Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs Saluted Twice at Industry Conference

(KNSI) – The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs was saluted with two awards at the LeadingAge Minnesota conference last week.

Minnesota Veterans Homes – Silver Bay received the “Stars Among Us Excellence in Practice” recognition for its “Stars and Stripes Mentor Program.” It provides training to Certified Nursing Assistants. It is credited with improving employee retention rate from 56% in 2022 to 66% in 2023.

The Minneapolis facility also got the award for its “Memories of Mom” initiative. It is designed to create shared connections between the aging population the Department of Veterans Affairs serves despite growing diversity among the group.

Veterans were asked to take a survey about their moms, focusing on their favorite childhood meals. They then submitted recipes and photos. Cooks at the Minneapolis home would then use that as inspiration for one meal each week.

While eating, residents would gather and tell stories about their moms, creating a bond among them. The recipes were collected into a cookbook that will be sold as a fundraiser.

LeadingAge Minnesota called it “A fun and creative person-centered way to engage your participants and bring back such cherished memories of their mothers’ best recipes.”

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