Assisted Living in Minnesota

It’s time to start navigating the Land of 10,000 Lakes on your search for assisted living options. Minnesota has hot summers, cold winters, and some of the most Midwest Nice folks you could ever hope to live amongst. Whether you’re looking for tree-lined lake views or an amenity-filled metropolitan area, there’s something for everyone in Minnesota. Find your way to the North Star State and its wide range assisted living services and support options.

Cost of assisted living in Minnesota vs. nearby states

The cost of assisted living in Minnesota

Seniorly 2021 data shows that the average cost of assisted living in Minnesota is $3,960 per month. The national average monthly cost is $4,057. The average Minnesota cost is slightly less than the national average; keep in mind as you start your senior living search that some areas (particularly those where the cost of living is high) will be more expensive than others. Explore our assisted living listings to start comparing properties, or get in touch with one of our local advisors to get expert advice on what you can afford in the areas in which you’re interested.

Assisted living communities can provide the peace of mind that comes from not worrying about home maintenance, chores, or errands, as well as help with personal care like grooming, eating, and other activities of daily living seniors might have trouble with. However, if your loved one requires nursing care, or has diagnosed Alzheimer's or dementia that has progressed to a certain point, they might need a skilled nursing facility/home health care, or memory care community instead. These types of care providers (and for that matter, in-home care) might cost more in Minnesota than assisted living facilities, but the important thing is that your loved one’s needs are cared for in order to provide them with the best quality of life.

If your loved one currently lives in a retirement community, ask whether it is a Continuing Care Retirement Community: these senior living properties are generally designed for residents to age in place. Seniors can get the different levels of care they need, from independent living to memory care, without having to move to a different community altogether.

Overall cost of living in Minnesota

Minnesota’s cost of living is a few points below the national average. Though it ranks in the higher half of the country’s cost-of-living rank, Minnesota’s cost of living index is 101.6, where the US national average is 104.63. This is largely due to higher grocery and transportation costs versus the rest of the country.

Financial assistance for assisted living in Minnesota

Medicaid options for Minnesota seniors

According to benefits.gov, to be eligible for Minnesota Medicaid, you must be a resident of the state of Minnesota, a U.S. national, citizen, permanent resident, or legal alien, in need of health care/insurance assistance, whose financial situation would be characterized as low income or very low income. You must also be one of the following:

• Pregnant, or
• Be responsible for a child 18 years of age or younger, or
• Blind, or
• Have a disability or a family member in your household with a disability, or
• Be 65 years of age or older.

Minnesota's Medicaid health care program is called Medical Assistance and it is funded by Federal, State, and County sources. Unlike other state Medicaid programs, most members of the Minnesota Medical Assistance program get their health coverage through non-state health plans. The rest of members get care on a fee-for-service basis, with providers billing the state directly for services provided.

Medical Assistance offers a large menu of services and resources to participants, including but not limited to dental care, eye doctor visits and prescription eyeglasses, hearing aids, home care, medical equipment and supplies, and more—in addition to doctor and hospital visits and associated tests and prescriptions. Keep in mind that there is high demand for these care services and some may have wait lists.

Non-Medicaid State assistance programs

For those who may not qualify for Minnesota’s Medicaid program, the state also offers MinnesotaCare. This program is also for low-income Minnesotans without access to health coverage. There are also an array of housing-related programs offered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services in partnership with other State agencies, including Housing Support and Minnesota Supplemental Aid (MSA) Housing Assistance.

More ways to finance assisted living in Minnesota

There are several options available to finance assisted living for yourself or a loved one. Long-term care can be financed several ways:

• Life insurance - Some life insurance policies have a provision for long-term care benefits.
• Long-term care insurance - This type of insurance is intended to cover long-term health care needs by covering costs for assisted living or long-term care communities.
• Pensions, 401K, and IRA - If you have a pension, 401k or an IRA to fall back upon this would be a great benefit in paying for assisted living costs.
• Real Estate - Having a home is a great source of income. When it is time to move into assisted living the sale proceeds from your home can cover the costs.
• Veteran’s benefits - While the VA will not directly cover the costs of assisted living, you can obtain help from the VA under the Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits. The Aid & Attendance benefits helps eligible veterans and their surviving spouses to pay for assistance for assistance of daily living (ADLs) activities. Aid & Attendance benefits are often referred to by other names such as “improved pension,” “VA assisted living benefit,” or “veterans elder care benefits.”

Free assisted living resources in Minnesota

Minnesota residents can explore state resources that can help answer your questions about eligibility for certain types of benefits and how they might apply to assisted living.

Find your local Area Agency on Aging: There are multiple agencies per state, enter your ZIP code or city to find the one closest to you.

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs may be able to help you determine if your loved one is eligible for VA benefits.

Find Minnesota Social Security offices where you can understand your benefits and get answers to your questions about claims.

Assisted living communities by Minnesota city

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Top Advisors in Minnesota