Workforce shortage crippling Minnesota long-term care providers

(Fargo, ND) -- A new survey paints a dire picture in Minnesota when it comes to the availability of long-term care for elderly residents.

"This is the second survey that we've done on the topic of workforce shortage and how the workforce shortage impacts the ability to admit people into both nursing homes and assisted living," said Patti Cullen, President and CEO of Care Providers of Minnesota.

Cullen says the survey they co-sponsored found older adults in the state were turned away from assisted living communities and nursing homes 11,000 times in October because of the state's workforce crisis. 

Cullen says she and other industry leaders will use the data to support their requests for more funding from state lawmakers to address the crisis.

"We need to be able to pay workers more, we need to be able to attract them more, and we need to be able to keep our doors open," said Cullen.