Dr. Kevin Fleming is a doctor of internal medicine at Mayo Clinic. Fleming works with the community health programs and is medical director for a nursing home. Senator Sheila Kiscaden is a Republican from Rochester who serves on the Senate's Health Care Committee. She has been active in looking at solutions to some of the challenges facing nursing homes. Susan Wiesner is director of Samaritan Bethany Heights Nursing Home in Rochester.
Critics say it's a lifestyle choice dreaded and hated by almost everybody.
Work is being done to increase community-based services for seniors and provide alternatives to institutional care, which are less expensive and preferable for many people. We profile Homes Plus, a network of foster-care homes for senior citizens in southeastern Minnesota. This eight year old program is one of a number of projects developed by Seniors Agenda for Independent Living. Connie Bagley is director of the Southeastern Minnesota Area Agency on Aging . Hal Freshley is with the Minnesota Board of Aging .