By: Rebecca Hudson
Murray County News Staffwriter
Elder care trends are changing as evidenced by the closure of Slayton’s former nursing home facility this spring and last Thursday citizens of the community and beyond gathered for a listening session convened by local attorney Lynn Johnson and featuring guest speakers from several state agencies.
Providing their expertise on the subject were Department of Human Services Assistant Commissioner for Continuing Care for Older Adults Dan Pollock, Department of Health Assistant Commissioner Marie Dotseth, Health Systems Bureau, Department of Health Manager of Nursing Facility Rates and Policy, Valerie Cook, Department of Health Regional Ombudsman for Long-term Care Sylvia Hasara and Executive Director of the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging Jason Swanson.
“We’ve lost the nursing home and there’s nothing we can do to turn back time and open the doors but you have an opportunity.” Swanson told those gathered, adding, “We’re here to listen – you don’t get policymakers together here – what can we do going forward?”
Johnson urged expediency in determining what can be done with the former care facility in order to meet the needs of the area’s aging population. “We have to do something and we have to do it fast,” she said. “We need money and people, and need to create a task force.”
Commissioner Pollock noted that unfortunately, Slayton is not unique in losing its nursing home and that among the 360 nursing homes caring for 22,000, 4 to 6 are closing each year. Minnesota’s goal, he said, is to provide a high quality, safe environment for its elderly residents.
Looking forward, he said, the trend is for people to live in their homes longer rather than institutionalizing them, taking advantage of various long-term services and supports. Because of that, there are not enough residents in nursing homes and the revenue is going down resulting in facility closures.
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