Senior Care Cost Calculator
Free state-specific cost estimates, care needs assessment, and funding source analysis.
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Costs for all 7 types of senior care — from in-home aides to nursing homes.
Senior Care Cost FAQ
How much does senior care cost in 2026?
Senior care costs vary dramatically by type and location. National medians in 2026: in-home care aide at 40 hours/week costs about $5,340/month, assisted living averages $5,900–$6,200/month, memory care runs $6,690/month, and a semi-private nursing home room costs approximately $9,840/month. However, these are medians — your state may be 30–50% higher or lower. Use the calculator above to see costs for your specific state.
What are the different types of senior care?
There are seven main types of paid senior care. In-home care provides a non-medical aide for help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and meals. Home health care involves skilled nursing visits at home for medical needs. Adult day services offer center-based daytime care and activities. Assisted living facilities provide housing with personal care support. Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living for people with dementia or Alzheimer's, with higher staffing and secure units. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24-hour medical care for people with complex health needs. The right type depends on your loved one's specific care needs — the care assessment in the calculator above can help you determine which types are appropriate.
Does Medicare pay for senior care?
This is the most common misconception in senior care planning: Medicare does NOT cover most long-term care. Medicare only covers skilled nursing facility care for up to 100 days, and only after a qualifying 3-day inpatient hospital stay, and only when the care requires skilled medical services (not just help with daily activities). Medicare does not cover assisted living, memory care, in-home personal care aides, or custodial nursing home stays. Most families will need to pay for long-term care through other sources: personal savings, Medicaid (if eligible), VA benefits (if a veteran), or long-term care insurance.
How do I pay for senior care?
Most families use a combination of funding sources. Personal income and savings are typically the first source. Medicaid covers nursing home care and some home and community-based services for people who meet income and asset limits — but rules vary significantly by state. VA Aid and Attendance benefits provide up to $2,874/month for wartime veterans and their spouses who need help with daily activities. Long-term care insurance policies cover a portion of care costs if purchased before the need arises. Some families also use life insurance conversions, reverse mortgages, or tax deductions for medical expenses. The funding analysis section of the calculator above helps you see how these sources apply to your situation.
What is the VA Aid and Attendance benefit?
Aid and Attendance is a pension benefit from the Department of Veterans Affairs for wartime veterans (or their surviving spouses) who need help with daily activities. In 2026, the maximum monthly benefit is $2,229 for a single veteran, $2,874 for a veteran with a dependent spouse, and $1,524 for a surviving spouse. To qualify, the veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty with at least one day during a wartime period, and need assistance with at least two activities of daily living. This benefit is significantly underutilized — many eligible families don't know it exists. It can cover 30–50% of assisted living costs.
What factors affect the cost of senior care?
The biggest factor is location — costs in Alaska, Connecticut, and the Bay Area can be double those in Mississippi or Oklahoma. Care type is the second largest factor: nursing homes cost roughly 60% more than assisted living. Within a facility, the level of care needed (measured by how many activities of daily living require assistance) adds $500–$2,500/month on top of the base rate. Room type matters for nursing homes (private rooms cost 15–20% more than semi-private). Additional services like medication management, incontinence supplies, and transportation add $300–$1,000/month. The advertised "base rate" for assisted living typically does not include these add-ons — real all-in costs are often 30–50% higher than the number you see on a facility's website.
How do I know what kind of care my parent needs?
Start by assessing which activities of daily living (ADLs) your parent needs help with: bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring (getting in and out of bed or chairs), and continence. If they need help with 1–2 ADLs and don't have memory issues, in-home care or assisted living is typically appropriate. If there are memory concerns (confusion, wandering, difficulty with familiar tasks), memory care provides the specialized environment and staffing needed. If skilled medical care is required daily (wound care, IV medications, complex rehabilitation), a nursing home is usually necessary. The care needs assessment in the calculator above walks you through these questions and recommends appropriate care types based on your answers.
What is Medicaid eligibility for senior care?
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that covers nursing home care and some home and community-based services for people with limited income and assets. Eligibility rules vary significantly by state. In most states, a single applicant can have no more than $2,000 in countable assets (though some states have higher limits). For married couples, the community spouse (the one not needing care) is protected by the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA), which ranges from $30,828 to $154,140 depending on the state. Important: Medicaid has a 5-year "look-back period" — if you transferred assets (gave money to family, sold property below market value) within the past 5 years, there may be a penalty period during which Medicaid won't pay for care.
How should I plan for rising senior care costs?
Senior care costs have historically risen 3.5–5% per year, faster than general inflation. A parent who is healthy today but may need care in 5 years could face costs 25–30% higher than today's rates. Planning ahead means accounting for this growth: a $6,000/month assisted living cost today becomes roughly $7,650/month in 5 years at 5% annual growth. The projection table in the calculator above shows year-by-year cost estimates with adjustable inflation rates. Start planning before a crisis — families who plan proactively have more options (including choosing a state with lower costs, purchasing long-term care insurance while healthy, or structuring assets for Medicaid eligibility) than those who need to make decisions after an emergency.
Data sources: Cost estimates are based on the Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey, the most widely cited dataset in senior care cost analysis with over 25,000 rates collected annually across 429 metropolitan statistical areas. Medicaid eligibility limits are sourced from state Medicaid agencies and updated annually. VA benefit rates are from the Department of Veterans Affairs 2026 rate tables. This calculator provides estimates for planning purposes and should not be considered financial or legal advice.
Learn more about senior care costs
Recent articles
VA Aid and Attendance for senior care: 2026 benefit amounts, eligibility (wartime service, medical, financial), and how to apply.
In-Home Care vs Assisted Living: The 40-Hour Rule That Changes Which Is CheaperIn-home care vs assisted living costs in 2026: where the 40-hour rule makes one cheaper, and the hidden costs both sides miss.
Medicaid Spend-Down for Nursing Home Care: State-by-State Asset Limits and RulesMedicaid spend-down for nursing home: state-by-state asset limits, the 5-year look-back, exempt transfers, and 2026 planning strategies.
Planning guides
A practical guide to the four funding sources for senior care — private pay, VA benefits, Medicaid, and long-term care insurance — and how they work together.
Assisted Living vs. Nursing Home: How to Choose the Right CareThe differences between assisted living and nursing homes go far beyond cost. This guide covers care levels, regulations, Medicaid coverage, and when each type is appropriate.
Medicaid Planning for Senior Care: What Families Need to KnowMedicaid pays for more nursing home care than any other source — but qualifying requires navigating asset limits, look-back periods, and state-specific rules. A practical overview.
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