The family resource center

Senior care resources for families

When a parent needs care, start here. Where to begin, how to pay, who to call, and what every state offers. 148 national resources and all 50 states plus DC, each one checked on an official source. Free, and nobody will call you.

Where do I start? How will we pay for it?

Someone in danger right now

Call 911.

Abuse, neglect or exploitation

Report to adult protective services in your state. You don't need proof.

Dementia crisis, any hour

1-800-272-3900 Alzheimer's Association, 24/7

Your state's guide

Medicaid rules, whether anything helps pay for assisted living, the ombudsman, abuse hotline, facility inspections, veterans homes and free legal help. Every state runs these differently.

Find help by question

Get oriented

Where do we even begin?

Where to startFree, local people whose whole job is helping families like yours.9 resources Hospital discharge and rehabYour rights when the hospital says it's time to go.8 resources

Pay for care

How are we going to pay for this?

MedicaidThe biggest payer of long-term care in America, and the most confusing.6 resources MedicareWhat Medicare pays for, and the large part it doesn't.10 resources Veterans benefitsAid and Attendance, state veterans homes, and caregiver support.9 resources Savings, insurance and home equityLong-term care insurance, reverse mortgages, life insurance and more.9 resources Tax breaksCare costs that can come off your taxes.4 resources Free Medicare counselingUnbiased help with Medicare plans, appeals and bills.6 resources

Choose well

How do we know a place is good?

Checking a facilityInspection reports, star ratings and the questions to ask.13 resources Legal paperwork and planningPower of attorney, health care directives, guardianship and elder law.11 resources

Protect them

What if something goes wrong?

Safety, abuse and scamsWhere to report abuse, neglect or fraud.11 resources Hospice and end of lifeHospice, palliative care and advance planning.8 resources

Support the family

Who helps us through it?

Dementia and memory lossHelplines, support groups and dementia-specific programs.13 resources Help for the caregiverRespite, support groups, training and time off work.13 resources Moving and downsizingMove managers, address changes and the emotional side of moving.5 resources

Everyday life

What about staying home a little longer?

Staying at home longerMeals, home repairs, adult day and in-home help.10 resources Getting aroundRides to appointments when driving isn't safe anymore.3 resources

2026 numbers

The figures every family ends up needing

Medicaid income cap in most income-cap states: $2,982/mo
Medicaid look-back on gifts and transfers: 60 months
What Medicare rehab costs per day from day 21: $217/day
Top VA Aid and Attendance pension, veteran alone: $29,093/yr
Savings a spouse at home can keep (federal maximum): $162,660

Federal figures for 2026. States set many of their own limits; your state's guide has its numbers.

Four free services most families never hear about

Eldercare LocatorA free national helpline and website that connects you to local services for older adults, including your Area Agency on Aging, in-home help, meals, transportation, benefits help and caregiver support. You can call, text, chat online or email. State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)Free, unbiased one-on-one counseling from trained local counselors on Medicare coverage, costs, plan choices and help programs. Long-Term Care Ombudsman: Find YoursEvery state has a free Long-Term Care Ombudsman program whose staff advocate for residents of nursing homes, assisted living and board and care homes, resolve complaints and explain rights. This page lists each state's program. VA Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefitsExtra monthly money added to a VA pension for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities, are bedridden, live in a nursing home, or have severe vision loss. Apply with VA Form 21-2680 completed by a doctor, plus VA Form 21-0779 for nursing home residents.

How we researched this guide

Official sources first.Every phone number, link and dollar figure was read on the agency's own page: Medicare.gov, Medicaid.gov, VA.gov, the IRS, and each state's Medicaid, aging and licensing agencies. We keep the source beside every entry.

No guessing.Where we couldn't confirm something, the page tells you who to ask instead of filling the gap. A few state figures couldn't be confirmed on the state's own site, and those tell you to confirm them with the state.

No paid placement.Nothing here is sponsored, and we don't list referral services that get paid to route your call. Last checked September 2026.

Printable checklists Hospital discharge, legal paperwork, documents to gather, choosing a community, moving day, warning signs.What does that word mean? ADLs, spend-down, look-back, waiver, Miller trust, observation status, and the rest, in plain English.