The 10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Elk River, MN for 2024

Elk River, MN, is about 32 miles from Minneapolis and 37 miles from St. Cloud, providing convenient access to local and regional attractions and amenities. The city, known for its historic downtown and natural surroundings, boasts over 30 parks and a senior activity center with discounted memberships for those 65 and older, who make up about 13.4% of its over 26,700 residents. 

Elk River has several assisted living facilities to support its older citizens. The average monthly rate runs $5,163, higher than national and state averages. Aides assist residents with activities of daily living, such as personal hygiene and moving around the community, and facilities provide daily nutritious meals. Most assisted living homes offer diverse activity programs to promote life enjoyment.

This guide further explores state licensing for assisted living, payment methods for long-term care, local support organizations, citywide care costs and assisted living rate comparisons across the state.

The Assisted Living Licensure team, a unit within the Health Regulation Division of the Minnesota Department of Health, is responsible for licensing assisted living facilities in Elk River and across Minnesota. The team conducts compliance checks, ensures adherence to regulations and educates providers about their responsibilities. 

 

• Minnesota is a state member of AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, indicating its commitment to enhancing the quality of life, comfort and convenience for people of all ages. Targeted initiatives across the state include affordable housing, transportation programs and improvement of footpaths and public spaces. Additionally, AARP ranks Minnesota top nationally for Long-Term Services and Supports.

 

• In keeping with regional norms, Elk River has four distinct seasons, with warm summers and cold winters. Yearly temperatures range from 7 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and the city receives an average of 4.1 inches of snow in December. Assisted living communities offer varied indoor and outdoor activities throughout the year.

 

• Sherburne County Veterans Service Office in Elk River provides free transportation for veterans attending routine appointments at Minneapolis and St. Cloud Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. Services operate on weekdays only.

 

• Elk River is safer than 28% of communities across the United States, offering violent and property crime rates below state and national averages. Elk River has a violent crime rate of 1.07 crimes per 1,000 people compared with 3.16 statewide and 4 nationwide. Regarding property crime, the federal and state median figures are 19 and 20.64, respectively; Elk River is lower, at 15.81.

 

• Health care costs in Elk River are approximately 13.4% lower than the national average. Within the city, North Memorial Health Clinic – Elk River provides primary and urgent care services, and nearby St. Cloud Hospital offers comprehensive in- and outpatient medical care, including 24/7 emergency services.   

 

Assisted living fees average $5,163 monthly in Elk River.

The median monthly price for assisted living in Elk River is $663 higher than the nation’s average cost and $655 higher than the state’s. In fact, Elk River is the priciest location for assisted living care in Minnesota. On the other hand, Mankato has the most inexpensive fees of $3,135, which are 39.3% lower than in Elk River. Rates in Duluth run $163 lower than in Elk River, while Rochester and St. Cloud offer more substantial monthly savings of $983 and $1,063, respectively, compared to Elk River.  

In Elk River, the costliest senior care option is nursing home care, exceeding double the monthly price of assisted living. This 126.8% price increase reflects the higher level of medical and therapeutic services provided in nursing facilities. The most economical choice is adult day health care, 59.3% less expensive than assisted living, focusing on social programming and daytime care. Both in-home and home health care have an average monthly cost of $7,055, which is $1,892 more than assisted living. In-home care offers nonmedical assistance with daily activities, while home health care includes intermittent skilled services.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for assisted living, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance assisted living costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance assisted living, visit our Assisted Living in Minnesota page.