State Representative Kristi Pursell (D-Northfield) met with Northfield nursing home leaders to talk about the staffing crisis in long-term care facilities, and how the state legislature can help.
Nursing home leaders are urging Minnesota legislators to increase state funding for caregiver wages. Minnesota’s seniors were turned away from long-term care 11,000 times in just one month, mostly due to lack of staff.
In nursing homes, the state legislature sets the rates for all who receive care. But current rates don’t cover the total cost of care, including competitive wages for professional caregivers. “Unless the state increases funding, senior care providers will be unable to recruit and retain the caregivers needed to provide Minnesota seniors with the care they need,” says Jay Pizinger, CEO/CFO of Three Links Care Center.
NH+C’s Long Term Care Center on the hospital campus is licensed for 40 beds, but can only make use of 30 beds currently due to staffing shortages.
Lack of nursing home care affects hospitals, too – limiting care for patients of every age who need hospital-level care.
“When hospitalized seniors are unable to transition into long-term care, they are forced to stay in hospitals, preventing other Minnesotans from receiving the care they need,” says Jerry Ehn, COO of NH+C “Without action by the 2023 Legislature, today’s caregiver shortage will worsen, preventing even more senior from receiving the care they deserve.”
Nursing home leaders are urging Minnesota legislators to:
- Secure the safety net of senior care services and supports across Minnesota.
- Invest in senior and their caregivers by raising rates for aging services.
- Reduce operational barriers that limit access to affordable senior care services.
Want to urge legislators to help nursing homes too? Learn more about nursing home needs and how to contact your legislators.