Download FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Blois Olson Fluence Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Blois Olson
Fluence Media
651-276-1678
STATEMENT OF THE LONG TERM CARE IMPERATIVE
Minnesota’s Economy Needs Great Investments in Long-Term Care
ST. PAUL – Our elected officials are tasked with making tough budgeting decisions, but now more than
ever those decisions must be made in full recognition of the facts: it has been years since Minnesota’s
lawmakers have made significant investments in quality care for our seniors. As a result, Minnesota
seniors and senior caregivers have had to make significant sacrifices as part of budget balancing
decisions. This is not sustainable. Minnesota faces a current caregiving workforce crisis that must be
addressed. We call on Governor Dayton and Minnesota lawmakers to invest in seniors and their
caregivers by increasing the state determined rates for all senior care services.
Long-term care facilities and other senior service providers directly impact Minnesota’s economy by
supporting more than 112,600 jobs, including more than 89,700 health and social services jobs. The
impact extends outside of the healthcare industry, including more than 19,400 jobs in construction,
science and technology, finance and insurance, manufacturing and retail and wholesale trades. The total
economic impact (direct and indirect) of long-term care facilities in the State of Minnesota is more than
$6.7 billion annually.
Today, one of the biggest issues senior care providers face is recruitment and retention of senior
caregivers. There are job openings today in senior care settings throughout the state of Minnesota, but
due to lack of state funding, providers cannot offer wages and benefits that will attract the number of
caregivers we need. The demand for a strong caregiving workforce will continue to grow, as baby
boomers age and with that growth in an aging population comes new jobs, improved infrastructure and
greater community stability.
If Governor Dayton and the legislature don’t take significant action to increase rates for senior services,
the caregiving crisis in Minnesota will only grow and become a significant crisis for the state and
Minnesota families.
Given the state’s ability to repay the majority of the school shift for the current biennium, and with the
projected $1.1 billion budget deficit facing the state over the next biennium, the Governor and legislature
need to take into consideration older Minnesotan’s care needs and the caregiving workforce to ensure
these critical priorities are funded.
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About the Long-Term Care Imperative
The Long-Term Care Imperative is a legislative collaboration between Care Providers of Minnesota and
Aging Services of Minnesota to advance a shared vision for senior care and supportive services for
Minnesota’s senior population. We believe that seniors deserve real, personalized care, and that such
care requires further investment in Minnesota’s senior care programs and in the caregivers who
implement them.