IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Zumbrota Health Services Receives $20,000 to Support Workforce Development

SAINT PAUL – 12/1/17– Zumbrota Health Services received $20,000 from the LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation to address the growing challenge of workforce recruitment and retention in aging services.

“Workforce development continues to be the number one concern of aging services providers. These grants will spark new ways to recruit new people to the profession as well as to keep experienced staff committed to the field,” said Gayle Kvenvold, President and CEO, LeadingAge Minnesota.

Zumbrota Health services will use the $20,000 workforce solutions grant to improve employee stress and burnout by creating an Employee-only Wellness Suite and Wellness Coaching. This Wellness Suite includes treadmills, elliptical, free weights, workout equipment, massage chairs, and aromatherapy. Wellness coaches will provide personalized wellness plans for staff as well as customized smoking cessation programs. The purpose of this program is to give employees a way to combat stress and burnout – both work related and home – in a free, healthy manner, while creating a lower stress work environment and greater employee satisfaction.

The shortage of workers has a direct impact on older Minnesotans being able to get the care that they need in some communities. In 2016, more than 5,000 Minnesota care center admissions were denied due to lack of staff. By 2024, it is estimated that there will be more than 16,000 job openings for nursing assistants, home health aides, and other staff that serve seniors across the state.

“The grant awarded to Zumbrota Health Services will benefit the aging services field, as providers across the state will be able to share in the best practices that this grant will demonstrate,” Kvenvold said.

LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation received requested for more than $2.6 million in funding requests, which demonstrates the large need for solutions to address the caregiving crisis across the state. Examples of awarded projects include intercultural work coaches, literacy improvement tools for staff with English as a Second Language, and a career awareness toolkit addressing misconceptions about aging services jobs.