Infection Prevention and Control Capacity Building in Long-term Care in Minnesota

The 2025 Preventive Services in Long-term Care Grant Program, offered by the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care in Minnesota, aims to bolster the capacity of residential facilities serving older adults. This initiative directly aligns with a mission to address critical needs and enhance services for this vulnerable population. The program's core focus is on improving long-term care (LTC) communities' ability to ensure the safety and continuity of services for residents in skilled nursing/nursing facilities (SNF/NFs) and assisted living facilities (ALFs) located within Greater Minnesota. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are the residents of LTC facilities in Greater Minnesota, as well as the LTC workforce and other stakeholders. The overarching impact goal is to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases and enhance overall resident safety and service continuity. The program prioritizes two key areas: increasing transferrable infection prevention and control capacity among the LTC workforce and stakeholders, and improving facility ventilation and plant infrastructure to mitigate infectious disease transmission. Expected outcomes include a more knowledgeable and skilled LTC workforce in infection prevention and control, improved facility infrastructure to reduce disease spread, and ultimately, safer environments for older adults in LTC. Measurable results could involve tracking the number of staff trained, the types of supplies distributed, the extent of ventilation improvements, and a reduction in infectious disease outbreaks within participating facilities. The program also supports the development and dissemination of resources to achieve these goals. The estimated total funding available is $3,000,000, with individual awards ranging from $75,000 to $3,000,000. Grant agreements are anticipated to begin on March 1, 2025, and conclude on May 31, 2026. Eligible expenses are diverse, covering training, the purchase of infection prevention supplies (like vaccination and testing supplies, PPE), promotion of infection prevention strategies, partnerships with community health workers, train-the-trainer programs, and improvements to ventilation and plant infrastructure. The theory of change implicit in this grant is that by investing in workforce development, resource provision, and infrastructure enhancements, LTC facilities will be better equipped to prevent and control infections, leading to improved health outcomes and a higher quality of life for their residents.