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Willmar is a small city in southwest Minnesota about 93 miles west of Minneapolis-St. Paul. Its population is just over 21,000, and seniors aged 65 and older comprise 16.5% of that number. The cost of living in Willmar is 19 points below the national average, while the cost of health care is 16 points lower. The BestPlaces Comfort Index awards Willmar a 6.6 out of 10, which makes it one of the more comfortable places to live in Minnesota. The city receives less rain, more snow and fewer sunnier days than the national average.
Willmar’s average monthly cost of assisted living is $2,723 according to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2020. There are 16 assisted living facilities in Willmar and many others in the surrounding area, so this price may fluctuate depending upon the facility chosen and the services offered.
Hundreds of thousands of American seniors utilize assisted living, a figure that is only growing. For these seniors, assisted living combines residential housing,assistance in daily activities, and some healthcare. These communities also strive to provide an atmosphere that is comfortable and engaging for their residents… Read More >
Willmar is one of the locations with the lowest cost of assisted living in Minnesota, averaging $2,723 a month. This is slightly over $2,000 a month less expensive than the state average of $4,283 a month and the national average of $4,300 a month. Regionally, Wisconsin has a higher cost of assisted living than Minnesota, averaging $4,400 a month. Iowa is about $200 a month less expensive at $4,073. North Dakota is almost $200 a month less expensive at $4,096, while South Dakota costs $650 less at $3,638.
In Minnesota, Rochester is about $350 a month more expensive than Willmar at $3,105 a month. Duluth’s costs are an additional $120 on top of that, averaging $3,221 a month. Prices go much higher in the state capital near Minneapolis-St. Paul, which averages $4,797 a month; this is more than $2,000 a month more expensive than Willmar. The most expensive assisted living in Minnesota is in Mankato where services cost $4,968 a month, which is $2,200 a month more expensive than Willmar.
Note: Data for Willmar was unavailable, so data for the nearest city, St. Cloud, was used instead.
Seniors in Minnesota who are low-income and qualify for Medicare may be eligible to receive the Elderly Medicaid Waiver that offers financial assistance to pay for help with activities of daily living (ADLs) in long-term care facilities. Seniors who don’t qualify for the waiver for financial reasons may be eligible for Alternative Care financial assistance.
Learn more about available financial assistance for seniors on our Assisted Living in Minnesota state page.
| Contact | Description | |
| Ombudsman for Long-Term Care (LTC) | (651) 431-2555 | Operated by the Minnesota Department of Aging, volunteer ombudsmen in this program act as advocates for seniors’ rights in LTC facilities across Minnesota. When a senior or caregiver makes a complaint about a facility, the ombudsman’s job is to investigate and find a resolution that works for the senior and the facility. Ombudsmen work with the larger community to make it more aware of the rights of seniors in LTC facilities. They help seniors in these residences resolve problems with medical bills and adverse health care decisions. |
| Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs | (888) 546-5838) | Veterans and their dependents count on the Department of Veterans Affairs to help them with many issues, including benefits, education, housing, employment, mental health and long-term care. Senior veterans, their spouses and their survivors may be eligible for admission to one of five veterans’ homes that offer assisted living, skilled nursing care and memory care units. Low-income and medically needy veterans may also be eligible to receive financial assistance from the department to help them with the cost of assisted living. |
| Minnesota Senior Linkage Line | (800) 333-2433 | The Senior Linkage Line provides seniors in the state with assistance and information on a wide variety of issues. This includes a directory of assisted living facilities as well as help for seniors and their caregivers to choose an appropriate facility. The Senior Linkage Line can also provide information on important health care issues, such as Medicaid and Medicare. |
| Central Minnesota Legal Aid-Willmar Office | (320) 235-7662 | Central Minnesota Legal Aid offers help on matters of civil law for seniors in 20 Minnesota counties. Many clients obtain free representation unless there are court fees that cannot be waived. Legal aid attorneys, staff and volunteers can help low-income seniors with questions on housing, powers of attorney, medical directives, family law and other issues. The organization cannot help seniors with criminal law, divorce or personal injury claims. |
| Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging (MRAAA) Inc. | (507) 387-1256 | The MRAAA provides services and information for seniors in many counties in southwest Minnesota. This includes plugging gaps in long-term care benefits. The agency provides transportation, meals for seniors who are homebound, caregiver support and help for seniors and caregivers in choosing an assisted living facility if appropriate. |
The Minnesota Department of Health enforces rules and regulations for long-term care facilities. Before a senior can be placed in an LTC facility, they must require help with at least one ADL. To learn more about these rules and regulations, visit our Assisted Living in Minnesota state page.
