Minnesota's DHS Adult Day Care Licensing Moratorium

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Many families fall into a growing gap:

• They do not qualify for public programs
• They are not ready for assisted living or nursing care
• They still need daytime supervision, structure, and community engagement

Adult day services are often the only affordable, preventative option that allows caregivers to continue working while keeping loved ones at home longer.

Capacity vs. Demand

The Minnesota Department of Human Services has cited a 43% increase in licensed adult day care capacity. While capacity has increased on paper, it does not reflect:

• Uneven geographic distribution of services
• Underutilization due to access, awareness, or staffing challenges
• The rapidly approaching growth in Minnesota’s older adult population; Which projects by year 2030 one in five adult Minnesotans will be 65+ years old, Per Minnesota Department of Human Services own data.

Providers across the state have been preparing for what is often called the “silver tsunami.” Adult day services are a proven way to delay higher-cost care and reduce long-term system strain.

Why Adult Day Services Matter

Research and practice consistently show that adult day programs:

• Help seniors remain in their communities longer or "Age in Place"
• Reduce caregiver burnout
•  Delay or prevent early institutional placement
•  Lower overall long-term care costs, especially memory care services

Bottom line: Freezing the development of new programs risks pushing families toward more expensive care sooner.

A More Balanced Approach Is Needed

Protecting public resources and addressing fraud is essential. At the same time, Minnesota must ensure that policies do not unintentionally limit access to services families rely on—especially as the state’s population continues to age.

If this were child care, a pause on new programs would raise immediate concern. Older adults and their families deserve the same level of urgency and thoughtful planning.

What Wellderly Is Doing During the Pause

While licensing is on hold, Wellderly is focused on:

• Educating families about available options
• Developing caregiver tools and community resources
• Preparing to launch services efficiently when licensing resumes
• Monitoring policy updates and DHS guidance & requests recognition by the county and asks for Anoka county’s non monetary support for cost effective alternative as apposed to Taxpayer funded programs 

Stay Informed

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