State Debuts Assisted Living Report Card

(KNSI) – Care facilities are now being graded by the state, providing an easy to understand resource for families.

The Assisted Living Report Card is based on resident and family surveys. It has been developed over nearly four years. The Minnesota Department of Human Services says the effort is still a work in progress. Ratings have been uploaded at this time for only about 20% of facilities, but the largest ones were prioritized first.

The state has had a nursing home grading system for years. The hope is that the new assisted living care metric will bring families the same peace of mind. Commissioner Jodi Harpstead says, “Looking for an assisted living residence for yourself or a loved one can be stressful and challenging. We hope that this tool will help people make this important choice, recognizing that there are many factors to consider.”

The University of Minnesota School of Public Health contributed research to help make the report card a reality. Dr. Tetyana Shippee says, “I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the state to build this resource for consumers. Minnesota once again is leading in pioneering a data-driven, evidence-informed tool for consumers seeking assisted living options. I am honored to contribute to this much-needed initiative.”

The Minnesota Board on Aging also has played a key role. A link to the tool is here.

Most of the St. Cloud area facilities do not have any data now.

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