What’s new for: Aging

2013 spring flooding emergency preparedness resources online

As some areas of the state may face flooding this spring, individuals, families and caregivers of seniors can take steps to prepare for floods and other emergencies. Being prepared can increase your ability to care for yourself and others during a disaster. More information on emergency preparedness for seniors and their families is online.

Nursing home quality conference is May 16 in St. Cloud

The yearly conference of the Minnesota Performance-based Incentive Payment Program (PIPP) for Nursing Home Quality is set for May 16 at the St. Cloud River’s Edge Conference Center. With the theme “Maximizing Networks to Achieve Resident-directed Care,” the conference will include opportunities for participants to share their experiences with such topics as improving resident health through reduction of medications, creating data tools to monitor program effectiveness, creating a palliative care program and consumer-centered discharge planning. The PIPP conference is presented in a partnership between Minnesota nursing homes, DHS, the University of Minnesota and Indiana University. More information is in a flier about the conference (PDF).

Simplified application launched for seniors to access healthy food

To increase seniors’ access to nutritious foods, the Minnesota Department of Human Services announced the launch of a new one-page application for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for Minnesotans age 60 and older. More information is in a news release about the SNAP application for seniors.

Nursing Home Report Card revamped for easier use

A more user-friendly Nursing Home Report Card with more detailed information (including daily payment rates) on Minnesota nursing facilities has been introduced by DHS and the Minnesota Department of Health. The Nursing Home Report Card, at nhreportcard.dhs.mn.gov, helps consumers compare the quality of care in nursing homes across the state. More information is in a news release about the report card.

Staff share commitment to performance measurement

Top state leaders recently heard about efforts in the DHS Continuing Care Administration to measure progress toward such policy goals as helping seniors return to their homes after a nursing home stay and helping people with disabilities move to homes of their own. DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson introduced the team to her colleagues at Gov. Mark Dayton’s senior leadership meeting Oct. 9, calling Continuing Care’s work a model for the rest of the agency. More information is in a story about the performance measurements efforts.

DHS launches ApplyMN online application for assistance programs

Minnesotans in need of health care, nutrition assistance, child care assistance and emergency assistance can now apply online through ApplyMN, applymn.dhs.mn.gov. This new site allows Minnesotans for the first time to fill out a single application online for a majority of public assistance programs.

MinnesotaHelp.info website features community resources

MinnesotaHelp.info® is a website featuring information on community resources for Minnesotans of all ages, with a special online tool to help seniors remain independent and live in their communities.

Special telephone equipment available to help people with hearing loss

The Telephone Equipment Distribution (TED) Program provides telephone equipment to people who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, or have a speech or mobility impairment and need adaptive equipment in order to use the phone. More information about the TED program is available online.

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