Posted 3/28/01
Senior citizens deserve quality life with dignity
One of the most critical state needs this legislative session is funding services for Minnesotaís older adults.
The fastest growing segment of Minnesotaís population is seniors, particularly 85 years of age and older. During the next 30 years the number of seniors in the state is projected to go up from 600,000 to 1.2 million people.
Taking care of older residents is a primary community responsibility. A caring community does more than just warehouse its elderly residents into nursing homes.
A caring community sees the older residents as a resource, as part-time employees and as excellent volunteers with a wealth of professional experience. The goal of the community should be to provide choices of living styles, including living in their home, aided by home care and delivered meals, moving to low income, subsidized but dignified rental units, on to assisted living quarters and finally to a nursing home.
These choices are there for people who can afford them. For the low-income elderly, however, choices are not always affordable. They are sometimes forced to live in nursing homes, or care centers where Social Security and the state pay the fees. Home operators estimate up to 15 percent of nursing home residents do not need 24-hour care.
The communities and the legislators must take an interest in reforming and funding the plan advocated by professionals in the business. The Minnesota Health & Housing Alliance and the Care Providers of Minnesota are backing a plan to reform the system of care for seniors. Their six-point measure will cost $150 million in one-time money and $350 million in on-going funding.
The Governorís Long-Range Task Force on Long Term Care Reforms has bills to increase aid for long term care to $113 million. They will be heard in April.
Governor Jesse Venturaís budget for the biennium has a total increase of $86 million by shifting $73 million from nursing homes in bed reductions.
The state has a key role because it sets the rate at which nursing homes are funded and it also sets the wage rate for the caregivers, some who could make more serving in fast-food businesses. Because of the low wage rate, the turnover rate for nursing assistants is 60 percent. Gov. Venturaís budget has no new money for caregivers in the first year and a 2 percent cost of living increase in the second year.
Advocates are not just asking for more money. They are asking for meaningful reforms in the way services for older adults are delivered.
The reforms are based on Minnesotansí wish to be independent as they get older and to live in a long-term care system that offers choices and is not bogged down by excessive regulations.
These are some of the key recommendations from task forces.
The services must be community based, with help from the state.
Nursing homes will have to be redefined and eventually become one-shop residences with easy access to the grocery store and other services.
Professional care giving must be recognized as an honorable and dignified profession, and compensated accordingly.
A high level of personal contact must be the basis for care giving, while always being open to the latest technologies.
The fragmented system must be changed so services are understandable and accessible.
Those who are elderly or have parents in nursing homes should contact their legislators and urge passage of these reforms and funding bills for the benefit of the stateís 600,000 older adults.
Community leaders should call a meeting of caregivers for the elderly and make sure everything possible is being done in the community to enable their senior citizens to live a deserved quality life with dignity.
ñ Don Heinzman
(Don Heinzman is the former editor of the Elk River Star News, a sister ECM publication to the Post Review. Heinzman has agreed to share his insight and years of experience in frequent personal columns.)
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