Guides for families caring for an aging parent
Plain answers about caring for an aging parent: Medicare, Medicaid, assisted living, home care, VA benefits and caregiving, then licensed care providers near you.
- Mom broke her hip. Will Medicare pay for rehab?Usually, yes. If Mom broke her hip and was formally admitted to the hospital, Medicare Part A generally covers rehab afterward in an inpatient rehab f…
- Does Medicare pay for assisted living?No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living, including rent, meals or help with bathing and dressing. Medicare still covers a resident's doctor visi…
- Does Medicare pay for home care (in-home caregivers)?Only partly. Medicare pays for part-time skilled home health care, such as nursing or therapy, when your parent is homebound and a doctor orders it, b…
- When is it time for memory care?It's usually time for memory care when your parent's dementia creates safety risks, like wandering, leaving the stove on or falls, or when their care …
- Can Medicaid pay for a nursing home if Mom has savings?Yes, but usually not until her countable savings are reduced to her state's Medicaid limit. Families do this through a legal "spend-down," and gifts o…
- Is Dad eligible for VA Aid and Attendance? (2026 rates)He may be. VA Aid and Attendance is an add-on to the VA pension for wartime veterans (and surviving spouses) who meet income and net worth limits and …
- What legal documents do we need before a crisis (POA, health care proxy)?Most families need five documents signed while the parent still has the mental capacity to sign: a durable financial power of attorney, a health care …
- How to make a bathroom safer after a fallTo make a bathroom safer after a fall, install grab bars anchored into wall studs by the toilet and in the shower, add a shower chair or tub transfer …
- How to talk to a parent about giving up drivingTo talk to a parent about giving up driving, start early and in private, describe specific things you've seen rather than their age, have a ride plan …
- Caregiver burnout: where to get respite careIf you're burned out, respite care gives you a break while someone else cares for your parent. You can get it through in-home aides, adult day program…
- How to check a nursing home's inspection report on Medicare.gov Care CompareTo check a nursing home's inspection record, go to Medicare's Care Compare at Medicare.gov/care-compare, search nursing homes by name or ZIP code, ope…
- Medicare Advantage vs Original Medicare: which is better for my parent?It depends on your parent's health, doctors and budget. Original Medicare with a Medigap policy and Part D usually costs more each month but lets them…
- What should my parent review during Medicare Open Enrollment?During Medicare Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, your parent should review their plan's Annual Notice of Change, check that every drug…
- How do I help my parent switch Part D plans?To help a parent switch Part D plans, list their medications and pharmacy, compare plans on Medicare's Plan Finder during Open Enrollment (October 15 …
- When can my parent buy a Medigap policy?The best time for your parent to buy a Medigap policy is their 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the first month they are 65 or old…
- What is the Medicare 3-day hospital rule and observation status?The Medicare 3-day rule means Original Medicare covers skilled nursing facility care only after your parent has been a hospital inpatient for at least…
- How many days of skilled nursing does Medicare cover?Medicare covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing facility care per benefit period, but only while your parent needs daily skilled care. In 2026, days…
- Does Medicare cover hospice?Yes. Medicare Part A covers hospice care when a hospice doctor and your parent's doctor certify a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 6 months …
- How much does in-home care cost per hour?In-home care from a non-medical caregiver cost a national median of about $35 an hour in 2025, based on a large national survey of providers. Rates va…
- How can I get paid as a caregiver for my parent?You may be able to get paid to care for your parent through your state's Medicaid home care programs that let the person choose their caregiver, VA pr…
- What is an Area Agency on Aging?An Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is a local public or nonprofit agency, designated by your state, that helps older adults and family caregivers find and …
- Does my parent qualify for a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help?Your parent may qualify if their income and savings are limited. In 2026, Medicare Savings Programs can pay the $202.90 monthly Part B premium for a s…
- Does Medicare cover dental, vision and hearing?Mostly no. Original Medicare doesn't cover routine dental care like cleanings, fillings and dentures, routine eye exams for glasses, or hearing aids…
- How do you appeal a Medicare denial?Start with the notice that explains the denial, because it lists your deadline and where to send the appeal. In Original Medicare, you generally have…
- How do you check an assisted living facility's inspection reports?Assisted living is licensed and inspected by each state, not by Medicare, so you won't find it on Medicare's Care Compare tool. Instead, look up the…
- How to find senior care near youStart with your parent's ZIP code and three free tools: the Eldercare Locator (1-800-677-1116) to reach the local Area Agency on Aging, Medicare's…
- What is the Medicare Part B premium in 2026?The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, up from $185.00 in 2025, and the yearly Part B deductible is $283. People with…
- What is the National Family Caregiver Support Program?The National Family Caregiver Support Program is a federal program, created in 2000 under the Older Americans Act, that helps unpaid family…
- Does Medicare pay for respite care?Medicare pays for respite care only when your parent is in hospice. Then the hospice team can arrange a short inpatient stay so the family caregiver…
- How to lower IRMAA with Form SSA-44If your parent pays IRMAA, the higher-income surcharge on Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, and their income has dropped because of a…
- What is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31)?The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31 each year. If your parent is in a Medicare Advantage plan, they can make one…
- What happens after the December 7 Medicare Open Enrollment deadline?Medicare's fall Open Enrollment ends Monday, December 7, 2026. The plan must receive your parent's enrollment request by that day, and the change…