Minnesota Senior Living Statistics & Facts

Just under 2 million residents of Minnesota are at least age 50,m which equates to more than one in three Minnesota residents. How does the senior population here in Minnesota stack up with the rest of the country?

Generally, Minnesota’s senior population is similar in proportion to the nation as a whole (35.6 percent here in the state vs. 35.3 percent in the entire U.S.), but there are several key ways in which the older adult age bracket here varies from the rest of the country.

Minnesota’s median age is 38.2, slightly younger than the overall U.S. median age of 38.5, and Minnesota has aged more slowly than much of the rest of the United States. For example, while the median age here increased by about 1.9 percent between 2010 and 2018, it rose by 2.7 percent, putting Minnesota at No. 38 in change to the median age. Fewer seniors in Minnesota are people of color than in most other states, but seniors both enjoy a slightly higher household income and are more likely to remain in the workforce.

Minnesota's Senior Living Costs

With a housing index of 103.50, Minnesota is more expensive to live in compared to some other states in the country. However, compared to other states with major cities like California (housing index of over 150), living costs in the Twin Cities are still lower.

Before retiring here, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the monthly costs of living in Minnesota for seniors. On average, home health care costs roughly $4,957 a month. Home health care services allow the elderly to live in their own homes while service aides help with housekeeping and completing everyday errands.

Adult day care costs average out to $1,788 a month in Minnesota. This fee enables seniors to spend the day at a supervised facility while their caregivers tend to their other responsibilities and errands. Keep in mind that adult day care does not include skilled nursing care, so it's best for those who are mostly independent but could use some social activities to keep them busy, along with therapeutic and health services.

In Minnesota, assisted living facility costs on average $3,585 a month. Seniors needing more help with their everyday tasks, personal care, and health services will live comfortably at an assisted living facility in the state.

Seniors in Minnesota requiring nursing home care have two options. Semi-private rooms are more affordable with an average cost of $8,174 a month. Those wanting more privacy can get a private room for an average of $8,988 a month. Regardless of what is chosen, all nursing homes provide residents with personal care, medication, housing, supervision, skilled nursing care 24/7, and therapies and rehabilitation.

Living Options for Seniors in Minnesota

Seniors in Minnesota have several choices when it comes to living options depending on individual needs: independent living, assisted living, memory care, or nursing home care. See which one best suits your lifestyle by learning more about each option below.

Independent Living

The North Star State is home to 370 independent living facilities. This type of housing/living is ideal for aging loved ones who are healthy and active, and don't require 24/7 nursing care. The average costs of independent living facilities range from $476 to $3,960 a month.

The state also offers a plethora of apartment options for seniors 55+ or 65+ depending on the community. Active senior communities usually include useful amenities like fitness centers, walking trails, clubhouse, meeting rooms, and more for residents to enjoy.

Assisted Living

There are more than 850 assisted living facilities in Minnesota to provide seniors with attentive caregivers, healthcare, and access to local activities and social opportunities. Residents of assisted living facilities can expect to get assistance with housekeeping duties, laundry, transportation, meal services, and 24-hour staffing to ensure safety.

To stay at a living facility in Minnesota, it can cost anywhere from $867 to $7,200 a month. Typically, it's cheaper to stay in an assisted living facility in the Rochester area. The pricier ones are located in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington areas.

Memory Care

Seniors with dementia will have 590 memory care options in Minnesota. Costs range from a median cost of $66,726 per year in the Rochester area, up to $76,131 per year in the metropolitan areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul, with an absolute high of $17,325 per month that will get patients more amenities like a private suite with more in depth structure to help prevent wandering and frustrations.

Nursing Homes

Minnesota's senior population is expected to double between 2010 and 2030, with more than 1 in 5 Minnesotans being in their senior years by that time. In this decade alone, there will be more 65+ Minnesotans than in the past four decades combined! Thankfully, Minnesota has more than 1,300 senior living providers already.

Adult daycare centers provide all the help a senior would need to get through each day in an enjoyable manner. Staff help with medications, provide all 3 meals, and lead engaging activities like painting, walks outside, and more. Adult daycare centers in Minnesota range in cost from $1,350 a month in the North Mankato area, up to $3,750 a month in the Minneapolis, Bloomington, and St. Paul metro areas. The national average is $1,950 a month, so the above range in costs in Minnesota is mostly on par with other states.

Minnesota has 118 hospices that provide more than just pain management at end of life. Hospices cover everything from social workers who counsel patients and their families to give peace of mind, go over costs and how to cover them with Medicaid or Medicare(as well as private insurances), chaplain services, and even funeral planning. Hospices basically provide seniors a place to live their final days out, in calm and dignified manner.

Respite care provides temporary assistance to primary caregivers, or more attentive care to seniors who may be recovering from a serious illness or surgery. Respite care can either have a trained professional come to the home of the senior, or have the senior live at a senior living facility. Staff are able to help with personal care, provide meals, provide transportation, alert an on-site physician of any serious complications, monitor health levels, and more. There are 528 respite care providers in Minnesota with an average cost of $83,264 per year, with the lowest respite care program costing $6,090 per month and the highest one costing $15,530 per month. Generally, the metropolitan areas around Minneapolis and in Hennepin County as well as St. Paul are the most expensive ones.