How much will my care cost?

You may need to turn to paid caregivers if you have no one to support you or the people that support you are no longer able to provide for all your needs. This type of long-term care can be expensive. In Minnesota, the average cost of care for a year is:

• $60,000 for an average of 44 hours per week of home care in your home.
• About $48,000 in an assisted living facility (this cost does not include services and additional fees).
• Over $90,000 for care in a nursing home.

Long-term care received in a setting outside of your home may cost more than care provided in your home. This depends on the types and amount of care you need. For example, round-the-clock care at home can be very expensive. The cost of long-term care also depends on the provider you use and where you live when you receive care. Different settings and providers calculate their costs and charges in different ways. For example:

• Some facilities charge extra for services beyond the basic room-and-board charge, while some charge fees that include everything.
• Home health and home care providers deliver services in blocks of time (15 minutes up to two hours) called visits. An evening, weekend or holiday visit may cost more than a weekday visit.
• Some community programs, such as adult day care, charge a per-day rate, which may differ based on the type and amount of services offered.

The costs of long-term care in Minnesota vary somewhat in different areas of the state. Find out costs in other states.