Home feels cheaper until you count everything. Build a simple worksheet with two columns: home and community. Start with fixed costs: housing, utilities, insurance, groceries. Then add variable costs: rides, yard work, housekeeping, snow removal, repairs, and paid caregiving hours.
Now add the costs families do not track. Time spent driving, time spent managing medications, and time spent responding to small crises. Ask: how many hours did we spend last month on caregiving tasks. What did that time displace. Work, rest, family time, health.
Then compare to community costs with equal detail. Ask what meals cost. Ask what transportation covers. Ask what housekeeping includes. Ask how medication management is priced. Ask what care add ons apply today based on your needs list.
Your worksheet becomes a decision tool. It keeps the conversation grounded. It also reduces family conflict because numbers replace assumptions.
If the worksheet feels heavy, ask your advisor for support. We can help you estimate total cost ranges based on local pricing patterns and your care needs.
