Today seven nursing homes announced a one-day strike over wages. About 600 employees will walk off the job on March 5. Senator Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), Lead Republican on the Human Services Committee issued the follow statement:

“For years we have been bringing attention to these exact issues. We hear every day from nursing home administrators, employees, and families of loved ones who are struggling on every front to find workers, balance budgets, and provide quality care. These concerns simply can’t wait any longer. It is beyond a crisis. We fought very hard for additional funding last year, but one-time funding is just a band-aid. It’s time to get serious about addressing the challenges and needs to keep our nursing home open. Our seniors’ lives depend on it.”

Last session, Senate Republicans negotiated $300 million to nursing homes across the state. The funding equaled to about a $1/hour raise, but it was one-time funding and the raises aren’t sustainable without additional state dollars.

Low pay for nursing home workers means nursing homes are facing severe staffing shortages, leaving rooms and beds open simply because they don’t have anyone to staff them. This further exacerbates wait times for families whose loved ones need care that is best provided in a nursing home setting, delaying care and sometimes forcing families into more expensive, in-home care options.

One in four Minnesotans will be 65 years old in 2030, and the number of seniors already eclipses the number of children in the state.