Assisted living, in-home care, nursing homes and memory care each cost differently by state and by how much help someone needs. These calculators use the site's own cost model so you have a monthly figure to plan around before you tour a single community.
Assisted living at the national average, a studio with light care, runs about $4,500/mo
Senior care is among the largest expenses a family will take on. These tools give you a number to work with before you need one badly.
Pick your state, room type, and care level. You get a monthly cost range built from regional data, not a national average that papers over a $3,000 spread.
Get the figure →Set your state and weekly hours. The result shows what a home aide typically runs per month in your area, which is fine math until the hours start climbing.
Get the figure →Compare semi-private and private room rates for skilled nursing facilities in your state. The gap between the two is narrower than you might expect.
Get the figure →Memory care runs 20 to 30 percent above standard assisted living. See what to budget for dementia-specific facilities in your state so the numbers are already familiar when the conversation comes up.
Get the figure →Senior care can run from a few thousand to well over ten thousand dollars a month. Medicare covers almost none of it. These tools give you realistic, state-level estimates for each care type so you can look at the numbers before someone hands you a brochure in a waiting room.
The figures on this site are informed by the following U.S. government sources. If you want to go deeper, start here.
Medicare does not pay for assisted living in most cases. It covers skilled nursing facility stays and short-term rehabilitation after a hospital admission, but room, board, and personal care are not included. Medicaid may help in certain states, but eligibility rules differ sharply by state. Check Medicare.gov or call your state Medicaid office for specifics.
Staying at home with targeted in-home support, sharing housing with family, or joining a subsidized senior apartment program under HUD Section 8 or Section 202 are typically the lowest-cost paths. Independent living communities cost less than assisted living or memory care. A local Area Agency on Aging can map out the options near you, usually at no charge.
Social Security does not pay facilities directly. A senior can put their monthly retirement or disability benefit toward assisted living costs, but the average benefit of roughly $1,900 per month in 2025 covers only a slice of fees that typically run $3,500 to $6,000 nationally. Most residents draw on savings, pensions, or Medicaid to fill the gap.
Not always. Early Parkinson's can often be managed at home with some support. As mobility, balance, and cognition decline, assisted living or memory care tends to become practical rather than optional. The right setting depends on what someone can safely manage at home right now, not on the diagnosis alone. A neurologist or geriatric care manager can give families a clearer read on timing.