Tell us what's going on
What you've noticed, what's changed, what your parent wants, and what you're afraid of. We've heard it all before, and we won't rush you.
Free · No pressure · A real person answers
Worried about a parent? Start here.
Straight answers about care at home, assisted living, and memory care, from a person who has walked hundreds of families through this exact conversation. It costs nothing, and nobody will push you toward anything.
Where are you right now?
Or just pick up the phone.
(800) 614-8388
Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Central. Free, confidential, and you don't need to know what you want yet.
Free for your familyThe communities and care agencies we refer to pay for our help. You never get a bill from us.
A real person, not a menuThe person who answers has helped hundreds of families and will remember yours.
Licensed, checked partners onlyEvery community and agency is state-licensed, insured, and reviewed by us, including inspection records.
Private, and on your termsWe never contact your parent unless you ask us to. Your details go only to the partner who calls you back.
Guides for families
The conversations nobody teaches you how to have.
Written for sons, daughters, and spouses. Plain language, no jargon, and every one ends with what to actually do next. Print them. Share them with your brother.
The conversation
How to help a loved one realize it's time to move from home
What to say, what not to say, and a script you can borrow for the hardest talk of the year.
8 minute read Read Getting startedWhat to do when your parent's health starts failing
The first ten things to do, in order, when you realize Mom or Dad can't manage alone anymore.
10 minute read Read ChoosingAssisted living or care at home? An honest comparison
Cost, safety, loneliness, and the question most families forget to ask.
7 minute read Read MoneyWhat Medicare does and doesn't pay for
Less than you think. Here's what it does cover, and the four things families use instead.
6 minute read Read HealthSigns of dementia a doctor should hear about
Normal forgetting versus the changes that need a real evaluation, and how to get one.
7 minute read Read The conversationWhen a parent refuses help
Why "I'm fine" is usually fear, and the small steps that work when the big talk doesn't.
6 minute read Read For youCaregiver burnout: when you need help too
The signs you're running on empty, and what respite care, adult day programs, and family meetings can do.
6 minute read Read MoneyPaying for care: the five sources most families use
Medicaid, veterans benefits, long-term care insurance, the house, and family. How each one really works.
9 minute read ReadCare options at a glance
Six kinds of care. Most families only need to understand two or three.
| Type of care | Who it fits | What it includes | Typical monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care at home | Wants to stay put, needs help a few hours a day or more | Aides for bathing, meals, medication reminders, companionship; nursing visits if needed | About $30 to $35 an hour; 40 hours a week lands near assisted living |
| Independent living | Active, done with the yard and the stairs, wants neighbors | Apartment or villa, meals, housekeeping, activities, rides | $2,800 to $4,800 |
| Assisted living | Needs daily help with medications, bathing, dressing, meals | Private apartment, three meals, 24-hour staff, a written care plan | $4,800 to $6,500 |
| Memory care | Alzheimer's or dementia, needs a secure and calm setting | Secured community, trained staff, higher staff ratio, structured days | $6,000 to $8,500 |
| Skilled nursing | Needs nursing care around the clock or short-term rehab | Licensed nurses, therapy, medical oversight | $9,000 to $12,000; Medicare covers short rehab stays only |
| Hospice | Life-limiting illness; comfort is the goal | Nurses, aides, chaplain, equipment, family support, at home or in a facility | Covered by Medicare |
National typical ranges. Your city page shows local figures. Every community prices differently; we'll tell you what's realistic where your parent lives.
How a call goes
Three steps. You set the pace.
We lay out the real options
What's near them, what it costs, what Medicare won't cover, and whether Medicaid, veterans benefits, or the house could help pay for it.
We connect you, if you want
A community to visit, a home care agency, a geriatric care manager who lives near Mom when you don't. Checked by us. You choose who to call back.
Paying for care
The question every family asks second, and should ask first.
Care is expensive, and the way most families pay for it isn't the way they expected to. The sooner you know which of these applies to your parent, the calmer every other decision gets.
The myth that costs families the most
Medicare does not pay for assisted living, memory care, or long-term help at home. It covers short rehab stays after a hospitalization and some home health visits. That's it. Most families find this out at the worst possible moment.
- PublicMedicaidPays for nursing home care and, in most states, some assisted living and in-home care for people who meet income and asset limits. Rules differ by state; your city page explains yours.
- VeteransVA Aid and AttendanceA pension add-on for wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need daily help. Can add over a thousand dollars a month. Most eligible families have never heard of it.
- InsuranceLong-term care insuranceIf your parent bought a policy years ago, find it. Many pay for assisted living and home care after a waiting period. Ask us how to file a claim.
- The houseSelling or renting the homeFor most families, this is the plan. The proceeds often fund years of care. We know agents who sell seniors' homes every week.
- FamilyFamily contributionsCommon, and worth putting in writing so it doesn't strain the people doing it. A family meeting with a neutral third party helps.
For the one doing the caregiving
You can't pour from an empty cup. Everyone says it. Here's what it actually means.
"I was driving over three times a day, taking calls at work, and sleeping with my phone on. I didn't realize I'd stopped being her daughter and become her nurse."
Most of the people who call us are adult children, and most of them are tired in a way they haven't told anyone about. Getting help for your parent is also getting help for you. These are the signs it's time, and the places that take the weight.
Read the caregiver guide- Respite care. A short stay at a community, from a weekend to a few weeks, so you can rest or travel. Many communities offer it; some Medicaid programs pay for it.
- Adult day programs. Daytime care with meals, activities, and nursing, so your parent is safe while you work. Often the step before assisted living.
- A geriatric care manager. A nurse or social worker who checks on your parent, goes to appointments, and calls you with what matters. Essential if you live far away.
- A family meeting. Siblings who aren't doing the daily work often don't see it. One honest meeting, with a plan on paper, prevents years of resentment.
- Someone to talk to. Caregiver support groups, your doctor, your pastor, or us. Saying it out loud to someone who gets it is not weakness. It's maintenance.
Help near your parent
Every state pays for care differently. Pick the city your parent lives in.
Sarasota, FL Sarasota County
The Villages, FL Sumter County
Naples, FL Collier County
Scottsdale, AZ Maricopa County
Sun City, AZ Maricopa County
Overland Park, KS Johnson County
Kansas City, MO Jackson County
Columbus, OH Franklin County
Lancaster, PA Lancaster County
Asheville, NC Buncombe County
Georgetown, TX Williamson County
Myrtle Beach, SC Horry County
We don't have a page for that yet. Call us and we'll help anyway, or see every state.
Common questions
What families ask before they call.
Does this really cost nothing?
Yes. We're paid by the senior living communities, home care agencies, and other partners in our network when they take on a family we introduce. You never pay us, and the price a partner quotes you is the same as if you'd found them yourself.
My mother doesn't know I'm calling. Is that okay?
Completely. Most adult children call before their parent is ready to talk about it. We'll help you think through how to raise it, what the options are where she lives, and what to prepare quietly in the meantime. We won't contact her unless you ask us to.
What if we're not sure what kind of care is needed?
That's the normal starting point. Tell us what you've noticed and we'll help you sort out whether it's a cleaning service and a medical alert button, a few hours of home care a day, or a community. Often a doctor's evaluation is the next step, and we can tell you how to ask for one.
Does Medicare pay for assisted living?
No. Medicare covers short rehab stays after a hospitalization and some home health visits. It does not pay for assisted living, memory care, or long-term custodial care. Medicaid, veterans benefits, long-term care insurance, and the proceeds from selling a home are what most families actually use.
We live in different states. Can you still help?
That's most of the families we talk to. We'll do the first pass by phone, arrange visits for when you're in town, and can connect you with a care manager near your parent who checks in between your trips.
How do you choose the communities you recommend?
Every partner must be licensed by its state, carry insurance, and clear our review of inspection reports and complaint history. If a community has a pattern of problems in state records, it's not on our list, regardless of what it would pay us.
You don't have to have it figured out to call.
Most people who call us don't. Ten minutes with someone who knows the options, and the whole thing gets smaller.