Senior Living Apartments in Minneapolis, MN

Senior apartments are classified as general housing rather than senior care communities because they don’t provide services like personal care. For this reason, long-term health care insurance doesn’t help pay for senior apartments in the same way that it does for other care communities.

Most Minneapolis senior apartments are paid for with personal funds, but various housing assistance programs, veterans programs, and disability benefits programs can help offset the costs of living for certain low-income seniors. If seniors should need medically essential in-home health care within their apartments, that care may be covered by Medicaid, Medicare, veterans benefits, public assistance, or other long-term care insurance programs covered below.

Senior apartments in Minnesota must comply with federal, state, county, and city housing rules. These apartments are mainly for people aged 55 and over, with additional requirements such as income limits or background checks in some cases.

In Minnesota, senior living facilities must comply with the federal Fair Housing Act and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure access to housing for seniors with disabilities. Public areas (such as lobbies and corridors) must be accessible to disabled individuals, and new buildings or renovations must meet ADA accessibility standards. Additionally, the Minnesota Human Rights Act ensures that seniors with service or emotional support animals are not discriminated against, even at facilities with a no-pet policy. That said, therapy animals are not legally protected and may be prohibited.

Minnesota housing laws for senior apartments require compliance with tenant rights and responsibilities, including Housing and Urban Development’s requirements (HUD) requirements for Section 8 vouchers. Senior housing must follow maintenance and safety laws, such as installing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. The landlord is responsible for the property’s upkeep and safety.

Because every landlord must also possess a rental license, their rental properties are subject to regular inspections by the city’s Inspection Services Division to ensure that health, safety, and livability standards are being met. This checklist provides an overview of what inspectors look for. Information about every active rental license can be found here, and property-specific Regulatory Services violations can be found here. Residents can access the Housing Maintenance Code of Minneapolis guide for detailed information on building codes.

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 senior apartments communities

Minneapolis has no specific COVID-19 requirements in place for senior apartments, but local health officials provide general information on testing locations, resources, and closures. Those over age 65 can receive a booster shot six months after receiving a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine and can choose to take either vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now allows mixing and matching for booster shots.^[02]

Senior apartment communities in Minnesota offer low-maintenance living for active persons over 55, with amenities like golf, swimming pools, and fitness centers. This allows seniors to stay active throughout the year, from the state’s warm summers to its famously snowy winters. Community fees cover basic services (like electricity, landscaping, house upkeep, and security), but not health care or everyday support. Because they cater to seniors, the apartment units are often designed with accessibility features like elevators and wide doorways.

Some communities even offer restaurant-style dining and food prepared by professional chefs. It might be possible, for example, to eat in a private dining room and go to an on-site café for dessert. When this is added to other commonly provided amenities, the senior apartment experience has the potential to be downright luxurious.

Within a 10-mile radius of downtown Minneapolis, there are 17 senior apartment facilities we partner with: 13 standalone senior apartment facilities and four that are combined with independent living. Broadened to a 25-mile radius, there are nine additional standalone senior housing facilities, with one being a combination of senior apartments and independent living.^[01]

Senior apartments are made accessible for seniors with disabilities.

Minneapolis senior apartments are adapted to minimize the daily hassles for seniors, so they frequently include amenities such as ground floor units, ramps, and accessible showers. Maintenance, housekeeping, and other convenient services or features can be included in leasing fees as well.

Apartments are accessed easily by multiple modes of transportation.

The big benefit of living in a senior apartment in Minneapolis is that residents can easily use public transportation to get around; 80% of our partner senior apartment complexes are conveniently located close to public transit.^[01]  Minneapolis’ network of buses can bring seniors virtually anywhere in the Twin Cities, and the light rail can take them directly to Target Field for a ball game or Mall of America for a day of shopping.

For those who own their vehicles, there’s resident parking available at 88% of our partner senior apartments. Moreover, seniors can use complimentary transportation as a service to visit their doctor or run errands.

Apartments are designed practically to accommodate seniors.

With ground floor units and wheelchair access available, seniors can live on almost any floor. The apartment units usually (82% of complexes among our listings) include full kitchens with appliances. There are washers and dryers installed, but some apartments also offer laundry services. Senior apartments frequently include their own patios or balconies, which can have spectacular views of the city skyline. Some residences even include an in-unit emergency response system or night patrol to make residents feel safe.

With a nationally ranked hospital in the city, Minneapolis has an abundance of health care options for seniors. The city is home to multiple well-renowned hospitals as well as a VA center for veterans. Check out the information below to learn more about Minneapolis’ top hospitals.

Minneapolis is considered a highly walkable and bikeable city. This is confirmed by Walk Score, which puts Minneapolis’ walkability at 71 out of 100 and its bikeability at 83 out of 100. Walk Score takes into account public density, walking routes, biking routes, and public transit. Half of Minneapolis residents usually travel by car, yet 36% would prefer to bike, and 22% would rather use public transportation.

Minneapolis has 34 miles of dedicated bike lanes, with abundant biking, running, and walking trails along the area’s numerous lakes and Mississippi River banks. The city’s Nice Ride cycling program has more than 100 bicycle-sharing kiosks. Minneapolis METRO transit offers bus, light rail, and commuter train systems connecting Minneapolis riders to downtown Saint Paul and the airport.

Seniors aged 65 and older can get a reduced fare on buses and trains through the Metro Transit Discounted Rate for Seniors, and it offers 14 popular routes at such a high frequency of service (every 15 minutes or sooner) that riders can hop on without consulting a schedule. Additionally, the Northeast Seniors Rides program provides volunteer drivers to shuttle seniors aged 60 and over to appointments in Northeast Minneapolis, Columbia Heights, Saint Anthony Village, or New Brighton.

With spectacular skylines and historic institutes, Minneapolis is a great place for seniors who want to experience both indoor and outdoor excursions.

Minneapolis offers plenty of free or low-cost activities, including walking, biking, and attending free performances at Lake Harriet’s Bandshell Park. The Minneapolis Institute of Art offers free tours, classes, and events for those interested in the arts. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, home of the iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture, is also free and open every day.

Another Minneapolis gem is the Walker Art Center, which provides an immersive experience starting with its contemporary art installations to community building projects. The center hosts various performing arts shows, including contemporary dance, experimental theater, and new jazz/classical music. Admission for seniors aged 62 and above is $13. Mill City Museum is also a must-visit to learn about the city’s birthplace with activities for all ages. Veterans and those above 65 get in for a reduced fee of $10.

Seniors who’re avid fans of classical music can also visit the Minnesota Orchestra, a Grammy Award-winning orchestra known for acclaimed performances around the world. The orchestra hall offers disabled parking spaces and convenient dropoff and pickup locations; inside, it offers armless and bariatric chairs, assistive listening devices, open captioning, and wheelchair and accessible seating.

Also wheelchair-accessible is the historic First Avenue, which hosts rock concerts and more. Seniors and their families can visit U.S. Bank Stadium to watch their favorite musical artists or even football games. The stadium also follows ADA guidelines and offers ramps, elevators, and wheelchair-accessible seating on all levels.

Sports fans will also appreciate that Minneapolis is one of just 12 cities to have teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL: the Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Minnesota Wild, respectively. Minneapolis is also home to the Golden Gophers, the collective name for the University of Minnesota’s many sports teams.

Plenty of senior and community centers keep Minneapolis seniors busy. For seniors aged 50 and above, the Skyway Senior Center in downtown Minneapolis provides a safe and comfortable environment with activities and resources such as physical fitness, health and well-being, learning opportunities, and socialization events to avoid isolation.

Similarly, the Shorewood Community & Event Center offers quilting, beading, knitting, support groups, and other daily activities found in the Shorewood Senior Partners newsletter or on its website. Interested individuals can contact the Shorewood Center at 952-474-7635 to obtain a copy of their newsletter. Additionally, the Nokomis Healthy Seniors Center provides affordable health and wellness activities, social events, transportation, support groups, and exercise classes for seniors looking to socialize with others. For more senior-specific resources, check out the Minnesota Association for Senior Services’ list of the dozens of senior centers and organizations in the area.