In short
Most families come to us with one of five questions: Is it time to leave the house? What will the move cost? Which kind of place fits? Who pays for it? And what happens to everything inside? Below is each one, with a page that goes deeper. Everything here is free, and you can stop at any point. Call (800) 614-8388 or ask us to call you.
The five decisions families actually make
You don't have to solve all of these at once. Most people work on one, and the others get clearer as they go.
- Selling the family home. When to list it, whether to move out first, and what to do with forty years of belongings. Read the guide to selling the house.
- Downsizing and moving. Sorting, donations, an estate sale, packing and unpacking, and the people who do this for a living. Read the downsizing and moving guide.
- Finding the right place. Independent living, 55+ communities, assisted living, or memory care — each is a different level of help. Independent living, assisted living, memory care.
- Staying home instead. For many people the answer isn't a move at all; it's the right help at home. Read about care at home.
- Paying for it. Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, long-term care insurance and private pay each cover different things. See who pays for what.
What a free call does — and doesn't do
When you call or send the form, a person asks a few short questions: who you're helping, what kind of help is most useful, and when you're thinking of moving. Then we introduce you to the communities, move managers, agents or care agencies in your area that fit what you told us. They reach out to you; you decide what, if anything, to do next.
What we are not: we're not a community, a care provider, a real estate brokerage, or a licensed health, legal or financial advisor. We don't tell you which place is best, and we don't sign you up for anything. The partners pay us a referral fee when they serve a family we introduce; you are never charged, and asking questions costs nothing.
Not sure where to start? That's the most common call we get.
Tell us what's happening and we'll point you to the page, or the person, that fits.
When staying home is the right answer
We're a moving-and-housing service, so it would be easy to assume we always suggest a move. We don't. Plenty of the people who call us stay exactly where they are, with a little help added: a housekeeper, a ride to appointments, meals delivered, or a caregiver a few hours a day. That's often the cheapest and happiest outcome. Care at home and the Kansas and Missouri pages both explain the local options.
Questions we hear a lot
Does it cost anything to talk to you?
No. The service is free to you and your family. Partners pay us a referral fee when they serve a family we introduce, which is how we stay free. You are never charged by us, and you're under no obligation to use anyone we suggest.
Will you pressure me into a move?
No, and please tell us if anyone does. We ask what you're weighing and introduce options; the decision stays yours. If staying home is the right answer, we'll say so and point you to help at home instead.
I don't live in the same state as my parent. Can you still help?
Yes — a lot of the people who call us live out of state. Tell us where your parent is and where you are, and we'll line up help near them. Sharing a page with a sibling is often the easiest way to get everyone on the same page.
Do I have to give my Social Security or Medicare number?
Never. We don't collect Social Security numbers, bank or card numbers, Medicare or Medicaid IDs, medical details or government ID. The form asks only who you're helping, what kind of help, your first name, phone, ZIP and a good time to call.
Sources
- Medicare.gov — Long-term care coverage (what Medicare does and does not pay for)
- Eldercare Locator (U.S. Administration for Community Living) — 1-800-677-1116