Survey
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
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. ### 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.