Nursing Home Check Up
Author
Thomas Wiest
CEO, Aspirience Home Care
Some of you have recently heard of a state lawmaker that is learning about nursing home care by spending 24-hours as a patient at a home in rural Winthrop, Minn.
Rep. Terry Morrow’s injury, a broken hip, may be fake, but the lessons he is learning are very real.
“I dropped a pen on the floor and now I can’t pick it up,” said Morrow, D-St. Peter, as he pushed himself in a wheelchair. “I get an idea of somethings that can be changed just in the amount of paperwork, which I don’t think I would have really sensed had they just told me about it.”
Morrow underwent physical therapy and spent time hearing how residents value living in a hometown care facility where visitors, and friendly care, are more likely.
The state budget crunch resulted in many workers receiving little or no pay increase for the past four years in a row, a warning sign that a quarter of nursing homes in Minnesota are in financial crisis.
Most homes are not at immediate jeopardy of closing but, if there is not some financial assistance in the next few years I could definitely see that they would be at risk of laying off staff, downsizing or worst case, closing.
It’s especially tough for rural homes. Morrow already knew the economic puzzle before he checked in, now he has an up-close appreciation for what’s at stake.
The bottom line is nursing homes need to get more money than they’ve been getting. On the other hand, could this be a sign (again) that the state is directing us, albeit tactfully and quietly, that they are taking the same position as most other states are and moving towards more home care rather than institutional care?
One estimate I have heard is that 40 or so Minnesota nursing homes will close in the next year, including a few in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro. On the flipside, home care services will grow by 15% in the state.
It’s good to know, Aspirience Home Care will be there to help you make the transition to home care a smooth one.