Care options and real costs

Care Options Explained Plainly

Honest breakdowns of hourly in-home care, adult day health, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, CCRCs, and hospice.

Do this first

Assess how many Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) your loved one needs help with: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating.

What each care option really includes

  1. Hourly In-Home Aides: Come to the home for 4 to 12 hours/day. Assist with bathing, dressing, meal prep, medication reminders, and light housekeeping. (They cannot administer injections or manage IVs).
  2. Adult Day Health Programs: Senior centers providing structured activities, meals, physical therapy, and medical supervision from 8 AM to 4 PM. Most affordable daytime option.
  3. Assisted Living Communities: Private apartments in a residential setting. Includes 3 meals/day, housekeeping, social activities, and 24/7 staff for personal care assistance.
  4. Dedicated Memory Care: Secured, locked units designed specifically for moderate to severe dementia to prevent wandering and reduce agitation.
  5. Skilled Nursing Facility (Nursing Home): High-acuity medical care with round-the-clock licensed nurses. For bedridden, fragile, or complex medical needs.
  6. Hospice Care: 100% covered under Medicare. Delivered wherever the patient lives (home, assisted living, or facility) focusing on comfort, dignity, and pain management.

Checklist

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  • If 3 or more ADLs require help, assisted living or memory care is usually safer than solo home care.

  • Visit at 4:30 PM around dinnertime to see actual food quality and staff engagement.

Sources

  • Genworth Cost of Care Survey
  • National Center for Assisted Living

Last reviewed: September 28, 2026