Minnesotans can help shape Assisted Living Report Card

Finding care for yourself or a family member can be one of the most important and difficult tasks you will ever face, but a new tool will help make it easier. Minnesotans can participate in the development of a state-sponsored Assisted Living Report Card this fall.

Governor Tim Walz and the 2019 Legislature approved development of the report card, which will complement the Minnesota Nursing Home Report Card as a tool families can use to make decisions about long-term services and supports.

One way that assisted living residents, family members, consumer advocates, providers and other stakeholders can provide input is by participating in a survey developed by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health in partnership with DHS and the Minnesota Board on Aging.

The survey is designed to get feedback on the importance of resident quality of life, safety and health outcomes as well as staff quality and other aspects of assisted living.

Open through the end of November, it can be found online at z.umn.edu/assistedliving.

“We are encouraging a wide array of stakeholders to help develop the Assisted Living Report Card to ensure it is a valuable tool for all Minnesotans interested in their options for long-term services and supports,” said Assistant Commissoner Dan Pollock.

DHS and the Board on Aging also are inviting counties, tribes, health plans, home- and community-based service providers, discharge planners and other stakeholders to participate in a community conversation about assisted living, which will take place Monday, Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to noon.

The event will originate with an expert panel in St. Paul and be livestreamed to a variety of locations statewide. In addition to providing feedback on the Assisted Living Report Card, participants can learn more about historic reforms to the regulatory framework and consumer protections within assisted living that the Minnesota Legislature passed in 2019. Participation is free but registration is required. More information is available at www.mnlcoa.org/assistedliving.

“DHS and the Board on Aging also are planning other presentations as well as resident and family satisfaction and quality of life surveys in 2020 and 2021,” said Kari Benson, executive director of the Minnesota Board on Aging and director of the DHS Aging and Adult Services Division.

“These will inform the first iteration of the Assisted Living Report Card, expected later in 2021.”

Anyone interested in future opportunities to participate in developing the Assisted Living Report Card can subscribe to a DHS email list on the Assisted Living Report Card project webpage.