Paying for long-term care is a significant budget item that can quickly become a burden for aging adults. Families are relieved to learn there are many options to help cover the costs of senior care. This comprehensive guide is based on A Place for Mom’s exclusive price data and expertise developed from working with more than 2 million families.
Read on to learn everything you need to know about how to pay for senior care, whether at home or in senior living.
PAYMENT
Medicaid Long-Term Care: What Is It and What’s Covered?
Learn all about Medicaid long-term care eligibility and coverage.
Read the full articleLong-Term Care Insurance: An In-Depth Guide to Coverage, Cost, and Providers
Long-term care insurance helps pay for care if set up in advance. Benefits paid help fund assisted living, home care, an...
Cost of Long-Term Care and Senior Living
Explore A Place for Mom's Cost of Care Report to learn about the median costs of assisted living, memory care, and more.
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You may be surprised by the many ways to pay for long-term care. Typically, families finance senior care through a combination of options: savings and retirement income, long-term care insurance, proceeds from the sale of a home, or other alternatives. Learn more about each payment option.
Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cover Assisted Living?
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Using Life Insurance to Pay for Long-Term Care: 5 Options
Life insurance for seniors can help pay for long-term care, even without long-term care insurance.
Using HSA Funds for Long-Term Care Expenses
Seniors can use HSAs to pay for certain long-term care costs, allowing them to offset the overall cost of senior living.
Jointly funded by the federal and state governments, Medicaid is the state-run health insurance program for low-income families. Medicare, on the other hand, is national health insurance that covers most seniors. Both government programs can help pay for the cost of elder care.
Some families turn to Medicaid for help paying for senior care costs after their private resources have run out. And while Medicare won’t pay for room and board — meaning rent, food, and amenities like pet fees — it can pay for health care expenses in long-term care. For example, Medicare may pay for medical services such as doctors appointments and physical therapy, regardless of where a senior lives.
Browse the articles below to learn more about how Medicaid and Medicare can help cover senior care costs.
PAYMENT
Medicaid Home Health Care and Nonmedical Home Care: Your Questions, Answered
Learn about Medicaid-covered home health care, and get tips for finding in-home care options for your loved one.
Read the full articleDoes Medicare Cover Memory Care? A Detailed Look
Learn what memory care-related costs Medicare may cover and see whether it covers other care options for seniors with de...
Does Medicare Cover Home Health Care?
Learn all about Medicare home health care coverage, including what exactly it covers, duration, and eligibility.
U.S. veterans and their spouses may be eligible for benefits that can help cover the cost of senior care. Most veterans benefits for long-term care are based on a wide-ranging list of disabilities connected to a veteran’s military service. Veterans service officers can help veterans and their spouses understand eligibility and how to apply for benefits.
Veterans Benefits
VA Benefits for Assisted Living: A Comprehensive Guide for Veterans
Read the full articlePayment
VA Aid and Attendance Benefit: Eligibility, Application Process, and Approval Tips
Planning for long-term care can make a difficult time as smooth as possible. This may mean having conversations with aging loved ones as early as possible and understanding costs and options.
Only about 34% of families surveyed by A Place for Mom were prepared for senior living costs in 2023. Costs depend on how much care a person needs and where they receive care — in a senior living community or at home. The median starting cost for assisted living in the U.S. is $4,995 per month, according to A Place for Mom’s 2024 Cost of Care Report. Home care is priced by the hour. Our data shows that the national median price of home care is $30 an hour.
Understand the facts that affect the cost of senior living and take steps to help your aging loved one prepare for the next stage of their life.
How to Talk to Your Aging Parents About Finances
Learn how to approach private financial topics now to help ease conversations about long-term care planning in the future.
How Much Does In-Home Care Cost in 2025? A State-by-State Guide
Review the median cost of in-home care in each state, and explore the different factors that contribute to cost variations.
What Is the Cost of In-Home Dementia Care?
Learn about the financial and emotional costs of caring for a loved one living with dementia at home.
The Cost of Retirement Communities: Compare Your Options
Understand the cost of retirement communities to find the best retirement option based on your budget, needs, and preferences...
30+ Legal Documents for Aging Parents to Have in Order
Learn about the legal documents that are important to helping your aging parent plan for care, assistance and end-of-life.
In addition, facilities sometimes charge a care fee based on the level of care they provide. A high level of care in assisted living may include daily help with bathing, dressing, toileting, medication, etc., and can cost an extra $2,195 a month, according to A Place for Mom proprietary data of median prices nationwide. Someone who doesn’t need as much hands-on care may pay $500 per month in fees for low levels of care, such as meal preparation or transportation a few times a week.
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Assisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.
The score shown is the overall experience rating which is an average of the reviews submitted for those communities. The overall experience rating is a star rating that ranges from 1 being the lowest to 5 being the highest.
Below are the 51 largest cities grouped by their metropolitan area.
Top states for Assisted Living
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