Every care journey holds potential for connection, safety, and continued purpose. Smart care planning isn’t just about preparing for challenges, it’s about protecting the life you’ve built.
Every care journey holds potential for connection, safety, and continued purpose. Smart care planning isn’t just about preparing for challenges, it’s about protecting the life you’ve built.
Making informed decisions about senior care requires understanding your options, knowing when to act, and having access to the right resources and support systems.
Compare different types of senior care facilities and services to find the best match for your needs and budget.
Access resources, tools, and community connections designed to help caregivers manage their responsibilities effectively.
Understand your healthcare coverage options and how to maximize benefits for senior care services.
Prepare for future care needs by creating plans that maintain dignity and quality of life as abilities change.
Growing older brings changes that may require additional care and support. The number of Americans ages 65 and older is projected to increase from 58 million in 2022 to 82 million by 2050, making understanding your care options more important than ever. This guide provides you with information about accessing care services, understanding your insurance benefits, and planning for your future needs.
Recognizing the right time to seek care can help you maintain your independence and quality of life for longer. Many seniors wait too long to ask for help, which can lead to preventable health complications or dangerous situations at home.
Signs that indicate you may benefit from additional care include difficulty managing daily activities like bathing, dressing, or preparing meals, frequent falls or near-falls, forgetting to take medications or taking them incorrectly, social isolation or depression, and changes in mobility that affect your safety. Additionally, if family members express concern about your well-being or if you feel overwhelmed managing your household, these are valid reasons to consider care options.
About one-quarter of older Americans fall each year. Roughly 3 million end up in the emergency room, and more than 800,000 have to be hospitalized, most often for a head injury or broken hip. These statistics from the CDC underscore the importance of addressing safety concerns early. Learn more about fall prevention from the CDC.
The first step in seeking care is typically consulting with your primary care physician. They can assess your current health status, identify areas where you might need support, and refer you to appropriate services or specialists. Your doctor can also help determine if your needs are temporary due to recovery from illness or surgery, or if they represent longer-term changes that require ongoing support.
Research from the Centers for Disease Control shows that 70% of home care patients are aged 65 and older, indicating that many seniors successfully receive care in their own homes. The key is addressing needs early before they become urgent situations. Find comprehensive aging health statistics at the CDC.
Locating quality senior care services requires research and planning. The senior care landscape includes various options, from in-home assistance to residential care facilities, each serving different levels of need and preference.
Types of senior care include in-home care services that provide assistance with daily activities while allowing you to remain in your familiar environment, adult day programs that offer social interaction and supervised activities during daytime hours, assisted living facilities that provide housing with varying levels of personal care services, memory care facilities specialized for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, and skilled nursing facilities for those requiring 24-hour medical supervision.
The demand for senior care continues to grow as the population ages. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 2021 American Community Survey estimated there were 55,892,014 people aged 65 and over in the U.S., representing 16.8% of the total population. Read more about senior care statistics and trends.
When evaluating care providers, ask about staff qualifications and training, background check procedures, the range of services offered, emergency response protocols, and costs and payment options. Request references from current clients and their families, and don’t hesitate to visit facilities multiple times at different hours to get a complete picture of the care environment.
For additional guidance on selecting senior care services, visit the National Council on Aging resources for aging well.
Age Well Now stands as a leading authority in helping seniors and their families find appropriate care solutions. With extensive knowledge of the senior care landscape and a commitment to matching individuals with quality providers, Age Well Now simplifies the often overwhelming process of finding care.
Our expertise includes comprehensive assessments of your specific needs and preferences, connections to vetted care providers in your area, guidance through the decision-making process, ongoing support as your needs change, and advocacy to help you get the best possible care.
Age Well Now understands that every senior’s situation is unique, and we work closely with you to identify solutions that fit your lifestyle, budget, and care requirements.
Age Well Now’s team regularly evaluates care providers to maintain current information about quality, availability, and services. This ongoing research allows us to provide you with up-to-date recommendations and help you avoid common pitfalls in selecting care services.
Family caregivers play a crucial role in senior care, but the responsibility can be overwhelming without proper support. More than one in five Americans (21.3 percent) are caregivers, having provided care to an adult or child, and more than 60% say caregiving increased their level of stress.
Caregiver challenges include physical exhaustion from lifting, assisting with mobility, and being available around the clock, emotional stress from watching a loved one’s health decline and making difficult decisions, financial strain from reduced work hours or care-related expenses, and social isolation as caregiving responsibilities limit time for personal relationships and activities.
4 in 10 (40%) caregivers are in high-burden situations, 18% medium burden, and 41% low burden based on care intensity levels. Research shows that female caregivers experience more stress and anxiety than their male counterparts; and younger caregivers (under 35) have more emotional challenges than older caregivers.
The economic impact is substantial, with the opportunity costs of family caregiving potentially as high as $522 billion annually. Additionally, 27 percent of working caregivers said they ultimately had to shift from full-time to part-time work or reduce their hours.
Support resources for caregivers include respite care services that provide temporary relief, allowing caregivers to rest or attend to personal needs, support groups where caregivers can share experiences and coping strategies, educational programs about specific conditions and caregiving techniques, counseling services to address emotional challenges, and employee assistance programs that may offer flexible work arrangements or counseling services.
Local Area Agencies on Aging often coordinate caregiver support services and can connect you with resources in your community. Many organizations also offer online support groups and educational materials that caregivers can access at any time.
Taking care of yourself as a caregiver is not selfish, it’s necessary. Maintaining your own health allows you to provide better care for your loved one over the long term. For comprehensive caregiver resources and statistics, visit AARP’s Caregiving Resource Center and the National Alliance for Caregiving.
Understanding Medicare and Medicaid benefits can help you access needed care services while managing costs. These programs provide different types of coverage, and many seniors qualify for both programs to maximize their healthcare benefits.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 and older, as well as younger individuals with certain disabilities. Medicare consists of four main parts, each covering different aspects of healthcare.
Medicare Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care following a qualifying hospital stay, home health services, and hospice care. Most people don’t pay a monthly premium for Part A if they or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. However, you will pay deductibles and coinsurance.
The Part A inpatient hospital deductible will increase $44 to $1,676 in 2025, and the coinsurance for hospital inpatient days 61-90 will be $419 per day, up from $408. For skilled nursing facility stays, the daily coinsurance for days 21-100 will be $209.50, an increase over the 2024 level of $204.
Part A covers up to 100 days in a skilled nursing facility following a qualifying three-day hospital stay, but only covers skilled nursing care, not custodial care or long-term care needs.
Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient services, medical equipment, preventive services, and some home health services. Part B requires a monthly premium that most beneficiaries pay.
The standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B enrollees will be $185.00 for 2025, an increase of $10.30 from $174.70 in 2024. The annual deductible for all Medicare Part B beneficiaries will be $257 in 2025, an increase of $17 from the annual deductible of $240 in 2024.
Higher-income beneficiaries pay additional premiums based on their modified adjusted gross income. After meeting your deductible, you typically pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for most services.
Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, combines Parts A and B into plans offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. These plans often include additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, hearing services, and sometimes transportation to medical appointments.
Medicare Advantage plans may have different costs and coverage rules than Original Medicare. They often use networks of doctors and hospitals, and may require referrals to see specialists. Some plans have $0 monthly premiums, but you still pay your Part B premium.
Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage through private insurance companies. You can get Part D coverage through a standalone prescription drug plan if you have Original Medicare, or through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage.
Part D plans have monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and various coverage phases including a coverage gap (sometimes called the “donut hole”) where you pay more for medications until you reach catastrophic coverage limits.
Medicare has significant limitations that seniors need to understand. Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or ongoing personal care assistance at home. It also doesn’t cover most dental care, eye exams for glasses, hearing aids, or routine foot care.
Medicare will cover skilled nursing facility stays up to 100 days following a qualifying hospital stay, but it does not cover custodial care or assistance with daily living activities that aren’t medically necessary. This is a critical gap since most seniors eventually need help with activities of daily living.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides healthcare coverage for people with limited income and resources. For seniors, Medicaid is particularly important because it covers long-term care services that Medicare doesn’t cover.
Medicaid may provide 100% coverage for nursing home care, but a person must meet specific state requirements to qualify. Medicaid covers nursing home care, home and community-based services, personal care assistance, and other long-term care services.
States are required to cover nursing home care for all adults 21 and older, and cannot limit access to care or impose waiting lists. This makes Medicaid the primary payer for long-term care in the United States.
Medicaid eligibility is based on income and asset limits that vary by state. In most states in 2025, the individual income limit for Nursing Home Medicaid and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers is $2,901/month.
For assets, most states have a limit of $2,000 for individuals applying for Medicaid long-term care services. The asset limit for a married couple with both spouses applying is either $3,000 or $4,000 for all three Medicaid Long Term Care programs in most states in 2025.
When only one spouse needs Medicaid long-term care, special rules protect the spouse who remains in the community. The spousal share is one-half of the couple’s total countable resources, but no less than $31,584 (for 2025) and no more than $157,920 (for 2025). This allows the community spouse to retain assets and income to maintain their standard of living.
If your income or assets exceed Medicaid limits, you may need to “spend down” your resources to qualify. This involves using your assets for approved expenses like medical care, home modifications, or prepaying funeral expenses. Some people work with elder law attorneys to develop legal strategies for protecting assets while qualifying for Medicaid.4
Nursing home residents are entitled to a small Personal Needs Allowance, which varies by state, but in 2025, is approximately $30 – $200 / month. Most of your income will go toward the cost of care, with Medicaid covering the remainder.
Many seniors qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid, known as “dual eligibility.” This combination provides comprehensive coverage, with Medicare typically paying first for covered services and Medicaid covering Medicare premiums, deductibles, and services that Medicare doesn’t cover.
Dual-eligible individuals may qualify for Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) that coordinate both Medicare and Medicaid benefits. These plans often provide additional benefits and care coordination.
Medicare enrollment typically begins three months before your 65th birthday and continues for seven months. If you don’t enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period, you may face late enrollment penalties.
Medicaid applications are processed by state agencies and can be complex, especially for long-term care services. The application process often requires extensive documentation of income, assets, and medical needs. Many people benefit from working with a Medicaid planner or elder law attorney to navigate the application process.
To maximize your Medicare and Medicaid benefits, keep detailed records of all medical expenses, understand what services require prior authorization, work with providers who accept Medicare assignment, and consider supplemental insurance to cover gaps in Medicare coverage. If you think you might qualify for Medicaid, contact your state Medicaid office for an assessment.
In 2020, KFF estimates that 4.2 million people used Medicaid long-term services and supports (LTSS) delivered in home and community settings and 1.6 million used LTSS delivered in institutional settings. Total federal and state Medicaid spending was $597.6 billion, with over 30% spent on long-term care services.
Adding long-term care to what Medicare covers is supported by most Republicans (76%), Democrats (84%) and independents or people with other political affiliations (79%), indicating widespread recognition of this coverage gap. Until this gap is addressed, understanding both Medicare and Medicaid remains crucial for comprehensive healthcare coverage in your senior years.
For official information about Medicare benefits and costs, visit Medicare.gov. For Medicaid long-term services information, see the CMS Medicaid LTSS resources. Additional Medicare and Medicaid analysis is available through the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Proactive planning for potential changes in your independence can help you maintain control over your care decisions and reduce stress for both you and your family. This planning should address both gradual changes and sudden health events.
People age 65 years and older made up 17 percent of the population in 2020. By 2040, that number is expected to grow to 22 percent, emphasizing the importance of systems and plans that support aging in place or transitioning to appropriate care settings.
Key planning areas include housing modifications to improve safety and accessibility, such as installing grab bars, improving lighting, and removing trip hazards. Consider installing ramps, widening doorways, moving bedrooms to the main floor, and upgrading bathrooms with walk-in showers and raised toilet seats.
Transportation alternatives become crucial when driving is no longer safe. Options include public transit, ride services, community transportation programs, volunteer driver programs, and family transportation arrangements. Many communities offer senior-specific transportation services for medical appointments and grocery shopping.
Financial planning for care costs that may not be covered by insurance should start early, as the nation spends $50 billion a year treating older adults for the effects of falls, 75% of which is paid for by Medicare and Medicaid. Long-term care insurance, health savings accounts, and other financial products can help cover costs that government programs don’t cover.
Legal documents including advance directives, power of attorney designations, and healthcare proxy appointments should be completed while you’re still healthy and able to make decisions clearly.
Technology can support independence through medical alert systems, medication management apps, video communication with family and healthcare providers, and smart home devices that can monitor activity and provide reminders. The most important technological benefits reported by caregivers are saving time (77%), caregiving made logistically easier (76%), making the care recipient feel safer (75%), increasing their feelings of being effective (74%), and reducing stress (74%).
Emergency planning should include a list of emergency contacts, copies of important documents in an accessible location, a communication plan for how family will be notified in case of emergency, and arrangements for pets or dependents who rely on your care.
Creating a comprehensive care plan while you’re still healthy gives you the opportunity to research options, make informed decisions, and communicate your preferences to family members. This proactive approach can reduce crisis decision-making and help you maintain more control over your care experience.
By 2030, one-fifth of the U.S. population will be at least 65, meaning that more people than ever will need daily assistance of some sort. This demographic shift makes planning for care needs more critical than ever before.
Regular review and updating of your plans is important as your health, financial situation, and family circumstances change. What works for you today may need adjustment as you age, and staying flexible while maintaining your core preferences will serve you well.
For additional resources on healthy aging and planning for independence, visit the Department of Health and Human Services Healthy Aging resources and AARP’s planning and preparation guides.
