Types of care
Care Options and Decisions: How to Figure Out What Comes Next
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At some point, most families hit a moment where home care alone isn't working anymore, or staying home requires more support than the family can provide. The options are confusing, the costs are hard to find, and the terminology doesn't help. These guides explain exactly what each option is, what it costs, and how families typically make the decision.
Guides in This Section
10 articles on the major care decisions families face, from comparing in-home and facility options to understanding hospice, adult day programs, and geriatric care managers.
- Board and care homes vs assisted living: Which setting fits your parent
- In-home care vs. assisted living: The hours that decide it
- Finding and vetting a home care agency: the ten questions, the red flags, and what a fair contract looks like
- Assisted living costs: What the base rate covers and what gets added
- Memory care vs. assisted living: what triggers the move
- Skilled nursing care vs. nursing home: What actually differs, and what each one costs
- Deciding whether a parent needs a nursing home: The care-level line, the money, and how to check a building
- Respite care for family caregivers: How to arrange one, and who helps pay
- How hospice care works: what Medicare covers before and after the six-month mark
- Adult day programs for seniors: Supervised days at a center, home every night
- Geriatric care managers: what they do, what they cost, and whether your family needs one
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The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Every family's situation is different. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider, licensed attorney, or certified financial planner for guidance specific to your circumstances.