10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Minneapolis, MN

Memory care in Minneapolis can be financed through various means, including private funds, governmental programs, and veterans benefits. Seniors and their families often rely on a combination of funding sources to pay for memory care. Learn about private payment methods, Medicare, Medicaid, and VA benefits for memory care in the sections below.

Memory care facilities in Minnesota are subject to the same laws and regulations as assisted living facilities. They are licensed and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Health. These facilities must be licensed and inspected by the Health Department to ensure compliance with regulations on resident care, medication administration, personnel, cleanliness, and safety.

Inspections and reporting

Memory care facilities are subject to unannounced inspections a minimum of once every two years to ensure compliance with regulations and laws. Inspections can also happen at any time if there is a complaint.

Minnesota’s Health Department provides public access to inspection reports and licenses for memory care facilities via this searchable directory.

Memory care requirements

Minnesota has a few specific standards for memory care in addition to the assisted living regulations they must follow, including staff training, staffing numbers, and resident care and safety procedures. Section 144G.83 of the state’s assisted living statutes mandate additional training for personnel in facilities that provide memory care.

All workers with direct contact with residents must receive training within the first 90 days of employment and annually thereafter. The regulations also require facilities to have written policies and procedures in place for dealing with the requirements of memory care residents. A person-centered care approach is central to the training of staff. The statute recognizes that memory care residents have unique emotional and health care needs and lays out requirements that make sure training covers everything staff members need to know to provide the best possible care for your loved one.

Additionally, Section 4659.0160 of the Minnesota Administrative Rules outlines the process for surrendering an assisted living facility license that includes memory care services. The Health Department may take enforcement action if the licensee fails to comply with these conditions.

Requirements for assisted living and memory care

Since memory care facilities are governed by the same laws and regulations as assisted living, that means your loved one will also be in a facility where enough staff is required to be available to meet their needs. No specific ratio is given. The facility must also have a licensed assisted living director, as well as a clinical nurse supervisor. The facilities must meet safety standards and staff have to be trained to deal with emergencies including evacuation.

Three daily meals that meet nutritional requirements will be provided, as well as snacks. Activities will be provided that are appropriate to your loved one’s needs and abilities.

Minnesota Department of Health contact information

Minnesota Department of Health
625 Robert St. N
St Paul, MN 55164
Phone: 651-201-5000
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Minneapolis memory care facilities

In Minneapolis, no specific COVID-19 restrictions exist for memory care facilities. The city updates this dashboard daily to provide the latest information about COVID cases in the area.

Specific memory care homes may have their own policies, so seniors and their families should check with the facilities for further information, but these are general best practices set by local health officials:

Memory care facilities provide seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia with accommodation, care, and therapy in an atmosphere that helps reduce disorientation and prevents wandering. In Minneapolis, locations typically offer memory care in secured communities that take care to offer enriching environments for residents.

Senior living options that include memory care

Within a 10-mile radius of downtown Minneapolis, which includes portions of St. Paul, there are 47 memory care facilities partnered with A Place for Mom. While two of these facilities are standalone, most are combined with other types of senior living arrangements. Here’s the breakdown:

• 23 are combination assisted living and memory care facilities
• 21 are assisted living, independent living, and memory care facilities
• 1 combines assisted living, adult day care services, and memory care.

Expanding out 25 miles from downtown brings even more possibilities, with 69 additional options. While 12 are standalone memory care facilities in the area, the rest are combined with other senior living arrangements as discussed above. This radius means you can expand your search into more of St. Paul or out to places like Rockford and Maple Plain.

Units are designed with safety in mind

Memory care facilities are secured communities with enclosed courtyards and outdoor walking paths that let residents enjoy nature, fresh air, and freedom without the danger of your loved one wandering too far afield. Staff are trained and aware of exit-seeking behaviors, understand how to deal with hallucinations and delusions, and know how to handle redirection, cuing, and disorientation within their residents.

Holistic support

In addition to memory-specific care, your loved one can enjoy everything being taken care of from laundry to housekeeping to meals. Additionally, three-quarters of our partner facilities bring in occupational, physical, and speech therapists as needed, plus podiatrists. Most locations have a visiting nurse, and many locations are equipped to manage residents’ medication, diabetes, and incontinence if needed.

Specialized social activities and amenities

Memory care communities are designed to meet the special requirements of residents living with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. They frequently contain coordinated social activities, with 87% of our partner facilities having a designated activity director. Some also provide tailored activities like water aerobics in on-site pools and memory exercises.

The communities typically offer indoor and outdoor common areas for socializing, including outdoor walk paths and enclosed courtyards for daily exercise. Various classes and activities are available, such as cooking and stretching classes, live singing and theater performances, and supervised off-site activities. Nearby attractions such as beaches, parks, and museums are also easily accessible to seniors who want to visit with their families.

Health care for seniors in Minneapolis

Minneapolis has multiple well-known hospitals and a nationally acclaimed hospital for seniors. Explore the resources below to learn more about the best hospitals in Minneapolis.

Transportation for seniors in Minneapolis

It is not safe or advisable for memory care residents to venture out on their own; however, there are plenty of ways for your loved one to get out and about safely with assistance from you or a caregiver starting with provided transportation by the memory care facility itself. According to A Place for Mom’s proprietary data, 59% of our partner memory care facilities provide complimentary transportation and 48% offer transportation at cost.^[01]

Seniors in memory care communities should only use transit with a caregiver, but some public transportation options are designed specifically for seniors with disabilities that offer supervision or caregiver escorts. Metro Mobility is a transportation service for people with impairments (including those with dementia) that provides accessible cars and skilled drivers for door-to-door transportation.

In the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Metro Transit offers buses, light rail, commuter trains, Dial-A-Ride Transport (DART), and the Transit Assistance Program (TAP) for impaired seniors. DART provides door-to-door transportation for people with disabilities who can’t use regular buses. And TAP offers discounted rates, free trips, and travel instruction for eligible seniors with disabilities.

Two organizations, Senior Community Services and Friends & Co., offer transportation services for seniors with impairments. The Senior Rides program by Senior Community Services provides door-to-door transportation for medical visits, grocery shopping, and other errands. The Friendship and Flowers program offers seniors escorted transportation and social visits. Both programs provide trained volunteer drivers to ensure safe and comfortable transportation. In addition, the Little Brothers program provides seniors with social visits and services to address social isolation. To learn more, it’s best to contact each service directly to determine their eligibility requirements.

In Minneapolis, private transportation firms such as Lyft and Uber provide services for elders with dementia. Some firms offer unique programs, such as UberAssist and Lyft Access, that teach drivers to help seniors with mobility equipment and other needs.

Additionally, medical transportation services such as MedLink Transportation and Allina Health Transportation provide specialized transportation for elders with dementia who require medical attention. These services encompass skilled drivers who can assist passengers and vehicles outfitted with medical equipment.

Senior activities in Minneapolis

Minneapolis and its counterpart St. Paul makes up the hustling and bustling big-city feel of the Twin Cities. There is plenty of nature to love, too. The area has multiple parks, with virtually no one living more than six blocks from one. When visiting with family members and caregivers, seniors can enjoy strolls through the neighborhood parks, including the well-known Lake of the Isles, which offers a calm outdoor atmosphere with walking pathways and parks.

The city also offers a vibrant cultural scene with venues like the Minneapolis Institute of Art, a free museum that’s a must-visit for art enthusiasts. Also try a concert at the Minnesota Orchestra, which is known for delivering excellent performances of music that can potentially evoke memories and emotions in dementia patients. And note that the Children’s Theatre Company offers innovative shows suitable for all ages. Music therapy is a useful approach to engaging seniors with dementia, as it helps to recall memories and create a calming environment.

The outdoors can bring calm and respite as well. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum offers a tranquil environment and guided tours for seniors with dementia. The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is another great place to see and interact with animals, including California sea lions and giraffes, with on-site and street parking and public transportation nearby.