Connecting families to care
Clear, honest guidance on care options, costs, Medicare, Medicaid, and VA benefits, plus support for the caregivers holding it all together.
Where are you right now?
The CareLink path
Look honestly at daily needs, safety, memory, and health to see what kind of help fits.
Know what Medicare won't cover, and what Medicaid, VA benefits, insurance, and savings can.
Powers of attorney, advance directives, and a written care plan, before a crisis.
Practical routines, respite, and support so the caregiver doesn't burn out.
Care options
Most people want to stay home as long as they safely can. Our guides explain each option, what it costs, and the signs it's time for the next level.
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Caregiving
Mom fell, Dad got a diagnosis, or a spouse came home from the hospital needing help. Here is what to do in the first month, in a sensible order, without trying to do it all at once.
Read the guidePaying for Care
Medicare pays for short-term skilled care, not ongoing help with daily living. Here is exactly where the line falls in 2026, and what families pay.
Read the guideCare Options
Start with what your loved one can and can't do each day. This framework, and a side-by-side comparison of every care option, can help your family decide.
Read the guidePaying for Care
Medicaid is the main public program that pays for long-term care. Here is how eligibility works, what protects a healthy spouse, and the mistakes that cause costly delays.
Read the guideVeterans
VA pension with Aid and Attendance can help a wartime veteran or surviving spouse pay for home care, assisted living, or a nursing home. Here is how eligibility, the math, and the application actually work.
Read the guidePlanning & Legal
A power of attorney lets someone your parent trusts act for them if they cannot. Here is how the two main types work, why timing matters, and what to do next.
Read the guideFor veterans and their families
Wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities may qualify for VA pension with Aid and Attendance. Family caregivers of eligible veterans may qualify for VA caregiver support, and the VA offers home and long-term care programs of its own.
Never pay for help filing a VA claim
Use a VA-accredited representative. Accredited Veterans Service Organizations help for free.
The CareLink Caregiver Organizer
Printable pages for medications, doctors, insurance and benefits, daily routines, appointments, and the legal documents you'll need in a hurry.
Every county is served by an Area Agency on Aging, a free public resource for services, benefits counseling, and caregiver support.
Generally no. Medicare covers short-term skilled care after a qualifying hospital stay, home health care for people who are homebound, and hospice, but not ongoing help with daily activities like bathing and dressing. See what Medicare covers.
Most combine several sources: savings and income, long-term care insurance, Medicaid for people who qualify financially, and VA benefits for eligible veterans and surviving spouses. Start with the Cost of Care Calculator.
Home care is non-medical help with daily activities like bathing, meals, and companionship. Home health care is skilled medical care ordered by a doctor, such as nursing or therapy. See in-home care.
Your Area Agency on Aging is the best first call. Find yours through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 or on our find local help page.
No. We don't sell care, take referral fees for placements, or rank providers. We publish independent guides and free tools, and point you to official sources.