Speaker pledges to find solution to long-term care

Minnesota Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt and District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett on Friday pledged to find a solution to funding long-term care.

Daudt and Bennett toured St. John’s Lutheran Community and Just Like Home Place in Albert Lea, hearing concerns from staff and family members at both facilities.

At Just Like Home Place, staff said there is a disparity between what larger nursing homes and smaller facilities like this receive from the state.

“We fit a niche,” said Laurie Keyeski. “It’s important to have smaller facilities that create that home-like environment.”

Keyeski and others explained the personalized feel Just Like Home Place provides to its residents.

Daudt said too often he thinks legislators get “stuck in a bubble in St. Paul,” so every Friday he tries to get out around the state and meet with residents.

He called long-term care one of his top five priorities.

“It’s the fastest-growing segment of the population,” Daudt said. “We need to show them the respect they deserve.”

He said he hopes to reform reimbursements to nursing homes and other care facilities and reform the wage structure for workers.

“We can’t just do Band-Aids anymore,” Bennett echoed. “I’m committed to finding a solution.”

She said even when she was campaigning for office, she heard multiple concerns about underfunding in nursing homes and care facilities.

To address some of these concerns this year at the state level is a committee called the Aging and Long-term Care Committee.

Bennett said she also hopes to create a loan waiver program to encourage people to get into professionals in the this type of industry.