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Last updated: May 7, 2026
Bottom line: Disabled seniors in North Dakota should usually start with the Aging and Disability Resource Link for care, home services, respite, and local referrals. Use Apply for Help for Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, and Basic Care.
This guide is for disabled seniors, older adults with disabilities, family caregivers, and helpers in North Dakota.
Urgent help first
- Danger or a medical emergency: Call 911.
- Mental health crisis: Call or text 988. See North Dakota’s 988 page.
- Food, rent, rides, or local crisis help: Call 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 through FirstLink 211.
- Abuse, neglect, or exploitation: Use the state adult abuse reports page or call 1-855-462-5465 and press 2.
- Facility concern: Call the Ombudsman page contact at 1-855-462-5465, option 3.
Fast start: where to ask first
| If the problem is | Start here | Ask this |
|---|---|---|
| Help at home, meals, chores, respite, or care options | ADRL at 1-855-462-5465 | “Can you screen me for in-home services?” |
| Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, or Basic Care | Apply for Help | “Which form should I use as an aged, blind, or disabled applicant?” |
| County office help | Human Service Zone | “What proof is missing and when is it due?” |
| Equipment, ramps, or daily-living tools | NDAD, ND Assistive, or a Center for Independent Living | “Can I borrow, try, or reuse this item first?” |
| Denied care, unsafe housing, or rights issue | Legal Services or Protection & Advocacy | “What is my appeal or response deadline?” |
Contents
- Care at home
- Medicaid and care coverage
- Equipment and home changes
- Accessible housing and tax help
- Rides and parking
- Caregiver support
- Legal and rights help
- How to start
- FAQ
Care at home for disabled seniors
Call ADRL if a disabled senior needs help staying safely at home. Ask about bathing, dressing, transferring, meals, laundry, housework, transportation, respite, and long-term care choices.
The state’s HCBS page lists SPED, Ex-SPED, Medicaid personal care, Medicaid waiver services, Older Americans Act services, and PACE. These paths may help with daily tasks, meals, rides, respite, or care planning.
Who may qualify: Rules depend on disability, care needs, income, assets, location, and the service requested.
Reality check: Expect an assessment. Rural areas may have fewer available workers.
Medicaid, Basic Care, Medicare help, and PACE
If care needs are high, check North Dakota Medicaid. The Medicaid application page says aged, blind, or disabled people who only want Medicaid, Medicare Savings Programs, or Basic Care coverage may use form SFN 958. If food or heating help is also needed, use Apply for Help.
Call the Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005 or 701-328-1000, or use 711 TTY. If Medicare costs are the main issue, see our Medicare Savings guide.
PACE may help some people age 55 or older who live in a service area and need nursing home level of care. North Dakota’s PACE page lists Northland PACE sites in Bismarck, Dickinson, Fargo, and Minot.
Reality check: Medicaid and PACE may require financial proof, medical proof, and a care assessment. Keep every notice.
Independent living, equipment, and home changes
North Dakota has four Centers for Independent Living. The state’s Independent Living Centers page says they serve people with disabilities of all ages. Ask about advocacy, accessibility, housing barriers, transportation, and independent living skills.
For equipment, start before you buy. NDAD’s NDAD equipment loans program lends home health equipment at no charge for up to 90 days, depending on availability.
ND Assistive’s ND Assistive loans page lists a 2% fixed interest loan, subject to availability and change. For more loan closet and reuse options, see our ND equipment guide.
Reality check: A loan is not a grant. Ask about total cost, repairs, delivery, and borrowed options first.
Accessible housing, rent help, and disability tax help
If the home is unsafe or not accessible, call ADRL and a Center for Independent Living before paying for a ramp or bathroom change.
North Dakota Housing Finance Agency says its ND Housing renter page supports affordable rental housing for low-income, elderly, or disabled households in certain programs. Waitlists are local. For a broader housing path, use our ND housing guide.
The state tax credit page says the Homestead Property Tax Credit and Renter’s Refund may help people age 65 or older or people with a permanent and total disability. Proof is required. The homeowner income limit is $70,000. Homestead applications are due before March 31. Renter’s Refund applications must be postmarked by May 31, and refunds can be up to $600. See our ND tax guide.
Reality check: Tell every housing office if you need a no-step entry, grab bars, wheelchair access, a lower-floor unit, or another reasonable accommodation.
Rides, paratransit, medical trips, and parking permits
The NDDOT statewide transit page says North Dakota public transportation includes fixed route, rural transit, intercity bus, and Dial-A-Ride or paratransit. Notice is usually 24 hours, though rules vary.
If the trip is for a Medicaid-covered medical visit, ask about non-emergency medical transportation. If you have Medicare Advantage, call your plan and ask whether rides are included.
NDDOT’s parking permit page says permanent permits are valid for a three-year cycle. Temporary red permits last three months and are not renewable.
Reality check: Book rural rides early. Ask if a caregiver can ride, what the fare is, and what happens during bad weather.
Caregiver support and respite
Family caregivers can call ADRL even if they are not sure what program they need. North Dakota’s Family Caregiver program may offer information, counseling, training, support groups, respite, and limited help with supplies or devices.
The program can help people caring for an adult age 60 or older, some older relative caregivers, and people caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. For payment questions, read our caregiver pay guide.
Reality check: Respite and support are more common than direct pay for family members. Ask about breaks first if burnout is urgent.
Legal help, protection, and facility concerns
If a disabled senior is denied care, threatened with eviction, refused an accommodation, or cut off from benefits, contact legal help quickly. Legal Services intake says people age 60 or older can call 1-866-621-9886, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Central. People under 60 can call 1-800-634-5263.
If the issue is disability rights, contact the North Dakota Protection & Advocacy Project. Its P&A contact page lists 701-328-2950 and 800-472-2670. For nursing home, basic care, assisted living, swing bed, or discharge concerns, contact the Ombudsman.
Reality check: Save the notice, envelope, emails, medical records, lease, care plan, and names of people you spoke with.
Food and heat when disability affects daily life
Disabled seniors should not skip food and heat help. The state SNAP page lists 2025-2026 income limits. The state LIHEAP page says applications are accepted year-round and may help with heating, weatherization, emergency help, and cooling-device costs or repairs.
For urgent local help, use our ND emergency guide. For the broader state benefits picture, see the North Dakota guide. For online application steps, use our ND portal guide.
How to start without wasting time
- Pick one main problem. Examples: unsafe at home, no ride, no heat, housing denial, caregiver burnout, or need for equipment.
- Call the right doorway. Use ADRL for care and disability support. Use Apply for Help for Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, and Basic Care.
- Ask for the exact program name. Write down whether the office is discussing SPED, Ex-SPED, Medicaid personal care, waiver services, PACE, SNAP, or LIHEAP.
- Save proof. Keep screenshots, mailed copies, confirmation numbers, notices, and names of workers.
- Use a backup. If one door says no, call 211 and ask for local help while you wait.
Documents and information to gather
| Item | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Photo ID and Social Security number | Identity checks |
| Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance cards | Health coverage and care planning |
| Proof of income | Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, housing, and tax relief |
| Bank and asset statements | Some aged, blind, disabled, and long-term care cases |
| Rent, mortgage, utility bills, or shutoff notice | Housing, LIHEAP, and emergency help |
| Medical bills, care plans, or discharge papers | Care needs, equipment, disability proof, or appeals |
Phone scripts you can use
ADRL script: “Hello, I am calling for a disabled senior in North Dakota. Can you screen them for in-home services, meals, transportation, caregiver respite, equipment, and long-term care options?”
Benefits script: “Hello, I need help with Medicaid, SNAP, or LIHEAP. I am aged, blind, disabled, or helping someone who is. Which application should we use, and what proof is missing?”
Housing script: “Hello, I need accessible housing or a reasonable accommodation for a disabled older adult. Are your lists open, and how do we request an accessible unit?”
Common mistakes to avoid
- Calling only one office: ADRL, Human Service Zones, 211, housing offices, and disability centers do different things.
- Buying equipment too fast: Ask about loan closets, reuse, demonstrations, insurance, and Medicaid first.
- Missing mail: A review notice or proof request can stop benefits if it is ignored.
- Not asking for accommodations: Ask for large print, phone help, extra time, or written help when a disability makes paperwork hard.
If you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
Ask for the decision in writing. Ask what rule was used, what proof was missing, and how to appeal. Write down the deadline.
For public benefits, call the Customer Support Center and your Human Service Zone. For disability rights, call P&A. For legal notices, call Legal Services of North Dakota. For long-term care facility problems, call the Ombudsman. For food, rent, rides, or charity help while waiting, call 211.
Local resources that may help
Ask senior centers about meals, rides, paperwork help, and storm meals. Our senior centers guide can help. Tribal elders should also ask tribal health, housing, elder, and social service offices.
Resumen en español
Resumen: Las personas mayores con discapacidades en North Dakota pueden llamar a ADRL al 1-855-462-5465 para cuidado en casa, transporte, comidas, equipo y relevo para cuidadores. Para Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP o Basic Care, use Apply for Help o llame al 1-866-614-6005. Si hay peligro, llame al 911. Para una crisis, llame o mande texto al 988.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best first call for a disabled senior in North Dakota?
For in-home care, meals, transportation, caregiver respite, equipment, or long-term care options, call ADRL at 1-855-462-5465. For Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, or Basic Care, call the Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005 or use Apply for Help.
Can North Dakota help a disabled senior stay at home?
Possibly. North Dakota has home and community-based programs such as SPED, Ex-SPED, Medicaid personal care, Medicaid waiver services, Older Americans Act services, and PACE in some areas. ADRL can help screen the person.
Where can I find disability equipment in North Dakota?
Start with NDAD for short-term equipment loans, ND Assistive for reuse, device loans, and financing, and your local Center for Independent Living for accessibility and independent living help.
Does North Dakota have property tax help for disabled people?
Yes. Some people with a permanent and total disability may qualify for the Homestead Property Tax Credit or Renter’s Refund if they meet the rules. Disability proof is required, and deadlines apply.
What should I do if care or benefits are denied?
Ask for the denial in writing, note the appeal deadline, and ask what proof is missing. Then call the office that fits the problem.
About this guide
We check this guide against official government, local agency, and trusted nonprofit sources. GrantsForSeniors.org is independent and is not a government agency.
Program rules, funding, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply.
See something wrong or outdated? Email info@grantsforseniors.org.
Last updated: May 7, 2026
Next review date: August 7, 2026
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