Minnesota Exploring New Ways to Pay for Expensive Alzheimer’s Care and Other Long-Term Care Needs

Governor Dayton's administration bringing Minnesotans together to explore new ways to pay for Alzheimer's care and other long-term care needs. 

Every day another family learns that a loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or other chronic illness or physical disability that requires long-term care.  While the wealthiest households can pay for this care privately without spending into poverty, most middle-class people experience substantial strain on their finances and overall lives as they try to cobble together caregiving help via family or friends. Many people do an exhausting balance trying to do their full-time job and provide care to a loved one, or they leave the workforce altogether, losing income and retirement savings.  This “caregiver penalty” is especially hard on women trying to save for retirement.  Minnesota sees the problem and is exploring new ways to pay for such care.  Read more in this Minneapolis Star Tribune post