Caring for older Minnesotans should never be a partisan issue
By Toby Pearson | June 11, 2026 | All members
Some issues are generally inherently political; taxes, regulations, elections, gun rights. Those debates are healthy and necessary in a democracy.
Caring for vulnerable older adults should not be one of them. Yet lately, I find myself increasingly concerned that long-term care is becoming viewed through a political lens rather than a human one. That should concern all of us, regardless of party affiliation.
Every Minnesotan has a connection to aging. It may be a parent who needs assistance after hospitalization. A grandparent living with dementia. A spouse facing a chronic illness. Or perhaps it is our own future.
Aging is not a partisan issue. It is a reality that touches every family.
Minnesota has long been recognized as a state that values its seniors. We have invested in quality care, supported innovation, and built a network of providers committed to helping older adults live with dignity and purpose. But today, that system is under unprecedented strain.
The numbers tell the story. Minnesota is aging rapidly. The population of adults over age 65 continues to grow, while the workforce available to care for them struggles to keep pace. Long-term care providers face significant staffing shortages—11,000 open positions statewide currently, rising costs, increasing regulatory requirements, and reimbursement systems that fail to reflect the true cost of providing care.
At the same time, demand for services continues to rise.
Unfortunately, discussions about long-term care too often become caught in larger political battles. Funding decisions are viewed through budget spreadsheets rather than through the experiences of older adults and their families. Providers are sometimes portrayed as part of the problem rather than as partners working every day to solve it.
The reality is much simpler.
When a nursing home closes, it does not matter whether residents vote Republican, Democrat, or Independent. Families lose access to care. When assisted living communities struggle to recruit workers, political affiliation does not determine who receives help getting dressed, taking medications, or eating meals. Everyone is affected.
When policymakers delay action on workforce challenges or fail to plan for the state's aging population and they have, the consequences are felt in communities across Minnesota. That is why long-term care must be a bipartisan priority.
Historically, some of the most important advances in healthcare and aging services have occurred when leaders from both parties came together around a shared goal. They recognized that caring for vulnerable people is not about politics. It is about responsibility.
Minnesota needs that spirit of collaboration now more than ever.
We need policymakers willing to look beyond the next election cycle and focus on the next generation. We need honest conversations about workforce development, reimbursement systems, housing, transportation, and the infrastructure necessary to support a rapidly growing older population. Most importantly, we need leaders willing to recognize that investing in long-term care is not simply a budget decision, it is an investment in people.
The challenges facing long-term care are coming towards us like a freight train. The question is whether we will approach those challenges as partisans or as Minnesotans.
At Care Providers of Minnesota, we will continue working with anyone who shares our commitment to ensuring older adults receive the care, dignity, and support they deserve. We will continue advocating for solutions, not political talking points. And we will continue reminding policymakers that behind every funding decision, every regulation, and every legislative proposal is a person depending on our state's care system.
Caring for vulnerable older adults is not a Republican value. It is not a Democratic value. It is a Minnesota value.
Toby Pearson | President/CEO |
[email protected] | 952-851-2487