Most useful first step
If your parent's home is their biggest asset, start there. The Home Equity Calculator shows what a sale would really net, after commission, closing costs, and repairs — the number people are usually surprised by.
Whatever option your family lands on, the money has to come from somewhere — savings, home equity, Medicare (in the limited ways it applies), or some combination. This hub is where the financial side of the decision gets sorted out.
If your parent's home is their biggest asset, start there. The Home Equity Calculator shows what a sale would really net, after commission, closing costs, and repairs — the number people are usually surprised by.
What selling would really net, after commission, closing costs, and repairs.
Run the Numbers →What a home sale really costs, with a worked example.
What they cost and what to watch for.
Staying as-is, a reverse mortgage, or selling — side by side.
A rough framework for estimating the runway.
A note on this page and its linked pages: This hub and everything linked from it is for general informational purposes only — it is not financial, tax, legal, investment, or Medicaid-planning advice, and nothing here guarantees eligibility for any program. Reverse mortgage terms, Medicare and Medicaid coverage rules, VA benefit rates, and real estate costs all vary and change over time. Talk to a licensed financial advisor, elder law attorney, tax professional, or HUD-approved housing counselor about your family's specific situation before making a financial decision.
Generally no — Medicare covers limited home health and hospice-related care but not the ongoing cost of assisted living or custodial in-home care. What Does Medicare Actually Cover for Elder Care? explains exactly what is and isn't included.
It can work for some families and not others, depending on whether the parent plans to keep living in the home and what the ongoing costs and risks are. Reverse Mortgages Explained and the Reverse Mortgage Comparison page cover what to watch for.
Less than the sale price alone suggests, once commission, closing costs, and repairs are factored in. What It Really Costs to Sell Your Parents' House and the Home Equity Calculator both work through this with real numbers.
No — they're structurally different programs. Medicare is federal health insurance based on age or disability, largely independent of income. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program based on financial need, and it's the program that can help cover long-term custodial care — with rules and waiver availability that vary by state. Medicaid & Long-Term Care: A Starting Guide covers the basics.
For wartime veterans and their surviving spouses, the VA Aid and Attendance benefit can add meaningfully to a monthly pension. Eligibility is determined solely by the Department of Veterans Affairs based on service history, income, and medical need — VA Aid & Attendance for Aging Parents explains how to find out.
It usually clarifies which other options are realistically on the table.