Fixing Long-Term Care in Greater Minnesota
Across Greater Minnesota, long-term care facilities and assisted living centers are under serious strain. Costs are up, staffing is short, and many providers are operating on the edge. When a facility closes, it doesn’t just affect residents. It affects families, local hospitals, and entire communities that lose access to essential care.
Our current funding and workforce models for senior care are not sustainable, which is the harsh reality. Reimbursement rates haven’t kept pace with costs, which puts rural care homes in an impossible position. Staff shortages then make things worse, forcing facilities to limit admissions or turn away residents who should be able to stay close to home.
We need lasting solutions, rather than short term patches. There is no one policy that will fix the problem, but the right package of actions should make an improvement to the current reality. In part, we must prioritize workforce development, including scholarships and paid training programs to help more Minnesotans enter the caregiving field. Local partnerships between high schools, community colleges, and care facilities can build that pipeline and keep talent in our communities.
Families caring for aging loved ones at home also need support. Simple measures like respite services, training, or targeted tax credits could make a big difference and help delay or avoid costly institutional care.
Minnesota’s population is aging quickly, and rural areas will feel that pressure first. If we want our communities to stay strong, we have to make sure seniors can get quality care close to home. That’s not just a moral obligation, it’s also an economic one that keeps jobs, families, and stability in Greater Minnesota.
As the holidays approach, it is a great reminder that our communities and families take care of one another. I urge you to reach out to your loved ones who are in care facilities, as a call or a moment together means more than you know especially during the holiday season. While we work towards solutions in the industry, we must also maintain connections with those who need it most.
- Rep. Ron Kresha, District 10A