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Nursing Home vs. Assisted Living

Two different Minnesota license chapters -- 144A for nursing homes, 144G for assisted living -- and two different levels of medical care.

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Short answer

Minnesota licenses nursing homes under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 144A and assisted living under Chapter 144G -- two entirely separate license chapters with different staffing and medical-care requirements. Nursing homes provide 24-hour licensed nursing care and carry federal CMS star ratings; assisted living does not.

Why nursing homes have CMS star ratings and assisted living does not

Nursing homes are federally certified providers under Medicare/Medicaid, which is why CMS Care Compare publishes a star rating for every one. Assisted living in Minnesota is licensed at the state level only, with no equivalent federal certification or star-rating system.

What pushes a resident out of assisted living

A resident whose medical needs exceed what an assisted living facility's service plan and staffing can safely provide -- ongoing skilled nursing needs, complex wound care, or a level of medical instability the facility is not licensed or staffed for -- typically needs to transition to a nursing home instead.

Questions families ask

Does a resident need a lawyer to file an ombudsman complaint in Minnesota?

No. Contacting the Minnesota Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care at 1-800-657-3591 is free and does not require an attorney — the office exists specifically to provide free advocacy and complaint resolution for long-term care residents and their families.

How do I report abuse or neglect at a Twin Cities facility?

Call the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) at 1-844-880-1574, a statewide line staffed 24/7, to report suspected physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult anywhere in Minnesota, including all seven metro counties. MAARC routes the report to the correct county or Tribal agency for investigation. Call 911 first if someone is in immediate danger.

Is MAARC the same everywhere in Minnesota, or does each Twin Cities county have its own abuse hotline?

MAARC is a single statewide intake line — 1-844-880-1574 — used by every county in Minnesota, including Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, and Washington. There is no separate county-specific abuse hotline; MAARC itself routes each report to the appropriate county or Tribal social services agency for investigation after intake.

What counts as financial exploitation of a senior in Minnesota, and where do I report it?

Financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult — including undue influence over finances, theft, or misuse of a power of attorney — should be reported to MAARC at 1-844-880-1574, the same statewide line used for other forms of suspected abuse or neglect. If a specific licensed facility is involved and the concern also touches on regulatory compliance, MDH's Office of Health Facility Complaints (651-201-4200) can be contacted separately.

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