Elderly Waiver

Program info

The Elderly Waiver (EW) program provides home and community-based services for people who meet the level of care provided in a nursing home but who choose to live in the community. You must qualify for Medical Assistance to be eligible for Elderly Waiver services.

More details are in the following brochures:

• Medical Assistance for adults and children who are blind or have a disability and for people 65 years old or older (PDF)
• Elderly Waiver program (PDF)
• Elderly Waiver services in assisted living: What you need to know (PDF)

Eligibility

To qualify, you must:

• Be age 65 or older
• Be eligible for Medical Assistance
• Meet nursing home level of care as determined by a MnCHOICES assessment
• Need services that Elderly Waiver can provide for less than the cost of care in a nursing home.

Services

Covered services may include:

• Adult companion services
• Adult day services
• Adult day services bath
• Case management/Care Coordination
• Chore services
• Consumer-directed community supports (CDCS)
• Environmental accessibility adaptations (changes to make homes and vehicles accessible)
• Family caregiver services (includes caregiver training and caregiver counseling)
• Home care services
• Home-delivered meals
• Homemaker
• Individual community living supports (ICLS)
• Personal care assistance (PCA)/Community first services and supports (CFSS)
• Personal emergency response systems (PERS)
• Respite
• Residential services, such as customized living services and adult foster care
• Specialized equipment and supplies
• Transitional services
• Transportation (non-medical)

Apply

For information on applying for the Elderly Waiver program, contact the county or tribal nation where you live to schedule a MnCHOICES assessment. You can find your county or tribal contact here: Long-Term Care Consultation contacts. 

Contact Minnesota Aging Pathways at 800-333-2433 to connect with other local services and programs.