Home care
Build a home care budget that includes the gaps
Build a monthly home care budget using local quotes, confirmed benefits, household expenses, and replacement coverage.
Read guideLiving options
A place that fits your life.
Start with the support a person needs and the life they want. Then compare the settings, services, and full costs.
Understand daily needs
List help with personal care, movement, meals, memory, and medical care. Include nights, weekends, and backup support.
Compare the arrangements
Consider support at home, a smaller care home, assisted living, or a nursing facility. Ask what changes would require a move.
Check the whole cost
Separate housing and meals from care charges. Review contracts, extra fees, insurance eligibility, and what happens when funds run low.
In-home personal care
Explore this topic →
Home care
Compare overnight help with live-in home care
Compare awake overnight, sleeping overnight, and live-in arrangements using staffing terms, privacy, and total costs.
Read guide
Home care
Coordinate paid home care with family help
Coordinate relatives and paid caregivers with an agreed schedule, clear responsibilities, private information, and realistic limits.
Read guideCare homes
Explore this topic →
Care homes
Care home expenses to request in writing
Build a written care-home quote covering everyday charges, absences, and changes in needs.
Read guide
Care homes
How to check a care home license and complaint history
Verify the operator, state license, inspection findings, and follow-up questions for a care home.
Read guide
Care homes
How to compare a small care home with a larger ALF
Compare household size, care arrangements, privacy, costs, and future needs.
Read guideAssisted living facilities
Explore this topic →
Assisted living
Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for assisted living
Understand why an assisted living resident can have covered medical services and uncovered housing charges.
Read guide
Assisted living
How to build an assisted living budget beyond the advertised rate
Separate housing, care, optional services, and future increases in an ALF budget.
Read guide
Assisted living
How to compare assisted living facilities before choosing one
Compare an ALF’s actual care, daily life, fees, and admission limits before signing.
Read guideIndependent living & aging in place
Explore this topic →
Independent living
Checking accessibility before choosing a new home
Use the person’s routine and equipment to examine a proposed living space.
Read guide
Independent living
How to budget for independent living and outside assistance
Build one budget for housing, daily needs, outside help, and moving expenses.
Read guide
Independent living
Independent living housing versus assisted living
Compare the housing agreement with the assistance a person actually needs.
Read guideDementia & memory care
Explore this topic →
Memory care
Choosing memory support at home or in residential care
A memory-care decision should start with the person’s daily life, preferences, and available support.
Read guide
Memory care
Comparing memory-care fees without overlooking extra charges
A monthly memory-care quote may not include every expense.
Read guide
Memory care
Preparing a useful memory-care tour checklist
A tour is a chance to test whether a setting can explain how it would support a particular person.
Read guideNursing homes & skilled nursing
Explore this topic →
Nursing homes
How to compare nursing homes using public records and a visit
Use Medicare Care Compare, state records, and direct questions together.
Read guide
Nursing homes
Nursing home costs when Medicare skilled coverage ends
Prepare for the financial transition from a covered skilled stay to another arrangement.
Read guide
Nursing homes
Planning a nursing home discharge back to the community
Organize housing, assistance, services, equipment, and payment before leaving a facility.
Read guide