Caring for an older parent or a loved one who needs help — daily routines, dementia, falls, medication, care homes, costs, respite and looking after yourself. Type your worry, get a kind straight answer in seconds. The full detailed report costs less than a cup of coffee: $2.95.
Families make care decisions on guesses because the numbers feel unknowable. They are not. With your weekly hours and an hourly rate, this calculator builds a realistic monthly home-care figure; add a facility's monthly fee and it shows the honest difference. It is a planning estimate from typical market ranges — local providers and a financial adviser confirm the real numbers for your area.
Estimate what home care actually costs per month versus a care home — real numbers for the decision you are facing.
A home health aide typically runs $20-$35 an hour, with a national median around $30; live-in and overnight care cost differently. Agencies also add weekend and holiday premiums, so ask for the full rate sheet.
A care home's monthly fee usually includes housing, meals, utilities, activities and staffing — costs that continue to exist with home care on top of your hourly bill. Compare like with like, or the cheaper option surprises you later.
Sometimes: long-term-care insurance, Medicaid waivers in many states, veterans benefits, and local area agencies on aging all help families who qualify. Most people never ask — and the answer is often a partial but real contribution.
Every tool answers instantly from our own knowledge and calculators. Want the deeper, personalised version? Each has a $2.95 full report.