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Tim Pugmire

New House committee to address senior care

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A new committee in the Minnesota House will work exclusively next session on issues related to the care of senior citizens.

Rep. Joe Schomacker, a Republican from Luverne, will chair the Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care Policy. Schomacker said the panel will try to respond to the needs of the state's growing elderly population.

Schomacker said the committee's work in 2015 will include funding issues for nursing homes and assisted living programs and addressing workforce challenges. "It's very difficult to try and find people that want to work in long-term care settings," he said, "even though we know that when people do work in long-term care settings and stay there a long time, that helps with the quality of life and quality of care that the residents get."

Schomacker said he also wants to discuss tax breaks and other incentives for Minnesotans who put money away to help cover their long-term care costs, "something that gives people more options as they grow older, because they take control of their future." Schomacker said combining elderly and long-term care issues in one committee will give them the extra attention they deserve.