The Villa at St. Louis Park is situated around the Cedar-Isles-Dean neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is a 105 bed senior care community. The facility is in a predominantly middle income area, with a median per-family income of ...
Nursing Homes in Minnesota
- SeniorAdvice's Guide to Nursing Homes in Minnesota
- Nursing Care Directory for Minnesota
- Nursing Care Costs in Minnesota
- Financial Assistance for Nursing Homes in Minnesota
- Minnesota Nursing Care Rules and Regulations
- Free Nursing Care Resources in Minnesota
Minnesota is the third-best state for seniors and the second best overall, as ranked by U.S. News and World Report. The North Star State’s high ratings for life expectancy and senior mental and physical health are justified by a national study that finds older Minnesotans have healthier and longer lives than most other aging Americans. At least 16% or nearly 920,000 Minnesotans are aged 65 and older, and the oldest baby boomers are expected to turn 85 by 2030. That’s why Age-Friendly Minnesota continues to improve its initiatives to meet the older population’s long-term care needs.
Aside from Minnesota’s many options for home and community-based services, there are also flexible options available to seniors when it comes to nursing home care. The state’s 357 nursing homes can provide short-term rehabilitation, specialized long-term support and transitional care. This guide offers older Minnesotans insight on nursing home care costs, financing options, laws and regulations, and helpful resources for long-term care planning.
SeniorAdvice's Guide to Nursing Home Care in Minnesota
Minnesota’s overall SeniorScore ties with the national average of 72, indicating the state is a generally favorable retirement option. SeniorScore is a data-driven rating that uses over 100 variables in four major categories of what seniors need to consider when it comes to aging in the North Star State.
The North Star State scores the highest for Health and Safety at 67, owing to an abundance of senior care providers and Medicare-registered practitioners, as well as an above-average life expectancy of approximately 81 years. Minnesota is home to the Mayo Clinic health system and several other nationally ranked hospitals. The state’s General Quality of Life has a SeniorScore of 64, accounted for by a generally cold climate and high education rate.
Recreation and Leisure also gets a SeniorScore of 64 for the state’s adequate number of senior-friendly establishments, including accessible parks and diverse cultural attractions. Finances is scored lowest at 61 due to Minnesota’s high senior care costs and taxation on all forms of retirement income. However, the state has a fairly affordable cost of living and high per capita income.
Top Nursing Care in Minnesota
The Villa at Osseo is a senior care community located at 501 2nd Street SE in Osseo, Minnesota. The facility is in a generally affluent area, with an average per-family income of $79,587. With roughly 34,000 people residing ...
Located at 2000 Oakdale Ave in St Paul, Minnesota, Southview Acres Health Care Center is a 241 unit skilled nursing facility. The surrounding area has a dense population, with around 29,000 people residing in the 55118 zip code. ...
Langton Place is located near by the Waite Park area of Roseville, Minnesota. It is a 119 room senior housing community. The facility is in a generally middle class area, with an average per-family income of $63,706. ...
Located near the Greater Eastside area of Maplewood, Minnesota, Maplewood Care Center is a 149 bed senior care facility. The neighboring area is densely populated, with around 32,000 individuals living in the zip code of 55109. It is ...
Woodlyn Heights Health Care Center is a 99 room skilled nursing facility. It is located at 2060 Upper 55th Street East in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. With an average family income of $82,125, the community is in a ...
Located at 1013 Hart Blvd in Monticello, Minnesota, Centracare Health - Monticello is an 89 room skilled nursing facility. With about 19,000 residents in the zip code of 55362, the neighboring area has a medium-density population. It is ...
Shirley Chapman Sholom Home East is a 108 unit senior housing community. It is situated within the West 7th area of St Paul, Minnesota. The facility is in a predominantly middle income area, with a median household income ...
Located at 8100 Medicine Lake Rd in New Hope, Minnesota, Good Samaritan Society - Ambassador is an 85 unit senior housing community. The community is in a primarily middle income area, with an average per-household income of $65,871. ...
Rose of Sharon Manor is a 63 room senior care facility situated near by the Como neighborhood of Roseville, Minnesota. The community is in a largely middle class area, with an average per-household income of $57,267. It has ...
Robbinsdale Rehabilitation and Care Center is a 75 room nursing facility located within the Cleveland area of Robbinsdale, Minnesota. With a median per-household income of $67,089, the facility is in a largely middle class area. It is densely ...
St. Mark's Living is a 61 unit senior community. It is located at 400 15th Avenue SW in Austin, Minnesota. With a median per-household income of $45,141, the facility is in a primarily middle income area. ...
Located at 5430 Boone Avenue North in New Hope, Minnesota, North Ridge Health and Rehab is a 351 unit skilled nursing facility. The community is in a predominantly middle class area, with an average per-household income of $47,695. ...
Sterling Park Healthcare Center is a 53 bed nursing care facility located in Waite Park, Minnesota. With roughly 8,000 residents in the 56387 zip code, the neighboring area has a sparse population. It is a generally middle income ...
Located at 500 SE 1st St in Faribault, Minnesota, St. Lucas Healthcare Community is a 109 bed nursing home facility. The facility is in a mostly middle income area, with an average per-household income of $52,211. It is ...
Located at 1011 Feltl Court, St. Therese Southwest is a senior housing community in Hopkins, Minnesota. With approximately 25,000 individuals living in the 55343 zip code, the neighboring area has a dense population. It is a predominantly middle ...
St. Gertrude's Health and Rehabilitation Center is located at 1850 Sarazin St in Shakopee, Minnesota. It is a 105 unit nursing care facility. The neighboring area is heavily populated, with approximately 41,000 individuals living in the zip code ...
New Richland Care Center is a 50 bed senior care facility located in New Richland, Minnesota. The neighboring area is sparsely populated, with roughly 3,000 people residing in the zip code of 56072. It is a predominantly middle ...
Situated in the Waite Park neighborhood of St Anthony, Minnesota, St Anthony Health Center is a 150 bed skilled nursing facility. The facility is in a largely middle income area, with a median per-household income of $48,599. With ...
Galtier Health Health and Rehabilitation is situated in the Thomas Dale area of St Paul, Minnesota. It is a 112 bed nursing home facility. The surrounding area has a medium-density population, with around 14,000 individuals living in the ...
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Minnesota
Minnesota has one of the Midwest’s steepest average nursing home care costs at $11,026 per month. It’s nearly $3,300 over the national average of $7,756, based on Genworth Financial’s Cost of Care Survey for 2020. North Dakota is the most expensive neighboring state at $12,167, costing over $1,100 more. The most affordable nearby states are Iowa and South Dakota at $6,570 and $7,011, respectively, saving older Minnesotans over $4,000 monthly. Wisconsin is also considered average at $8,684, costing about $2,300 less.
- Minnesota: $11,026
- United States: $7,756
- North Dakota: $12,167
- South Dakota: $7,011
- Iowa: $6,570
- Wisconsin: $8,684
The Cost of Nursing Home Care in Minnesota’s Top Cities
Seniors opting for nursing home care in the Twin Cities area can expect to pay close to Minneapolis’ average cost of $11,285 per month. Mankato is slightly more expensive at $11,482, while St. Cloud has the steepest average cost at $12,767. The state’s most affordable area is Rochester at $9,730 per month, ideal for those who prefer to stay near the Mayo Clinic’s main campus. Duluth in the northeast is also considered affordable at $10,437.
- Minneapolis Area: $11,285
- Rochester: $9,730
- Duluth: $10,437
- St. Cloud: $12,767
- Mankato: $11,482
Senior Care Cost Comparison in Minnesota
Minnesota’s steep costs for nursing home care make other options worth considering based on a senior’s needs. Those who don't require 24-hour skilled nursing may opt for home health care, which has a monthly average of $6,292, or assisted living, with an estimated base cost of $4,283. The latter includes board and care and is more cost-effective than nonmedical home care, which costs $5,863. Adult day care, a nonresidential arrangement that charges daily or hourly rates, is the cheapest option at $1,979 per month.
- Memory Care: $5,354
- Assisted Living: $4,283
- In-Home Care: $5,863
- Home Health Care: $6,292
- Adult Day Care: $1,979
- Nursing Home Care: $11,026
Financial Assistance for Nursing Home Care in Minnesota
As you can see above, Nursing Home Care is often the most expensive senior care option – sometimes even 2-3 times the cost of other types of senior living. The primary reason for this is the 24/7 skilled nursing and other medical services that are provided. Thankfully, most people aren't forced to pay for skilled nursing care entirely out-of-pocket. Rather, many qualify for financial assistance programs to help cover the cost of nursing care.
Medicaid is the most comprehensive financial assistance program – but, not all seniors are eligible for Medicaid. And because each state operates its own Medicaid program within federal guidelines, eligibility and benefits vary from state to state. Below, we provide more information on Medicaid in Minnesota.
Medicaid in Minnesota
Minnesota’s Medicaid program is referred to as Medical Assistance, and it pays for bundled nursing facility services, including room and board. MA doesn't cover medication, physician services, hospitalization and rehabilitative therapies, but these may be covered by Medicare and the recipient’s other existing health insurance.
Almost all of Minnesota’s 357 nursing homes are Medicaid-certified, and about 50% of over 23,000 nursing home residents are MA recipients. Since Minnesota’s adoption of the Medicaid coverage expansion for low-income adults in 2013, the enrollment for this program increased by approximately 31.5%, having a total of nearly 1.15 million Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries in November 2020.
Medicaid Eligibility in Minnesota
Below are the eligibility requirements for MA coverage, including specific criteria for nursing home care applicants:
- Effective July 2021, the MA income limit (100% FPG) is $1,074 per month for single applicants and $1,453 for individuals in a two-person household. An increment of $379 is added to the income limit for every additional dependent in the applicant’s household.
- An applicant earning above the applicable limit may still qualify for MA through a spend-down on existing medical expenses. The spend-down income limit (81% FPG) is $804 for individuals and $1,177 for two-person households. The increased limit for every additional dependent is $307.
- For married individual MA applicants, nonapplicant spouses need not spend their income to pay for their spouses’ nursing home care. Community spouse allowances include basic shelter, utilities and monthly income allowances.
- The asset limit is $3,000 for single applicants and $6,000 for individuals in two-person households, plus $200 for each additional dependent.
- Married individual applicants and their nonapplicant spouses may retain some of their assets, as determined via asset assessments by DHS. Applicants with existing Minnesota Long-Term Partnership insurance are able to protect their assets while receiving MA coverage.
- MA recipients in nursing homes receive up to two types of long-term needs allowances: clothing and personal needs allowances and home maintenance allowances for those who meet certain criteria.
- Regardless of eligibility for any social program, nursing home applicants shall receive free long-term care consultation services within 60 days prior to admission or shall be referred for preadmission screening to establish their need for a nursing facility level of care.
- Applicants must be Minnesota residents who are U.S. citizens or qualifying noncitizens, and they must have Social Security numbers.
- MA recipients in nursing facilities are exempted from deductibles and copays.
MA applicants 65 and older may fill out a printable Application for Medical Assistance for Long-Term-Care Services form for submission to their respective county and tribal offices. Aside from these offices, the Senior LinkAge Line may also be contacted at (800) 333-2433 for assistance with completing applications.
Additional Financial Assistance Options
- Medicare: For the first 20 days in a skilled nursing facility, Medicare will cover the entire cost of care, and a portion of the costs up until day 100. After 100 days, Medicare won't cover any of the costs. Importantly, seniors must also have a "qualifying hospital stay" that lasts 3 days prior to their admission to a nursing home in order to qualify for Medicare coverage.
- Aid and Attendance: Aid and Attendance may be available to veterans who receive a VA pension. This benefit is a monthly cash allowance that veterans receive in addition to their standard pension amount. It is intended for veterans in need of long-term care services and may be used to pay for skilled nursing care.
- Reverse Mortgages: For those who own a home, reverse mortgages are loans that one can take out against the value of their home, essentially converting some of the home's equity into cash. It's often a good fit for married couples when only one partner needs nursing care, as the other residents of the home may continue living there. Keep in mind that reverse mortgage loans do need to be repaid (with interest), typically within 12 months of receiving the loan.
- Long-Term Care Insurance: For seniors who already have long-term care insurance, the cost of skilled nursing care may be covered. Most policies cover at least a portion of the costs, but it depends on the specific policy terms. It's important to note that older adults who are already in need of skilled nursing care will not be eligible to sign up for a long-term care insurance policy.
Minnesota Nursing Home Care Rules and Regulations
The Health Regulation Division of the Minnesota Department of Health is responsible for licensing nursing homes, certifying those participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs and monitoring their compliance with nursing home statutes and administrative rules. MDH also works with the Department of Human Services in maintaining the state’s Nursing Home Report Card.
Scope of Care | Nursing home residents shall receive appropriate care, treatment and supervision according to each resident’s individual needs and preferences. There shall be an active program of rehabilitation nursing care to assist each resident in achieving optimal well-being. Specialized rehabilitative services may be offered in-house or through outside providers. A nursing home’s full-time director of nursing services must be a registered nurse and shall be responsible for coordinating in-house and contracted nursing services for the residents. There shall be a physician designated as medical director who is responsible for coordinating medical care in liaison with the residents’ attending physicians. Residents must also receive appropriate dietary services, daily oral care and routine and emergency dental services, an organized activity and recreation program and medically related social services, as well as access to spiritual activities and barber/beauty shop services. |
Care Planning | Each nursing home resident must have a comprehensive plan of care that contains measurable objectives in meeting the resident’s nursing, medical, mental and psychosocial needs as identified in a comprehensive assessment. This plan shall be developed by an interdisciplinary team within seven days after the resident assessment is completed. Care plans must be reviewed at least quarterly and within seven days after the residents’ assessments are routinely reviewed and revised. |
Pharmacy Services | A licensed pharmacist shall be employed or consulted to provide consultations on all aspects of a nursing home’s pharmacy services and perform drug regimen reviews for each resident at least monthly. Medication may only be administered by nurses and unlicensed personnel delegated by the director of nursing services and have completed necessary training programs. Self-administration by a resident must be deemed safe based on the individual’s plan of care or a physician’s written order. |
Staff Screening | All potential nursing home employees are required to undergo background studies conducted by DHS. Individuals residing outside Minnesota must be checked through the respective state’s records of maltreatment of children and adults and the National Crime Information Center database. Disqualified employees shall be prohibited from any position involving direct contact or access to nursing home residents. |
Staff Training | All nursing home staff must receive orientation and initial training, information on facility policies and in-service education. Procedure manuals shall be readily available, and reference materials must be reviewed annually to ensure their currency. A nursing home with over 90 beds must have a designated person to coordinate in-service training programs. |
Medicaid Coverage | Medical Assistance is the Minnesota Medicaid program that covers nursing home care. MA recipients must meet clinical and financial eligibility requirements. Applicants earning above the income limit may still qualify through a spend-down setup. |
Reporting Abuse | Suspected incidents of maltreatment toward a nursing home resident shall be immediately reported to the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center. The MAARC hotline at (844) 880-1574 is open 24/7, and online reporting may be done when deemed necessary. |
Free Nursing Home Resources in Minnesota
MinnesotaHelp.info’s dedicated Long-Term Care Choices Navigator is a guided search tool that helps seniors, families and caregivers identify their needs, find appropriate resources and create a care plan based on their services of choice. In addition to the LTCC Navigator, the website has dedicated pages such as Focus on Seniors, Focus on Veterans, Focus on People with Disabilities and Focus on Waiver Services, each providing an organized database of public, nonprofit and low-cost resources that particularly benefit seniors of various profiles. Seniors can easily search for nursing homes, Medicaid/Medicare application centers, financial assistance programs and advance planning agencies based on their location and specific filter options.
Minnesota Seniors is a free online directory of service providers that cater to older Minnesotans. Major categories include senior housing, aging in place, health care and businesses. The skilled nursing facility, long-term care, transitional care and other related senior housing subcategories may be filtered by city. Quick references for important resources, as well as state and federal government agencies, are also available.
Minnesota Agencies
Minnesota Board on Aging
Address: 540 Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN 55164
Phone Number: (800) 333-2433
Website: mn.gov/board-on-aging/
The MBA takes on three major roles as administrator, advisor and advocate for the welfare of older Minnesotans. Aside from providing public awareness and promoting policies benefiting seniors, it administers senior programs through Area Agencies on Aging. Its Senior LinkAge Line provides free information, referrals and resources that help seniors families make informed long-term care decisions. This program also offers free Medicare counseling and manages the state’s preadmission screening for Medicaid-certified nursing facilities through the Senior Linkage Line referral portal. Other direct services by the MBA include the Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care and Indian Elder Coordination.
DHS Aging and Adult Services
Address: 540 Cedar Street, St. Paul, MN 55164
Phone Number: (651) 431-2600
Website: mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/seniors/
A unit of the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Adult and Aging Services supports the well-being of seniors through health care programs, economic assistance and home and community-based services. DHS also handles elder abuse reports and is responsible for contracting with Medicaid-certified nursing facility services. Together with MDH, it maintains the Nursing Home Report Card, which helps seniors and families find and compare facilities based on stay duration and different quality measures. The agency’s Long-Term Care Consultation services program provides nurse or social worker visits and consultations to any Minnesota senior with long-term or chronic care needs, regardless of eligibility for public programs. DHS services may be obtained through county, tribe or regional DHS offices and the Senior LinkAge Line.
Area Agencies on Aging in Minnesota
The state’s seven AAAs consist of six regional agencies and one AAA serving the Minnesota Indian Tribes. These agencies provide a wide array of home and community-based services through contracted local public and private organizations. Aside from visiting local AAA offices, calling the Senior LinkAge Line at (800) 333-2433 easily connects seniors, caregivers and families to their respective AAAs for free referrals to local services and programs. Other services include Senior LinkAge Line’s free counseling on long-term care options and Medicare benefits.
Veteran Affairs Office in Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs has a dedicated LinkVet Support site and hotline at 888-LinkVet (546-5838), providing a one-stop shop for vets and families who need assistance with local, state and federal programs available to them. The department’s County Veterans Services Officers and Tribal VSOs personally assist clients in obtaining VA benefits, determining their eligibility and getting started with benefits applications. MDVA also operates five Veterans Homes, which provides 24-hour skilled nursing care, and it offers free social services through the C.O.R.E. (Case Management, Outreach, Referral and Education) program.
Social Security Offices in Minnesota
The Minnesota Supplemental Aid program provides optional state supplementation payments as cash assistance to SSI recipients, including seniors 65 and older living in Medicaid-certified nursing facilities. Some non-SSI recipients may also qualify for MSA if they meet certain income and asset limit requirements. In addition to basic monthly MSA, special MSA payments are available for those who have special needs, such as medically prescribed special diets, representative payee services, and guardianship or conservator fees. MSA recipients are also eligible for Medical Assistance (Minnesota Medicaid) and other social services. Seniors may apply for SSI through a local SSA office and for MSA through DHS offices or online.
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