Assisted Living Licensure | Elder Voice Family Advocates

Assisted Living Licensure in Minnesota

Through the hard work and dedication of Elder Voice Advocates, the Minnesota Department of Health, and many others, we passed legislation that protects elders.

MDH Assisted Living Licensure

Facilities Prohibited From

Retaliation
Deceptive marketing
Discrimination based on source of payment

Resident's Rights

Clarifies right to in-room camera or other device
Ongoing assessments of service needs
24-hour access to on call RN

Facility Requirements

Licensure for facility, administrators, & Home Care Providers
Minimum health, safety, & comfort standards
Single service contract, directly accountable to resident
24-hour awake staff. No exceptions.

Legislative Changes

The Assisted Living Licensure law under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144G & MN Rule 4659 was passed by the 2019 Minnesota Legislature. The law establishes regulatory standards for housing and services for assisted living facilities, and assisted living facilities with dementia care. The goal is to ensure the health, safety, well-being, and appropriate treatment of residents. The Minnesota Department of Health has now adopted rules for all assisted living facilities to promote person-centered care, ensure resident rights are protected, resident choice is allowed, and public health and safety is ensured.

MN Legislator - CH.144G Statutes

Elder Voice Celebrates Assisted Living Licensure

Special thanks to Judy Meyer for her work on this video.

Advocacy Support Through Donations

We are thrilled to have achieved this landmark legislation and we know diligent enforcement will be needed to ensure quality, accountable care for our loved ones in assisted living.

Legislative representation at the Minnesota legislature is the one area we are unable to secure foundation funding. Additionally, we will not be able to rely on the lobbying support from other advocacy groups to offset the deep pockets of the industry who have many lobbyists fighting for their interests, and against the residents and families interests. Therefore, we are dependent on the donations from our supporters. We need funding for advocacy work with public policy makers such as:

Minnesota Department of Health

Minnesota Department of Human Services

Legislators

Public policy makers

Elder Voice Advocates (“Elder Voice”) is working to assure quality care for elders and vulnerable adults who reside at a long-term care facilities. Additionally, we work to strengthen the protections such as prohibitions on retaliation, arbitrary terminations, and establishment of a victims maltreatment fund. This requires constant vigilance on the developments in the long-term care industry and the public policy threats and opportunities.

There are three levels of advocacy, starting with the base level of defensive advocacy and moving up to the most aggressive level.

SUPPORTIVE

$12,000 Goal

We seek to support a number of bills in the next legislative session. As the Minnesota Department of Health plans for next year, we want to continue supporting issues like pay increases for facility staff, increases in government payments for elderly waiver residents, & programs for marginalized communities.

DEFENSIVE

$25,000 Goal

Fights attempts to pass blanket legal immunity to long-term care providers, reverse licensure laws & other harmful regulation.
This requires fact- finding and education of harmful impacts to elders and vulnerable adults for legislators, regulators, and other supportive advocates.

PROACTIVE

$45,000 Goal

Promote legislation focused on minimum staffing levels, training requirements, stronger electronic monitoring protections, increased funding for Minnesota Department of Health to enforce licensure, increased penalties for violations, & more.

As the only independent advocacy group defending and protecting elders and vulnerable adults living in long-term care in MN, we rely on funding from supporters like you. Historically, grant makers fund little legislative advocacy and we cannot rely on lobbying support from other groups. We invite you to join us in this critical work by sharing your story or donating today!

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