Guides & Resources for Families
Practical, honest guidance for every stage of the senior care journey. Written by experts, reviewed by families who have been through it.
Essential Guides
Start here if you are beginning the senior care journey.
Is It Time for Senior Living?
How to recognize the warning signs that a loved one needs more care than family can safely provide at home.
How to Choose a Senior Living Community
A step-by-step framework for evaluating and selecting the right facility, from research to final decision.
How to Talk to a Parent About Senior Living
Practical scripts, timing advice, and compassionate approaches for the hardest conversation a family will have.
Planning & Research Guides
In-depth resources for evaluating facilities, understanding conditions, and protecting your family.
50+ Questions to Ask on a Facility Tour
The complete printable checklist organized by category: staffing, costs, safety, medical, food, activities, and policies.
Warning Signs of a Bad Facility
Inspection failures, staffing red flags, contract traps, and hidden fees. Protect your loved one before signing.
Understanding Dementia: Types, Stages & Memory Care
Types of dementia, how it progresses, what to expect at each stage, and when memory care becomes necessary.
Caregiver Burnout: Signs & Self-Care
Recognize the signs of caregiver burnout, evidence-based self-care strategies, and when to seek professional help.
Latest Articles
In-depth reporting on costs, planning, and family decisions.
The 7 Hidden Costs of Assisted Living Nobody Tells You About
Care level surcharges, community fees, annual increases, medication management, and more. Budget for the true cost, not just the base rate.
5 Medicaid Planning Mistakes That Could Cost Your Family $100,000+
Gifting too late, ignoring spousal protections, mishandling the family home, and other errors that result in denied applications and devastating penalty periods.
12 Signs Your Aging Parent Needs More Help Than They Admit
From the refrigerator test to medication confusion to social withdrawal. Warning signs every adult child should know.
More Guides
Practical resources for every stage of the caregiving journey.
What to Expect the First Month After Moving
The adjustment period is hard for everyone. Learn what is normal behavior, how to help, and what truly warrants concern.
Downsizing a Parent's Home
A practical, step-by-step approach to sorting a lifetime of belongings while honoring the emotional weight of the process.
Long-Distance Caregiving
Managing care from 100+ miles away. Technology, local resources, communication strategies, and building a care team.
Complete Guide for Veteran Families
VA Aid & Attendance, state veterans homes, eligibility requirements, and the application process. Do not pay someone to file your claim.
Paying for Senior Living
Understanding your options for funding care.
Does Medicare Pay for Senior Living?
What Medicare covers (skilled nursing short-term) and what it does not (assisted living, memory care, custodial care).
VA Benefits for Senior Living
Aid & Attendance can provide up to $2,431/month for veterans. Eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Long-Term Care Insurance Guide
How LTC insurance works, premiums by age, what it covers, and what to do if you never bought it.
Tax Deductions for Senior Living
Medical expense deductions for senior care costs. What qualifies, the 7.5% AGI threshold, and how to calculate.
Using Home Equity to Pay for Care
Sell, rent, reverse mortgage, or HELOC? Compare options for leveraging the family home to fund senior living.
Cost Guides by Care Type
Detailed pricing data for every state, updated regularly.
Health Conditions & Care Needs
Each condition affects care needs differently. Our condition guides explain what types of care are recommended, what to look for in a facility, and what costs to expect.
Put Knowledge Into Action
Use our free tools to calculate costs, compare care types, check Medicaid eligibility, and build a care plan.