Long Term Care in Minnesota

Hubert H. Humphrey once said, "The moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped."

With the first wave of baby boomers turning 65, we know that caring for those in the twilight of life is going to become more difficult in the years to come. Many recent reports have indicated that the number of adults age 65 and older is expected to nearly double by 2030. With this increase in population, every Minnesotan will need to help out where they can.

            There is a wide range of care that our aging population needs.  As loved ones grow older, families are faced with tough questions about providing the care they require and deserve.  The care is usually available, but it can sometimes be difficult to find.

There are several websites that provide helpful information.  One site I suggest is www.MinnesotaHelp.info (click on “Senior Link”).  You will find information for seniors, their families and caregivers on a variety of issues, including:

·         Adult Day Services – Type in your zip code and the search engine will link you to adult day services and centers in your area.

·         Assistance Technology – This will help you locate assistance with communications aids, mobility aids, orthopedics and more.

·         Nursing Homes – Finding a nursing home that is right for you or your loved one can be a daunting task.  The website offers useful tips and a list of questions to ask when looking for a nursing home.

·         Transportation – There are different types of formal transportation programs (programs run by an agency like the county or senior center). They include senior buses, door-to-door disability transportation, public transit, and much more. There may be waiting lists or you may have to be eligible for the program. Make sure you plan ahead well in advance.

·         Medicare and other Benefits – Finding the appropriate benefits can be a tough task.  The MinnesotaHelp.Info website may be able to point you in the right direction.

·         These are just a few of the topics discussed on their website.  Visit www.minnesotahelp.info or call 1-800-333-2433 for more information.

            You can also find useful information on your county website:

·         Ramsey County Human Services - http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/hs/index.htm

·         Washington County Community Services – www.co.washington.mn.us (search for “community services”)

I also suggest taking a look at the Minnesota Department of Human Services website (http://mn.gov/dhs/). Their website includes a number of useful links on seniors like the Minnesota Nursing Home Report Card. The report card is designed to help choosing a nursing home a little easier for you or your loved one by scoring nursing homes on seven important measures. This includes resident satisfaction and quality of life, quality indicators – clinical quality, hours of direct care, staff retention, use of temporary nursing staff, proportion of beds in single bedrooms and state inspection results.

I would like to extend a special thanks to everyone working in the health care field.  Whether it is volunteering, part-time or a life-long career, the impact on your community is immense and you should be commended for you efforts. 

As always, please contact me with questions or suggestions regarding any issue. I encourage you to visit me at the Capitol, or let me know if you’d like me to stop by your home or apartment.  Also, please tune in to my local cable TV show, “Your Capitol: What’s Up?,” which appears on public access channels 15 and 16. I can be reached by email at sen.chuck.wiger@senate.mn and by phone at 651-296-6820.