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Free tool · 2 minutes
Which type of care fits your parent right now?
Answer six quick questions about daily needs, safety, and memory. You'll get a plain-language starting point — in-home care, assisted living, memory care, or a nursing home — plus what to check next.
Question 1 of 6
What usually points here
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my parent needs assisted living instead of in-home care?
In-home care usually works well when your parent needs help with a few specific tasks and the home is reasonably safe. Assisted living becomes the better fit when they need help across most daily activities, are increasingly isolated at home, or when caregiver burnout is putting the current arrangement at risk.
What's the difference between assisted living and memory care?
Memory care is a specialized, more secure form of assisted living designed for people with dementia or Alzheimer's, with staff trained specifically in cognitive care and a layout designed to prevent wandering. Assisted living without a memory care designation is generally not equipped for advanced dementia.
When does someone need a nursing home instead of assisted living?
A nursing home provides 24/7 skilled nursing care from licensed nurses, which is necessary for complex medical needs, frequent hospitalizations, or conditions that require round-the-clock clinical monitoring. Assisted living provides help with daily activities but not this level of medical care.
This quiz gives a general, educational starting point based on commonly used care-planning signals — it is not a medical, clinical, or care-management assessment. A geriatric care manager, doctor, or discharge planner can give a formal recommendation based on a full evaluation. © 2026 CarePath.