Caring for aging parents
Supporting parents as they get older, from spotting when they need help and talking about money to long-term care and senior living options.
Getting started
Supporting your parents as they age
Helping aging parents often begins with small worries and grows into big decisions about health, money and where they'll live. Starting early, while your parents can share their wishes, gives everyone more choices.
How to help aging parents covers the signs they need help, the documents to put in place and where to find support. When it's time to discuss finances, how to talk to your parents about money shows how to start respectfully.
Care later in life can be very expensive, and Medicare covers little of it. Long-term care options and costs explains who pays for what, and senior living options compares staying at home, assisted living, nursing homes and more.
Make sure the right documents are in place with power of attorney and health care directives, and understand their health coverage with Medicare explained.
Common questions
Mostly no. Medicare covers limited skilled nursing care after a hospital stay, some home health care and hospice, but not ongoing help with daily activities. Medicaid, long-term care insurance and savings usually pay for that.
Start with your local Area Agency on Aging, which you can find through the Eldercare Locator at eldercare.acl.gov or 1-800-677-1116. It can connect you with home help, meals, transportation and caregiver support.
Choose a calm moment, explain that you want to understand their wishes rather than take control, and take it slowly over several conversations. Start with where their documents are and whom they'd want to help.