Straight answers for families.
What senior living costs, who pays for what, how to choose a community and how to read the inspection record. Sourced, plain English, no sales pitch.
How much does assisted living cost? (2026)
Assisted living cost a national median of $6,200 a month in 2025. Compare nursing home, home care and adult day costs, and learn what drives price.
Assisted living fees explained: what you'll pay beyond rent
Community fees, level-of-care charges, medication fees, rate increases and refunds in assisted living, plus what to ask if your parent moves in on hospice.
Does Medicare pay for assisted living? What it covers (2026)
Medicare does not pay for assisted living. Here is what it does cover, how Medicaid, VA benefits and long-term care insurance can help, and 2026 figures.
How to protect an aging parent from scams and financial abuse
The scams that target older adults, the warning signs, the safeguards to set up this week, and exactly who to call if money is already gone.
Assisted living vs. nursing home: which does your parent need?
How assisted living and nursing homes differ in care, staffing, regulation, cost and who pays, plus how to tell which one your parent needs.
Signs it's time for assisted living, and how to talk about it
Warning signs a parent may need assisted living, how to raise a move with respect, getting siblings on board, legal papers to have ready, and trial stays.
When is it time for memory care? Signs, burnout and family money
The signs a parent with dementia needs memory care, why caregiver burnout counts, and how siblings can agree on the cost when not everyone wants to pay.
Guilt after moving a parent to memory care: what's normal, what helps
Guilt, relief and grief after moving a parent with dementia into memory care or a nursing home: what to expect in the first weeks, visits, and your new role.
How to choose an assisted living community: step by step
A step-by-step guide for families: assess needs, set a budget, check the state license and inspections, tour, ask key questions and read the contract.
How to read nursing home inspection reports and star ratings
What Medicare's nursing home star ratings, citations, fines, the abuse icon and staffing numbers mean, and how to use them when you visit.
What is an aging life care manager? Roles, costs, hiring
What aging life care managers (geriatric care managers) do, their training and certifications, how they charge, and questions to ask before you hire one.
What is a board and care home? Small residential care explained
Board and care homes are small licensed homes with meals, personal care and 24-hour supervision. How they differ from assisted living, costs, what to ask.
What does Medicare hospice cover? A family guide (2026)
Medicare hospice pays for the care team, drugs and equipment for a terminal illness, with small copays. It does not pay room and board. What to know.
Hospice vs. palliative care: the differences (2026)
Palliative care eases symptoms at any stage of serious illness, alongside treatment. Hospice is for the last months of life. Who pays, and when to ask.
What is an end-of-life doula? A guide for families
An end-of-life doula gives non-medical support to a dying person and family, often alongside hospice. What they do, how they charge and how to choose one.
What to do when a parent dies: a practical checklist
A calm checklist for the first hours, days and weeks after a parent dies: pronouncement, funeral home, death certificates, Social Security, banks and more.
How much does a funeral cost? Burial vs. cremation (2026)
The NFDA's latest median: $8,300 for a funeral with burial, $6,280 with cremation (2023), before cemetery costs. Your rights under the FTC Funeral Rule.
Do you need an elder law attorney? When and how to find one
What elder law attorneys do, how they differ from estate planning lawyers, when your family needs one, how to find one, questions to ask and how fees work.
Medicare coverage for oxygen and medical equipment (2026)
How Medicare Part B covers oxygen, hospital beds, wheelchairs and walkers: the doctor's order, enrolled suppliers, assignment, rentals and refills.