In Minnesota you can find a caregiver two main ways: hire through a licensed home care agency, which vets, trains, insures, and pays the caregiver for you, or – if your parent qualifies for Medical Assistance – receive care through CFSS, which even lets you hire your own worker (in many cases a family member) under its Budget Model. The best first step is a needs assessment through the Senior LinkAge Line or your county to see what your parent qualifies for.
Two ways to find care
Almost every family lands on one of these paths: an agency that supplies and manages caregivers, or hiring directly – often funded through Medical Assistance if your parent is eligible. Which is right depends on budget, how much you want to manage, and whether your parent qualifies for state help.
Using a licensed home care agency
Minnesota licenses home care providers, so start by confirming a provider holds a current license (comprehensive home care licenses cover higher-level care like medication administration; basic licenses cover lighter support). An agency costs more per hour than hiring on your own, but that premium buys real things: background-checked and trained caregivers, a backup when yours is sick, liability insurance, supervision, and payroll and taxes handled for you.
Good questions to ask any agency: Are you licensed in Minnesota, and at what level? How do you screen and train caregivers? What happens if our caregiver is sick or a bad fit? Will we have consistent caregivers? What are your rates and minimums?
Paying through Medical Assistance and CFSS
If your parent qualifies financially and by need, Minnesota’s Medical Assistance program can cover in-home personal care through Community First Services and Supports (CFSS), which replaced the old PCA program in 2024. Eligibility and covered hours are set through a MnCHOICES assessment arranged by your county or health plan. CFSS offers two models:
- Agency Model – a CFSS provider agency hires, trains, supervises, and pays your caregivers.
- Budget Model – you manage a budget and employ your own workers, with a financial-management service handling payroll. In many cases you can hire certain family members this way.
Free help finding care in Minnesota
You do not have to figure this out alone. The Senior LinkAge Line (1-800-333-2433), a free service of the Minnesota Board on Aging, helps families understand options, eligibility, and how to start an assessment. Your county human services office can also point you to local providers and the MnCHOICES process.
Questions to ask any caregiver
- What experience do you have with my parent’s needs (mobility, dementia, medications)?
- Are you comfortable with the specific tasks we need – bathing, transfers, cooking, driving?
- What is your availability, and who covers if you are out?
- Can you provide references or a background check?
The bottom line
Pick an agency if you want vetting, backup, and payroll handled for you; hire directly (often through CFSS) if your parent qualifies for Medical Assistance and you want more control – including possibly paying a family member. Either way, a MnCHOICES assessment or a call to the Senior LinkAge Line is the fastest way to learn what is covered.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get paid to care for my parent in Minnesota? Often, yes. If your parent qualifies for Medical Assistance, the CFSS Budget Model lets you employ your own caregiver – and in many cases that can be certain family members – with some restrictions. A MnCHOICES assessment determines eligibility and hours.
How do I start Medical Assistance for home care? Apply for Minnesota Medical Assistance and request a MnCHOICES assessment through your county or health plan. The Senior LinkAge Line can walk you through it for free.
What is the Senior LinkAge Line? It is a free service of the Minnesota Board on Aging (1-800-333-2433) that helps older adults and families understand care options, benefits, and how to get started.
Should I use an agency or hire directly? An agency costs more per hour but handles screening, training, backup, insurance, and payroll. Hiring directly costs less and gives more control but puts those responsibilities on you – which is why many families use the CFSS Budget Model for support.
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