Senior agencies concerned over cuts

Published 12:00am Thursday, February 7, 2002
Comments

With the senior population expected to double in the next generation, alternatives for affordable, quality care for seniors has become a top priority for the Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance. This may be difficult, however, considering Gov. Jesse Ventura’s proposed budget cuts of $7 million in health care. &uot;We’ve already had so much less than everyone else for so long,&uot; said John Zwiers, administrator of the Broen Memorial Home in Fergus Falls. Zwiers said last year the legislature put many things into effect to help the care industry. Grants were made available to nursing homes that were receiving a lower rates from the state to help even out the spending between nursing homes. The legislature also allocated $2 million a year to go toward moratorium exceptions for large projects, but Ventura’s proposal would cut that spending in half. Zwiers said these cuts would affect the Broen home quite a bit. They would receive a seven percent cut off the aid directly to them, plus the cuts in moratorium funds. The Health and Housing Alliance hopes to keep the funding in order to set up alternative care for seniors such as assisted living facilities, affordable senior residences, respite care, and adult day care. &uot;The new choices in care will make it possible to reduce the number of nursing home beds by more than 5,000 over the next few years,&uot; said Gayle Kvenvold, president and CEO of MNHHA. &uot;With the state paying for about 70 percent of all nursing home care, the savings to the state will be enormous.&uot; Speaker of the House, Steve Sviggum (R- Kenyon) said he wants to balance the budget without touching grant money earmarked for nursing homes. He said alternatives to nursing homes are very cost effective.

Comments

    Editor's Picks