Beyond the spreadsheets—The people who make long-term care possible
By Toby Pearson | July 9, 2026 | All members
Over the past several weeks, I had the privilege of traveling across Minnesota for our regional meetings. From Pine River to Alexandria, Duluth to Paynesville, Marshall to Bloomington, I spent time with the people who make long-term care possible every single day.
While every community has its own personality, one thing was remarkably consistent wherever I went: The incredible commitment of the people who care for Minnesota's older adults.
It's easy to talk about long-term care in terms of budgets, workforce shortages, reimbursement rates, regulations, or demographics. Those conversations matter because they shape whether providers can continue serving their communities. But after spending time with our members across the state, I was reminded that this work is ultimately about people.
It's about the daughter who finally finds peace knowing her mother is safe after months of trying to care for her alone. It's about the husband who visits every afternoon, grateful that someone knows his wife's favorite songs and takes the time to sing with her. It's about the family navigating the overwhelming complexities of Medical Assistance, trying to understand how they'll pay for care while making some of the hardest decisions of their lives. And it's about the rural community that knows if its care center were to close, families would be forced to drive 45 minutes, or even farther, just to visit the people they love.
Those aren't statistics, they're Minnesota families.
I also met the caregivers who quietly perform acts of compassion that will never make headlines. The nursing assistant who notices when a resident seems quieter than usual and sits down for an extra conversation. The dietary staff who know exactly how someone likes their morning coffee. The housekeeper who remembers birthdays. The nurse who comforts an anxious family member long after her shift should have ended.
These moments happen thousands of times every day in our member communities. They don't show up in policy reports or legislative spreadsheets, but they are the foundation of quality care.
As I traveled the state, I couldn't help but think about the conversations happening at the Capitol. Too often, long-term care is discussed primarily through the lens of costs and budgets, but the reality is much bigger than that.
Minnesota still does not have a comprehensive plan for caring for our rapidly aging population. State leaders have no plan. We know the demographic trends. We know the "silver tsunami" is no longer a distant forecast, it's already beginning. Every year, more Minnesotans will need assisted living, nursing homes, memory care, rehabilitation, and home and community-based services. Yet we continue to approach the issue as though it is simply another line item on a spreadsheet. It isn't.
This is about whether our parents, grandparents, spouses, neighbors, and eventually ourselves will have access to the care we need close to home. It's about whether communities across Minnesota will continue to have local options or whether families will be forced to search farther away to find care.
It's about recognizing that the workforce caring for older adults deserves the resources and support necessary to continue this essential work. I left each regional meeting inspired, not because the challenges are getting easier, but because of the resilience, compassion, and dedication I witnessed in every community I visited.
At Care Providers of Minnesota, we have an important responsibility beyond advocating for sound public policy. We also need to tell the story of this profession.
Over the coming months, you'll see us share more of the stories that too often go untold. We'll highlight caregivers who go above and beyond, celebrate innovative member communities, recognize leaders who are building remarkable workplace cultures, and showcase the lives that are enriched every day because someone chose a career in caring for others.
There is so much good happening in long-term care that deserves to be seen. These stories matter because they remind policymakers, families, future caregivers, and all Minnesotans what this profession is truly about.
It is about dignity.
It is about compassion.
It is about community.
And above all, it is about people caring for people.
I couldn't be prouder to represent the members of Care Providers of Minnesota. Thank you for the extraordinary work you do every day to care for our parents, grandparents, loved ones, and neighbors. Together, we'll continue telling your stories and we'll continue advocating for a future where every Minnesotan has access to the quality care they deserve.
Toby Pearson | President/CEO | [email protected] | 952-851-2487