ElderCareCost

Elder Care Cost Calculator 2026

State-specific costs for nursing homes, assisted living, in-home care, and adult day care. Built from Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey data — the same source as the original Genworth tool.

Select care type, state, and duration to get monthly costs, annual totals, 5-year projections, and your estimated coverage gap.

Calculate Your Care Costs

2026 National Care Cost Reference

Care Type Monthly Annual 5-Year Total
Adult Day Care $1,603 $19,236 $105,984
Assisted Living $4,500 $54,000 $297,600
In-Home Aide (44 hrs/wk) $5,339 $64,068 $352,864
Nursing Home (Semi-Private) $8,669 $104,028 $573,103
Nursing Home (Private Room) $9,733 $116,796 $643,779

Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey. National medians. 5-year totals use 3.5% annual inflation.

Elder Care Cost Home

State-by-state lookup, quick calculator

Nursing Home Costs by State

All 50 states, private and semi-private rates

Assisted Living Cost by State

$4,500/mo national median — state comparison

Memory Care Costs

$5,625/mo nationally — 25% above assisted living

Medicare & Medicaid Coverage

What you'll actually owe out of pocket

Long-Term Care Insurance

Rates by age, $900–$5,400/year

Cost Projections

5, 10 & 15 year estimates with inflation

Compare Care Types

Nursing home vs assisted living vs in-home

Elder Care Costs by State

State costs vary by up to 2.4x nationally. Select your state for a full breakdown.

Alabama $7,756 Alaska $13,200 Arizona $9,125 Arkansas $7,300 California $11,680 Colorado $10,220 Connecticut $14,600 Delaware $11,315 Florida $10,220 Georgia $8,578 Hawaii $14,235 Idaho $9,490 Illinois $8,943 Indiana $8,760 Iowa $8,395 Kansas $8,030 Kentucky $8,578 Louisiana $7,665 Maine $11,680 Maryland $11,315 Massachusetts $14,235 Michigan $9,855 Minnesota $10,950 Mississippi $7,665 Missouri $7,300 Montana $9,490 Nebraska $8,943 Nevada $9,490 New Hampshire $12,045 New Jersey $12,410 New Mexico $8,943 New York $13,870 North Carolina $8,943 North Dakota $9,855 Ohio $8,760 Oklahoma $7,118 Oregon $11,315 Pennsylvania $10,950 Rhode Island $10,950 South Carolina $8,030 South Dakota $8,395 Tennessee $8,030 Texas $7,300 Utah $8,760 Vermont $11,680 Virginia $9,490 Washington $11,315 West Virginia $8,395 Wisconsin $9,855 Wyoming $9,855 Washington D.C. $12,775 View all states → Compare costs

How This Cost of Care Calculator Works

The calculator pulls state-level median costs from the Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey — 70,000+ providers across all 50 states, updated annually. These are the same numbers referenced by financial planners, elder law attorneys, and the CMS Medicare benefit guides.

For in-home aide costs, the base figures assume 44 hours/week. Move the hours slider to adjust — if you're planning for part-time help (20 hrs/week), the cost cuts roughly in half. Duration projections apply 3.5% annual inflation, consistent with the 10-year trend in the Genworth data.

The coverage gap calculation is an estimate, not a benefit determination. Medicare's skilled nursing coverage caps at 100 days with significant copays. Long-term care insurance benefit amounts vary by policy — the $200/day figure used here is a common midpoint for policies purchased between 2005 and 2015. Medicaid eligibility depends on state rules and asset levels not captured here.

When to Use Each Care Type

Care Type Best for National Avg
Adult Day Care Part-time supervision; caregiver relief $1,603/mo
In-Home Aide Help with daily tasks; staying at home $5,339/mo
Assisted Living Help with ADLs; no skilled nursing needed $4,500/mo
Memory Care Dementia/Alzheimer's with wandering risk $5,625/mo
Nursing Home Active medical needs; 24/7 skilled nursing $9,733/mo
Full comparison: what's included in each care type →

What Medicare and Medicaid Actually Cover

Medicare won't pay for most of what's on this calculator. It covers skilled nursing after a hospital stay — up to 100 days, with copays starting day 21 — but stops when you no longer need skilled care. Assisted living and most nursing home stays don't qualify. Most people are surprised to learn that Medicare's average nursing home coverage lasts only 22 days.

Medicaid covers long-term care but requires spending down most assets first. The threshold is roughly $2,000 in countable assets for an individual (rules vary by state). Long-term care insurance is the option most families overlook: best purchased at 55–65, before premiums spike. A joint policy typically runs $2,500–$3,500/year at age 60.

Data Sources

Cost figures from Genworth/CareScout Cost of Care Survey (annual, all 50 states + D.C., 70,000+ provider responses). Coverage estimates from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) benefit policy guidelines. Inflation rate: 3.5% annual, consistent with 10-year Genworth trend data.

Updated March 2026. Cost estimates based on Genworth/CareScout survey data. Actual costs vary by provider, location within state, and care level. Not financial or medical advice.

Data: Genworth Cost of Care Survey, CMS Nursing Home Compare, AARP Long-Term Care Cost Index, CMS Medicare and Medicaid Publications

Last updated: January 2025

How we calculate this · Medicaid eligibility and coverage rules change. Consult an elder law attorney or benefits counselor for planning decisions.

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