What does senior care actually cost?

Cost Comparison Guide — Assisted Living

"What does it cost?" is almost always the first question families ask when they start looking into assisted living. The honest answer depends on the level of care your parent or spouse needs today, and how that need is likely to change. This guide walks you through it the way a good advisor would — get the facts, look honestly at what things already cost at home, and compare that against any community you're considering.

• How to figure out what your family can realistically afford
• The most common ways families pay for assisted living — private pay, home equity, long-term care insurance, VA Aid & Attendance, Medicaid, and Medicare
• The right questions to ask any community before you commit
• A side-by-side worksheet comparing your current monthly costs to Caring Companion, line by line
• What's actually included in the monthly rate (and what isn't)