Cost of Elder Care in St. Cloud Approaching $100,000 a Year

(KNSI) — Caring for an aging loved one in St. Cloud will run most families nearly $100,000 a year, and that figure is expected to climb by a third within the next decade.

That’s according to the 2025 Cost of Care Survey, conducted by CareScout, which looks at median annual costs for long-term care services across the country. The results show Minnesota’s care costs are climbing, with some categories running well above the national average.

The statewide median cost for hiring a non-medical caregiver at home, or someone to help with meals, bathing, and transportation, is $100,672 per year, based on 44 hours of care per week. That figure is sixth highest in the country, well above the $80,080 national median. It also represents a 6% increase from 2024.

In St. Cloud specifically, that same level of home care runs slightly less at about $98,384 annually in 2025. But that figure is projected to climb to more than $132,000 by 2035.

For families considering an assisted living community, St. Cloud comes in above the state median. A private one-bedroom unit is $81,000 a year, compared to $78,870 statewide and $74,400 nationally. By 2035, that local figure is expected to jump by about 34% to nearly $109,000.

Notably, nursing home cost data was not available for the St. Cloud area in this year’s survey. Statewide, a semi-private nursing home room runs $127,750 per year, which is down 13% from 2024. A private room costs $166,440.

CareScout CEO Samir Shah said the data reinforces the importance of planning before care becomes an immediate need.

“For many families in Minnesota, long-term care costs aren’t theoretical – they’re already influencing real decisions,” Shah said. “The data helps put those costs into context and underscores why starting to plan earlier can make a meaningful difference before care becomes urgent.”

All future cost projections in the survey assume an annual 3% growth rate.

The 2025 Cost of Care Survey is described by CareScout as one of the most comprehensive annual surveys of its kind.

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