Minnesota Counties Report Shortage of ‘Critical’ Senior Services
The Minneapolis/St. Paul area has a "critical shortage" of services for seniors, according to reports by officials in the seven-county metro area, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. According to the "gap analysis" reports, each county in the metro area lacks adequate transportation, in-home health and personal care, low-cost assisted living apartments and case management programs to help seniors avoid nursing home care and remain in their homes. The reports are part of a statewide effort to identify "gaps" in senior services so that local governments can better appropriate $10 million in state grants for senior care. LaRhae Knatterud, a policy analyst with the Department of Human Services, said, "While every county is different, I suspect we'll see a common theme of needs in Minnesota -- housing, transportation, county services, personal care." According to the Star Tribune, the state expects county officials to draft proposals to address the shortage of services by Dec. 15 (Wolfe, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 10/22). For further information on state health policy in Minnesota, visit State Health Facts Online.
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