximum of 29 hours/week. If the RCR is hired, the community provides scholarships so that they can train as nursing assistants. 

How can our community make this work?

• Communicate the role and responsibilities thoroughly to RCR, residents/families, and staff.
• Use a special uniform and/or name tag to identify RCRs.
• Assign RCRs to the day shift or early evening for best supervision.
• Since RCRs tend to be in transition, consider a coordinator who can do life/work skills coaching or use the Employee Assistance Program. 

Outcomes:

RCRs are now working at three sites. Almost all (86%) of the seven RCRs at one site become nursing assistants and all of them stayed with the organization for more than six months. Three-quarters (75%) of the 12 RCRs at another site became nursing assistants and 67% stayed for more than six months. A third site is now starting the program. 

Find out more about RCRs here.

Project ECHO: Free, Innovative Dementia Training Opportunity for LeadingAge MN Members

On October 28, 2019 by Lori Meyer

The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to announce it is now accepting Request for Proposals (RFPs) for the second round of the Project ECHO Assisted Living Communities program. The deadline for submission is Friday, Nov. 15. 

Project ECHO is an internationally recognized training program to build skills and capacity in serving those with chronic, common and complex diseases. Through this ground-breaking collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Association nationally and here in Minnesota, Project ECHO focuses on person-centered quality dementia care and gives participating members the opportunity to access training for their caregiving teams via a unique distance learning training tool and proven skill development framework. 

Participating members will have access to expert faculty and leading researchers on providing quality dementia care based on the Alzheimer’s Association Dementia Care Practice Recommendations, using Project ECHO‘s distance learning training format emphasizing case study learning.

The entire six-month program is delivered via Zoom technology—to minimize travel time and expense while providing a ‘virtual conference room’ to share and learn. The program includes 12 one-hour teleECHO conferences—one every other week—and there is NO COST to members to participate. 

The second cohort will begin in January 2020 and will consist of 8-10 assisted living settings. Because participation is limited, we are using a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to select participants. 

Learn more about this opportunity and access the RFP here. Submission deadling is Friday, Nov. 15.

State News

Deadline Extended for State Grants to Elderly Waiver Customized Living Providers

On October 29, 2019 by Jeff Bostic

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has extended the deadline for responding to the RFP for a grant program to improve the resident experience in  Customized Living. The deadline to submit a proposal is now Dec. 9. 

There are $1 million grants available. The grant program was designed to give preference to Customized Living providers who serve a high proportion of Elderly Waiver clients, with those over 50% receiving bonus points on their application and those over 75% receiving even more. However, that criterion is worth only 15 out of 100 points. 

We encourage all enrolled Customized Living providers who have an idea for how to use grant funding to improve their residents’ experience to apply since they may score well enough in other parts of the application to receive a grant.

Home Care Matters Provider Call Takes Place Nov. 14

On October 30, 2019 by Sue Boyd

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will host a Home Care and Assisted Living Program teleconference on Thurs., Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Featured topics include regulatory updates and issues affecting home care in Minnesota.  

Information on the teleconference will soon be posted on the MDH/HCALP website. We encourage Assisted Living and Home Care members to sign up for Home Care Matters Email Updates to receive information about upcoming calls. 

If you are unable to participate in the teleconference, information shared on the call will be available on the MDH Home Care Matters web page for three months.

Federal News

CMS Division Director Addresses LeadingAge Conference

On October 30, 2019 by Jeff Bostic

Evan Shulman, national Director of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Nursing Homes, offered a Regulatory Update during this week’s LeadingAge national conference in San Diego.  Here are a few highlights from his Oct. 29 remarks:  

Shulman began by noting that the Consumer Alert Icon (see our previous reporting on this issue) is now live on Nursing Home Compare. The icon calls attention to care centers that have received citations relating to abuse. Shulman defended the agency’s policy, indicating that it offers consumers important information and that it affects just 5% of nursing homes nationally.  In response to questioning about the appropriateness of the symbol CMS has chosen to use, he said it is time to “stop debating the icon” and to focus on work that prevents abuse from occurring. 

Shulman could not comment on the proposed rule to delay certain Phase 3 Requirements (see our website for additional information on that proposal), except to say that CMS is reviewing public comments received during the rulemaking process.  

He would not give a date when CMS will release interpretive guidelines for the Phase 3 Requirements of Participation but stated that CMS will give surveyors and providers some reasonable but not yet specified period of time to study and implement the guidance after the guidance is released. CMS understands that it cannot expect immediate implementation.  

Shulman also implied that work on the proposed rule and finalization of the regulatory guidance are linked, saying CMS wants to coordinate the work so that surveyors and providers will have clear information about future regulatory expectations.

We will share additional details from Shulman’s presentation in a future edition of Advantage.

U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Legislation to Address Social Isolation for Seniors

On October 28, 2019 by Jodi Boyne

Social isolation is a growing epidemic among older adults. Nearly half of older adults feel isolated, alone or left out, and seniors who experience social isolation face a 29% increased risk of mortality. U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) is addressing this challenge by introducing legislation to counter the detrimental and physical effects of social isolation among seniors. 

The Older Americans Social Isolation and Loneliness Prevention Act would revise the Older Americans Act to create supports and services so states can better coordinate and address social isolation and loneliness among seniors. 

"Connectedness to communities is important for seniors and our economy to thrive," said U.S. Senator Tina Smith. "The bill would make it possible for states to pursue projects that address social isolation and loneliness, and support prevention and other supportive services for seniors in Minnesota and across the country." 

The legislation's suggested revisions to the Older Americans Act include: support for screening for prevention of social isolation and coordination of supportive services and healthcare; expanded authority for the assistant secretary for aging on social isolation and loneliness via long-term planning and an interagency working group with aging network stakeholders; and permitting states to pursue grant funding for initiatives to counter social isolation and loneliness among seniors.

U.S. House Passes Older Adults Act Re-Authorization

On October 30, 2019 by Jodi Boyne

The U.S. House of Representatives this week voted unanimously to pass the Dignity in Aging Act, which reauthorizes the Older Americans Act (OAA) and increases funding for vital programs that help aging Americans live independently and with dignity.

The OAA currently serves approximately 11 million older Americans, including three million seniors who regularly rely on OAA programs to meet their most basic needs. Specifically, the bill:

• authorizes a 7 percent funding increase for OAA programs in the first year, then annual 6 percent hikes in the following years;
• establishes a National Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Center for the Aging Network in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of HHS; and
• provides more tailored support to family caregivers who play a vital role in helping Americans maintain their independence as much as possible.

It also puts greater emphasis on addressing social isolation among seniors by empowering local organizations to test solutions. 

Notable News

Focus on Staff Strengths

On October 28, 2019 by Jenna Kellerman

Focusing on an individual team member’s strengths is more effective than focusing on improving weaknesses. One study showed a stark difference in engagement scores: 67% were engaged when their supervisor focused on strengths, as opposed to only 30% being engaged when their supervisor focused on weaknesses.  

Staff better understand their responsibilities, produce higher quality work and have a higher retention rate in strengths-based cultures. Consider tools and resources for your team, such as StrengthsFinder 2.0 or other assessments. 

Get more information in the Workforce Center. Questions? Contact Jenna Kellerman.

LeadingAge MN Foundation Seeks Silent Auction Donations

On October 30, 2019 by Lori Meyer

The LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation is excited to announce our 4th Annual Silent Auction that will take place at the 2020 Institute & Expo. Thanks to your generosity in previous years, we have raised over $25,000 to support the critical work of the Foundation. With your help, we can make this year’s auction even more successful!  

Please consider making a donation to this popular event. We are looking for items at all price points, and can accept both personal and corporate donations. Click here to complete a donation form. If you need ideas on what to donate, see this list of suggested items.

Through your support, the Foundation is able to:

• Provide higher education scholarships for caregivers and other staff;
• Support leadership training to develop our next generation of leaders;
• Provide resources and training to strengthen member boards;
• Provide grants to advance effective workforce strategies;
• Develop training and resources to overcome workforce barriers; and
• Pilot new care delivery strategies.

THANK YOU for your support!

Member New

Making Zero Harm Possible: Activities Team at Divine Providence Community Home

On October 30, 2019 by Jodi Boyne

The Activities Team from Divine Providence Community Home of Sleepy Eye was recently recognized with a Make Zero Harm Possible award from LeadingAge Minnesota.  

The award recognizes individuals and staff teams in aging services settings who demonstrate their commitment to safe, quality care and to treating the people they serve with respect and dignity – always.

Recognized for their leadership, commitment and dedication were ShellyRae Zinniel, Beth Vait-Kosel, Linda Mattson and Rae Mudick.

“A focus on person-centered care and services where residents are engaged in developing and participating in programs that best meet their interests and needs is how we help people in aging services settings experience a high quality of life as they age,” said Gayle Kvenvold, President and CEO, LeadingAge Minnesota. “The Activities Team at Divine Providence Community keep respect and dignity at the center of their work, create individual and group activities that engage residents, and provide a positive experience for all who participate.”  

The Activities Team creates individual and group activities that feature guest entertainers, intergenerational learning and joy-filled events that help residents experience engagement at Divine Providence and in the broader community The Team also takes the lead in customizing resident rooms so that their surroundings reflect who they are as individuals and give other staff an opportunity to learn more about the residents they serve.  

The Make Zero Harm Possible award is one component of LeadingAge Minnesota’s Safe Care for Seniors initiative, a comprehensive safety and quality improvement program. The program is designed to strengthen the culture of safety, prevent the risk of harm before it occurs, and uncover new opportunities for learning and improvement in the delivery of care and services. 

To see all recipients of the Make Zero Harm Possible Award or to nominate someone, visit Make Zero Harm Possible.

Dr. Mary Tjosvold Inducted into Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame

On October 30, 2019 by Jodi Boyne

Dr. Mary Tjosvold, Founder & CEO of Mary T. Inc., has been selected by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO-MN) as a 2019 inductee to the Minnesota Women Business Owners Hall of Fame.  

In 1976, Mary Tjosvold co-founded Mary T. Inc. with her mother on land along Sand Creek that she inherited from her grandmother, Rosa Camille Williams. Mary T. Inc. launched by opening Camilia Rose Group Home, one of the first community-based settings in the United States to serve people with multiple disabilities.  Mary T. Inc. has expanded into rental and senior housing, home health care, additional human service program options, independent living services and hospice care. The company now operates multiple locations in Minnesota and three other states. 

In 2014, Tjosvold opened Crooners Supper Club which has become a premier music venue.

“​Many of us make a difference in the lives of people in our community,” said Mary Tjosvold. “This award is only possible because of the support and forward thinking of my Grandmother, Rosa Camille, my mother Margaret, and the people who work and are served as part of the Mary T. Inc. organization. I am grateful for this award and everyone who makes our work possible.”