“The two week long stand still of the Minnesota government is wrecking havoc in both the private and public sectors. Hardest hit of the thousands of businesses effected could be the state’s nursing home and elderly population. Elderly people are now getting notice that nursing home workers could be deemed nonessential which could cause the closure of state funding nursing homes. The elderly are being told that if the shutdown is extended, they could lose their health care benefits. Some 2 million government jobs could be at stake in the wake of the shutdown, including jobs at nursing homes that house the elderly. If the doors of nursing homes close, other nursing homes and hospitals may become over crowded, or there may be no where to go for certain seniors who will be at a complete loss without their health care benefits.
Many nurses and RNs are set to get their walking papers. Notice of lay-offs will be sent out mid-June to registered nurses. Nearly 800 hospital nurses are expecting to be sent the lay-off notices this month. A shortage of nurses, and the inability of new nurses to obtain their licenses could cause a health care crisis in the state.
A hot line for the elderly that assists them in any type of emergency or non emergency situation is now out of order. Simple staples that people have come to rely upon are no longer being manned by state employees and all nonessential workers of the state government are now wondering how they will support their own families.
The $5 billion deficit the state faces is the culprit that has caused the major shutdown. Lawmakers are at a standstill at how best to appropriate funding and taxes in order to correct the current budget pitfalls. This problem is effecting millions of people in Minnesota from the elderly, to businesses, to the state funded parks and everywhere in between. The problem is likely to grow if some kind of resolve is not reached between the current governor and the legislature. If the state continues it’s downward spiral, many more services will be termed non-essential and people will be at a loss in just about every corner of the state.”
Additional information at:
MN Shutdown Pain Likely Greatest At Nursing Homes
Minnesota braces for a government shutdown
Minnesota government shutdown looms
Minnesota Government Shutdown: Summary of Judge Gearin’s June 29 Order
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