Safe Care for Seniors
Currently, Minnesota is the only state in the nation that doesn’t license assisted living facilities. State lawmakers are working hard to make sure this changes for the safety of our aging population.
Historically, there has been a lack of a clear definition of assisted living. The diversity of care options that fall under assisted living have made it challenging to regulate and compare facilities. Some assisted living residences include shared housing communities that provide personal care services, while others have added memory units and provide skilled medical care.
Defined Care
The Minnesota Department of Health has proposed a multi-tiered licensing system that would be based on services offered and the needs of residents. The tiers would include basic care, comprehensive care and dementia care. These tiers would help clarify the services a facility provides, giving residents and their caretakers a clear understanding of what types of care to expect.
The Benefits of Accountability
In regulating assisted living facilities, residents can be assured they are receiving the care they need in a clean and safe environment. Currently, residents in assisted living facilities in Minnesota can be discharged for any reason. This bill would provide clear rules and regulations for when and why services can be terminated, ensuring residents continue to receive the appropriate care when needed.
“For many years, Northfield Retirement Community (NRC) has had a comprehensive licensure for the services offered in our assisted living facilities,” says NRC President and CEO Kyle Nordine. “NRC’s commitment to seniors each day is unwavering. Caregiving is our calling and we do everything we can to provide safe, quality care.”
In Support of Safety
At NRC, we are dedicated to supporting advancements and changes that improve the elder care system and continuing to provide a safe, comfortable environment that empowers residents to live active, fulfilling lives in a place they can call home.
To learn more about the services and living options that NRC provides, visit: northfieldretirement.org/living-services.
This story is from the May 2019 issue of Northfield Retirement Community's newsletter, NRC Insights. Read the full issue here.