Care guides
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Something happened today
A fall, a possible stroke, sudden confusion, a hospital stay, or a sudden inability to decide.
My parent is coming home from the hospital. What do I need to set up?A calm, step-by-step guide to planning a safe discharge — the questions to ask, the home setup, and who pays.Read guide →Mom broke her hip. Will Medicare pay for rehab?After a broken hip, rehab often happens in a rehab hospital or in a nursing home. What Medicare pays depends on where she goes, how she was admitted, and her plan.Read guide →Does observation count toward Medicare's 3-day rule?A parent can spend nights in a hospital bed and still not be admitted. That decides what Medicare pays, including for rehab in a nursing home later. What observation means, what to ask, and how many rehab days Medicare covers.Read guide →How do I appeal a Medicare denial, or a discharge that feels too soon?You can ask Medicare or your parent's plan to look at a no again. The steps and deadlines are not the same for Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Fast appeals, for when care is ending, have their own steps.Read guide →How do I make the bathroom safer after a fall?Small changes in the bathroom can lower the risk of another fall. What to change, what Medicare pays for, and where to get the items near you.Read guide →
Things are changing over time
Memory loss, dementia, less mobility, more help needed each week, caregiver exhaustion.
How do I prevent bed sores when my parent is in bed or a chair?Bed sores are one of the most preventable — and most dangerous — things that happen after a fall. What to watch for, what to do, and how to advocate for the right mattress.Read guide →When is it time for memory care?There is no single sign. Families usually decide when safety, care needs or their own limits change. Questions to weigh, what memory care is, who pays, and how to find and check a place near you.Read guide →How do I talk to my parent about driving?Driving is about freedom, so this talk is hard. Steps that help older drivers stay safe, how to start the talk, and other ways to get around.Read guide →Where can I get help as a family caregiver?Every state has free help for family caregivers. It comes through a federal program and local Area Agencies on Aging. What they offer, who can get it, and how to find yours.Read guide →I'm worn out. How do I get a break from caregiving?Caring for a parent is hard work, and needing a break is normal. Where respite care comes from, what Medicare and others pay for, and who to call.Read guide →
I need to plan what comes next
Care settings, who pays, documents, equipment, home safety, and comfort-focused care.
Should my parent stay home or move to a care facility?A plain-language way to think through safety, support, and cost when deciding between home and a facility.Read guide →What will Medicare and Medicaid pay for as my parent ages?The big misunderstanding, cleared up: what each program covers by care setting, in plain language.Read guide →Which walker is safest for my parent, and will Medicare pay?Not all walkers are equal. A short, practical guide to the difference between a basic walker and a rollator — and how to match the choice to the person, not to the price tag.Read guide →Can my parent get help paying for Medicare?Two programs help people with limited income and savings. Extra Help lowers drug costs. State Medicare Savings Programs pay the Part B premium, and sometimes more. Here are the 2026 limits and how to apply.Read guide →How do I check a nursing home's inspection record?State inspectors visit every Medicare nursing home without warning. Their findings are public. How to find them on PlanScout, how to read a citation, and what to ask the home.Read guide →How much does in-home care cost per hour near me?PlanScout shows what home care aides earn near any ZIP code, from U.S. government wage data. That is not what an agency will charge. How to use the numbers, and what to ask each agency.Read guide →Can Medicaid pay for a nursing home if Mom has savings?Medicaid pays for most long nursing home stays, but only for people who qualify by income and savings. Each state sets its own rules. Here are the federal rules every state follows: the 5-year look-back, protections for a spouse at home, and what happens to the house.Read guide →Can my veteran parent get VA Aid and Attendance?Aid and Attendance is extra money added to a pension from Veterans Affairs (VA). It is for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily life. Who may qualify, this year's amounts, and how to apply.Read guide →Which legal papers should my parent have before a crisis?A few papers let someone you trust speak for your parent about health and money if they can't. What each one does, and where to get help. General information only, not legal advice.Read guide →Can I get paid to care for my parent?Some family members can get paid to care for a parent. One way is a state Medicaid program that lets your parent choose their own helpers. Another is a Veterans Affairs (VA) caregiver program for some veterans.Read guide →Does Medicare pay for assisted living, and how do I check a place?Medicare does not pay for assisted living rent, meals or daily help. Who may help pay, and how to check a home's state license and inspection reports.Read guide →
Medicare enrollment & coverage
Plan a retirement transition, understand coverage choices, or review plans during fall Open Enrollment. Different enrollment windows have different rules.
How do I switch my parent's Medicare plan during Open Enrollment?Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027. What you can change, how to sign up, and the mistakes to avoid.Read guide →How do I help my parent compare (or switch) Medicare drug plans?What to gather, how to get permission to talk with Medicare for them, what to ask, and how to spot pressure or a scam.Read guide →Medicare Advantage or Medigap: which fits my parent?Medigap pays part of your costs in Original Medicare. You can see any doctor who takes Medicare. Medicare Advantage is a private plan you get instead. It often has a network and a yearly cost limit.Read guide →What should I check in my parent's Annual Notice of Change?Your Medicare plan mails a notice each year of what changes on January 1. How to read the 2027 notice, what to check, and what to do by December 7, 2026.Read guide →I'm retiring. When do I sign up for Medicare, and what do I need to do?What to check before your job coverage ends: Medicare start dates, drug coverage, and Health Savings Account (HSA) questions for your benefits office.Read guide →How much will my parent pay for Medicare Part B in 2027?In 2026, most people pay $202.90 a month for Part B. The 2027 amount is announced in November. Medicare's Trustees estimated $209.50 a month, but the final amount may differ.Read guide →When can my parent buy a Medigap policy?Your parent gets one 6-month window when any insurer must sell them a Medigap policy. After that, health questions can mean a higher price or a no. When the window is, what opens it again, and where to check prices.Read guide →
Something just changed?
After a hurricane, fire or flood
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