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Of Special Note
We look forward to seeing many of you next week in Redmond. In the meantime, there has been a lot of action this week we want to be sure you’re aware of.
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Shel Reed, owner of ToCura Staffing, and a member of LeadingAge Oregon, understands today’s current staffing issues and has a plan for his agency to work with Provider Members to create strong partnerships between facilities and agencies.
Shel recognizes that many senior living communities have seen questionable fee schedules and tactics from staffing agencies and is hopeful that ToCura Staffing can move forward and create a solution to ensure adequate staffing and care for LeadingAge Oregon member residents and patients.
Of Special Note
Of Special Note
ACTION REQUESTED! SB 602 directs the Bureau of Labor and Industry to appoint a wage board to address challenges with long-term care employee recruitment and retention. If you dig deeper in the bill you will find this bill actually sets to establish a prevailing wage rate for community based care and nursing facility employees. While we support wage increases of long-term care employees, LeadingAge Oregon opposes a prevailing wage approach. This bill is flawed and was introduced without collaboration from stakeholders such as employers or long-term care associations. This bill would increase operational costs without any additional financial resources directed by an agency that doesn’t regulate long-term care. Please contact Senator Gelser Blouin urging the Senate Committee On Human Services to vote NO on SB 602.
This week we focused on HB 2665 regrading temporary staffing agencies and eagerly await the 3/22/23 hearing to find out if this bill will move forward. LeadingAge Oregon was featured in The Lund Report and in McKnights addressing the issue.
Of Special Note
The mask mandate will be lifted April 3rd. In all settings, and in all levels of care – Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is rescinding provisions in Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) 333-019-1011 that require workers in health care settings. I do expect OHA will issue guidance around masking during respiratory virus outbreaks but this the news we’ve been waiting for. Read more here.
Thankfully the last day to submit bills has passed...because 2,849 bills are more than enough for one session. Long timers in Salem are saying this one of the busiest sessions they’ve experienced.
Of Special Note
COVID-19 Guidance Office Hours. Yesterday you received a provider alert ODHS-23-013-CBC-NF sharing that ODHS & OHA will host “office hours” session for LTCF to answer questions about the recently published COVID-19 Guidance. This session is being held as a direct result of our members continued questions and concerns. If you have any lingering questions about COVID-19 compliance, we strongly encourage you to attend this session.
Of Special Note
More than 2,000 legislative bills have already been introduced in Oregon. We are tracking 87 bills ranging from housing; healthcare; and workforce related matters such as: SB 402 directing ODHS to enhance capacity of long term care workforce and increase quality of long term care services.
Of Special Note
The 2023 Legislative Session in Oregon has begun! Oh so many interesting bills have been introduced for consideration ranging from HB 2665 - establishing maximum annual rates a temporary staffing agency may charge a health care provider; to HB 2408 - enacting interstate nurse licensure compact. We anticipate the Governor’s recommended budget will be released early February. We’ll share the bills we are tracking along the way, and the LeadingAge Oregon legislative committee will assist in establishing our bill priorities.
Is your community interested in leveraging feedback and insights from key stakeholders? Having accurate data about how your organization is managed and viewed by residents is an asset that can have a tremendous impact on your community’s long-term success. Good data allows organizations to establish baselines, benchmarks, and goals to keep moving forward.
If your leadership team is seeking data to assist in decision-making, consider Resident Views (RV) as a prime source for obtaining data.
LeadingAge Oregon is excited to announce a partnership with Drive, an education and consulting firm that helps improve staff retention, employee engagement, and recruitment.
One of several programs available to LeadingAge Oregon members is The Stability Zone. This online program that is brimming easy-to-implement stress-busting advice in bite-sized videos.
Designed To Meet and Accomplish Passive House Certification Upon Completion, Parkview Will Be One Of The Largest Passive House Certified Senior Living Buildings In The U.S.
LRS Architects, a firm that values innovation, creativity, and collaboration, is proud to announce its partnership with Terwilliger Plaza, Walsh Construction, and PAE on the design and construction of Parkview, an expansion to the current campus that will set a new standard for senior living. Upon completion, Parkview, a ten-level, 370,000 square foot building offering 127 independent living apartment homes designed with modern Passive House principles, will contribute to Portland's distinction as a national leader in sustainable building practices. In early August, the skybridge will be erected and will eventually connect the Parkview expansion with the existing campus, which 350 people currently call home, while also creating an iconic gateway to the southern entrance to the city.
Eldergrow, a Seattle-based company that brings nature indoors to elders in senior living communities, is the centerpiece of a Federal Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) grant awarded to the LeadingAge Oregon Association. The Initiative named the GARDEN Project, will reach the needs of elders living in LeadingAge Oregon’s skilled nursing member communities. There are 8 communities involved in this grant, receiving a total number of 11 indoor therapeutic gardens across the state of Oregon.
Established in 1979, LeadingAge Oregon is dedicated to its mission of advancing quality aging services in Oregon through advocacy, education, and fellowship. Kristin Milligan, CEO of LeadingAge Oregon had this to say, “Partnering with Eldergrow on the GARDEN Project aligns with our organization’s commitment to providing our members with the support they need to improve the quality of care and life for their residents.”