To the editor:

I am the Cottage Director of Prairie Senior Cottages of New Ulm and I can tell you that in rural Minnesota, the long-term care crisis happening in Minnesota is even more urgent.

Here, when a facility closes or reduces beds, there is no backup option down the street. Families are forced to drive hours to find care. Communities lose jobs. Seniors lose connection to the places they call home.

Despite this reality, state leaders continue to propose deep cuts and unfunded mandates. Providers are being asked to meet staffing requirements when the workforce simply doesn’t exist. At the same time, funding is being reduced and regulations are increasing.

We keep seeing policy proposals that aren’t coordinated or match the reality of delivering services currently. We don’t see a plan for the current crisis of the industry.

No plan for workforce. No plan for rural access. No plan for the growing senior population.

This isn’t just frustrating, it’s dangerous. If Minnesota continues down this path, rural communities will lose access to care entirely.

Maddie Schmidt

New Ulm