Minnesotans shopping for assisted living can now turn to a valuable new resource for help.

The state’s new Assisted Living Report Card allows consumers to look up assisted living residences and find comparative ratings based on resident and family surveys, as well as ratings based on state inspections.

Modeled after Minnesota’s longstanding and successful Nursing Home Report Card, the Assisted Living Report Card is designed to deliver useful information to help consumers make decisions about assisted living. Nearly 63,000 Minnesotans live in more than 2,200 licensed assisted living facilities across the state.

Nearly four years in the making, the newly launched web tool is a work in progress. The Assisted Living Report Card currently features ratings for about 20% of the state’s assisted living facilities – focusing on the largest facilities, which are home to almost half of all Minnesotans who use assisted living. The report card will expand early next year, adding more facilities and ratings based on the Minnesota Department of Health’s licensing surveys and investigations.

“Looking for an assisted living residence for yourself or a loved one can be stressful and challenging,” said Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead. “We hope that this tool will help people make this important choice, recognizing that there are many factors to consider.”

Authorized by Governor Tim Walz and the 2019 Legislature, the Assisted Living Report Card was developed through a partnership among the Minnesota Department of Human Services, the Minnesota Board on Aging, and the Department of Health.

Dr. Tetyana Shippee at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health led research and development of the report card’s quality measures.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with the state to build this resource for consumers,” said Shippee. “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.”

Assisted living is licensed and regulated by the Minnesota Department of Health. The Assisted Living Report Card is managed by DHS and the Minnesota Board on Aging, which also conducts the resident and family surveys. The quality measures developed by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health are based on state data and calculated into the report card measures.