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Call For Pay Hike To Address Caregiver Shortage

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A State House Committee took a big step Tuesday to raise the pay for thousands of Minnesota caregivers.

It's coming as the state faces a major worker shortage for caregivers of the state's most vulnerable people.

Currently, there are 8,700 vacant caregiver jobs in Minnesota, partly because of low pay.

It was heard Tuesday that there aren't enough trained workers to care for seniors at home or in assisted living.

Pam Gonella's daughter suffered a brain injury when she was 5, and lived at home for 25 years.

Now she's in a group home that's struggling to find enough staffers to keep it open.

"The quality of care and the quality of life for people with disabilities and older adults in Minnesota is at risk right now due to this crisis in staffing," Gonella said. "That must be addressed."

Families like the Gonellas are asking state lawmakers to grant the caregivers a 5 percent raise.

It doesn't seem like a lot, but for low-income workers it could mean a lot.

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