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Mainstreet Radio Special:
Nursing Homes
Midday broadcast from Rochester
Hosted by Rachel Reabe
Friday April 16, 1999

Hour One: Nursing Homes
Hour Two: Nursing Home Alternatives


 
  Roberts Hall Pace at the Samaritan Bethany Heights Nursing Home in Rochester.
  Photo: Samaritan Bethany Heights
HOUR ONE: Challenges Facing Nursing Homes
Hour One in RealAudio 28.8

A shortage of nursing assistants statewide is causing problems for nursing homes. Some in southeastern Minnesota are leaving beds empty because there are not enough employees to care for the residents.

GUESTS:
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.



HOUR TWO: Nursing Home Alternatives
Hour Two in RealAudio 28.8

The United States has developed a nursing home-dominated long-term care system. 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.

Guests:
Connie Bagley is director of the Southeastern Minnesota Area Agency on Aging .
Hal Freshley is with the Minnesota Board of Aging .
Ken Hepburn is Director of Geriatrics Programs at the Department of Family Practice at the University of Minnesota .


PROGRAM CREDITS
Site producer: Brent Wolfe
Host: Rachel Reabe