It's true, liars may figure, but figures don't lie.

The numbers John Hustad flashed on the screen Thursday afternoon at St. Mark's Lutheran Home in Austin told the story.

Hustad is vice president of public affairs for the Minnesota Health and Housing Alliance.

Watching Hustad's presentation were four political office-seekers, plus health care professionals from Austin care centers.

As the figures showed how the state's senior population is aging and the demand for nursing home beds is increasing, they also showed the continuing decline of health care workers as well as a shrinking pool of financial resources.

Nobody disputed the figures: the long-term care crisis is bad and getting worse.

But, the question remains, "Are the industry's problems too big for the problem-solvers?"

Jim Ingersoll, administrator at St. Mark's, watched Hustad's presentation and listened to the office-seekers, and said he remains "hopeful" the state legislators can attack the multitude of problems.

"I think presentations like the one John (Hustad) did today are helpful in stating our case," Ingersoll said. "There are some good solutions being proposed. The dollars make it seem overwhelming to solve, but it can be done."

"The state faces a current loss of 27,000 direct care workers and by 2006, that figure will grow to 44,000 at the same time our population is aging. It's a serious situation," Ingersoll said.

State Senator Grace Schwab R-Albert Lea and state senate candidate, Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, joined Jeff Anderson, R-Austin, and Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, in answering Hustad's forum questions.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com