Heart and Grit: The CNA Shortage Is Pushing Senior Care to Its Breaking Point

Behind every hug and smile in Minnesota’s senior living communities stands a dedicated certified nursing assistant like Morris Commesor, whose work in memory care goes far beyond routine support—it’s an emotional rollercoaster, demanding both resilience and compassion. As the elder care industry faces a record shortage of CNAs, with burnout and low pay driving turnover to historic highs, these essential workers persist in making a difference for residents, often with little recognition. Commesor’s story underscores the rewarding bonds formed in the toughest circumstances and highlights the mounting pressure as the aging baby boomer generation fuels urgent demand for care—a dynamic reshaping how America must value and support those on the front lines of elder care. More