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I can't keep doing this alone

Respite, adult day care, and the free local support most families never hear about.

Quick answer

Respite, adult day care, and the free local support most families never hear about.

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Home›By Situation›I can't keep doing this alone

If you are reading this at 2 a.m., that is information. Caregiver exhaustion is not a character flaw, and there is more free support in most metros than families ever find.

Short answer

Respite, adult day care, and the free local support most families never hear about.

What to do, in order

  1. Take the exhaustion seriously as a clinical fact. Caregiver strain predicts poor outcomes for both people.
  2. Use respite before you are desperate. A verified current Twin Cities adult day services rate was not available at publication; the Minnesota Elderly Waiver and Alternative Care programs can help cover it as part of an approved care plan -- ask your county human services agency.
  3. Take the free support that exists here. Trellis, the Twin Cities Area Agency on Aging, funds caregiver support and respite programs across the metro -- start with the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433.
  4. Get a second opinion on the plan. Your county's Area Agency on Aging will review options at no cost.
  5. Name the thing you are avoiding. Most caregivers know what the next step is months before they take it.

Questions families ask

What is the Elderly Waiver and what does it cover?

The Elderly Waiver (EW) is Minnesota's Medicaid home- and community-based services waiver for seniors 65+ who are Medical Assistance eligible and assessed via MnCHOICES as needing a nursing-facility level of care. It covers personal care assistance, homemaker services, home health aide, case management, adult day services, respite care, home-delivered meals, and — inside licensed assisted living — 'customized living' or '24-hour customized living' service packages, but it never pays room and board.

What is Alternative Care and how is it different from the Elderly Waiver?

Alternative Care (AC) is a Minnesota state-funded program — no federal Medicaid match — for seniors who need Elderly-Waiver-equivalent services but aren't yet financially eligible for Medical Assistance. It uses largely the same service array and cost cap as EW and is designed to delay or prevent a Medicaid spend-down or nursing home placement, while EW itself requires the person to already be MA-eligible.

How do I apply for Medical Assistance long-term care or a waiver in the Twin Cities?

Start by contacting your county human services agency (Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, or Washington County) or calling the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 to request a MnCHOICES long-term-care needs assessment, which determines functional eligibility, alongside a separate financial application for Medical Assistance.

Not sure where to start?

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