Care Options
Compare levels of care, true facility costs and what the parent can realistically afford.
Independent living
Mostly independent, with community, meals, transportation and less home upkeep.
Assisted living
Housing plus help with everyday activities, medication support and personal care.
Memory care
Secure, dementia-focused support when cognition, wandering, safety or supervision needs increase.
When should we consider more help?
This is a planning discussion tool, not a diagnosis or recommendation of a specific level of care.
Facility Tour — What to Ask
Room & board
Meals
Care & medication support
Transportation / building
Build the True Monthly Cost
Compare the levels of care separately. Enter every recurring cost the community quotes so you can see the real monthly total — not just the advertised room rate.
Independent Living
Use this if the parent is mostly independent and primarily needs housing, meals, transportation or community amenities.
Assisted Living
Include the care-level fee and every service that is not included in base room and board.
Memory Care
Ask for today's all-in memory-care pricing even if it is not needed yet. This shows what a later transition could cost.
One-Time Costs
Compare Against the Parent's Budget
In production this will pull from the saved Money Snapshot automatically.
See the Cost Jump Between Care Levels
| Level | Estimated monthly total | Difference vs. independent |
|---|---|---|
| Independent living | $0/mo | — |
| Assisted living | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Memory care | $0/mo | $0/mo |
Future Cost Projection
Today's price is only part of the decision. Model annual increases and a possible future move to a higher level of care.
| Level | Today | In 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Independent living | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Assisted living | $0/mo | $0/mo |
| Memory care | $0/mo | $0/mo |
Scenario planning only. Actual increases and future care needs will vary by community and individual circumstances.
Benefits & Other Offsets
Keep these separate from the facility's quoted price so you can see both the true cost and the amount the family may actually need to fund.
Cost Reality Check
Prototype benchmark: CareScout 2025 Cost of Care Survey — U.S. national assisted-living median: $6,200/month. Annual benchmark, not live facility pricing.
Planned production feature: latest available state / metro benchmark, with source year and last-updated date displayed beside every number.