Home care vs assisted living: how to decide
Home care keeps your loved one in their own home with professional aides; assisted living moves them to a care community. The right choice depends on three factors:…
Read guideHow much does assisted living cost in 2025?
The national median cost of assisted living in 2025 is approximately $4,500 to $5,500 per month, or roughly $54,000 to $66,000 per year. Costs vary enormously by geography…
Read guideHow to coordinate care between siblings who disagree
Sibling conflict over a parent's care is one of the most painful and common experiences in caregiving — it combines grief, guilt, old family dynamics, geographic inequality, and…
Read guideHow to Evaluate a Memory Care or Assisted Living Facility
How to Evaluate a Memory Care or Assisted Living Facility How to Evaluate a Memory Care or Assisted Living Facility A tour of an assisted living or memory…
Read guideHow to find a good assisted living facility
Finding a good assisted living facility involves four steps: defining your loved one's care needs and budget, identifying options in the target area, conducting in-person tours, and reviewing…
Read guideHow to Find an Assisted Living That Accepts Medicaid
How to Find an Assisted Living That Accepts Medicaid How to Find an Assisted Living That Accepts Medicaid Medicaid can fund care services in assisted living in most…
Read guideHow to find emergency placement for a senior
Emergency placement happens when a loved one cannot safely return home after a hospitalization, when a primary caregiver suddenly becomes unavailable, or when a safety crisis makes the…
Read guideHow to get care after a stroke: the first 90 days
The first 90 days after a stroke are the most critical recovery period — the brain is most plastic (capable of rewiring) in the weeks immediately following a…
Read guideHow to handle a dementia crisis at home
A dementia crisis typically involves sudden, frightening behavioral changes — severe agitation, aggression, hallucinations, extreme confusion, or dangerous behavior like attempting to leave the home. These episodes are…
Read guideHow to Have the Care Conversation With a Parent Who Refuses Help
How to Have the Care Conversation With a Parent Who Refuses Help How to Have the Care Conversation With a Parent Who Refuses Help A parent who refuses…
Read guideHow to pay for assisted living without going broke
Most families pay for assisted living using a combination of sources: Social Security income, retirement income, home sale proceeds, long-term care insurance if they have it, and VA…
Read guideHow to talk to a parent about moving to assisted living
The most effective approach to talking with a parent about assisted living is to start early, frame it as planning rather than crisis response, lead with listening before…
Read guideIn-Home Care vs. Assisted Living: How to Decide What’s Right for Your Family
In-Home Care vs. Assisted Living: How to Decide What's Right for Your Family In-Home Care vs. Assisted Living: How to Decide What's Right for Your Family The decision…
Read guideMoving a Parent Into Care: How to Manage the Transition
Moving a Parent Into Care: How to Manage the Transition Moving a Parent Into Care: How to Manage the Transition Moving a parent into assisted living or memory…
Read guideSigns your loved one needs more care than you can provide at home
The clearest signs that your loved one needs more care than you can provide at home are: repeated safety incidents (falls, wandering, medication errors), care needs that require…
Read guideSkilled Nursing Facilities: What They Are and When Medicare Covers Them
Skilled Nursing Facilities: What They Are and When Medicare Covers Them Skilled Nursing Facilities: What They Are and When Medicare Covers Them A tour of an assisted living…
Read guideWhat a Geriatric Care Manager Does — and When to Hire One
What a Geriatric Care Manager Does — and When to Hire One What a Geriatric Care Manager Does — and When to Hire One A geriatric care manager…
Read guideWhat happens after a stroke: care planning guide for families
After a stroke, families are often thrust into a complex medical system with no map and no time to learn. Understanding the typical post-stroke care pathway — from…
Read guideWhat is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC)?
A continuing care retirement community (CCRC), also called a life plan community, is a senior living campus that offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing…
Read guideWhat is a geriatric care manager and do we need one?
A geriatric care manager (also called an aging life care professional) is a specialist — typically a nurse or social worker with advanced training in aging — who…
Read guideWhat is respite care and how does it work?
Respite care is temporary, short-term care for a person who needs assistance — provided specifically to give family caregivers a planned break. It can be provided at home…
Read guideWhat is the difference between assisted living and memory care?
Assisted living provides help with daily activities in a residential setting for people who are largely independent but need support. Memory care is a specialized form of assisted…
Read guideWhat questions should I ask when touring an assisted living facility?
The most important questions to ask on an assisted living tour are about staffing (ratios, tenure, training), care delivery (how specific needs are handled, how care plans are…
Read guideWhat to do when a parent falls and can no longer live alone
A serious fall is often the event that forces families to reckon honestly with a loved one's safety needs. In the immediate aftermath — whether your loved one…
Read guideWhat to do when a parent is discharged from the hospital
Hospital discharge is one of the most stressful and consequential moments in a caregiving journey — decisions made in 24–48 hours determine where your loved one goes next…
Read guideWhat to do when a parent refuses to move to assisted living
A parent who refuses assisted living despite serious safety concerns puts families in a genuine dilemma — the tension between respecting autonomy and protecting safety has no clean…
Read guideWhen is it time to consider assisted living?
It's time to consider assisted living when your loved one's safety needs, personal care needs, or social isolation can no longer be adequately managed at home — whether…
Read guideWhen Is It Time to Move from Assisted Living to Memory Care?
When Is It Time to Move from Assisted Living to Memory Care? When Is It Time to Move from Assisted Living to Memory Care? Most families don't move…
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