We all go through life knowing that someday we'll get older and need more support, but that doesn't mean everyone's ready when the time comes. Transitioning into long-term care is difficult for several reasons, one of them being there are so many different care options.
To make these lifestyle adjustments easier, we put together a guide to the most common types of long-term care that may be available to you, what sets them apart from each other, and how you might determine which ones are the best choices for you and your family. By familiarizing yourself with all your care options ahead of time, you'll know what to do at every next step.
In-home care is exactly what it sounds like: care you receive at home. Most care recipients prefer to stay in their familiar, comfortable homes for as long as they can, and there are multiple ways to go about it.
Receiving support from a family member, usually your spouse or one of your children, is the most informal method of in-home care, and it's increasingly common — as of 2025, there are 63 million Americans providing ongoing care for another adult. Family caregivers can help with a variety of needs, from activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, bathing, and mobility to instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) like housekeeping, meal prep, and driving.
Getting help from your family has obvious benefits: It's relatively inexpensive, it's easier to coordinate, and you can lean on people you know and trust instead of strangers. The downsides are that family caregivers most likely aren't trained to handle higher-level needs, and the arrangement can be stressful for your loved ones, even with respite care services available to give them occasional breaks.
Right for you if:
In-home care agencies offer the same kinds of nonmedical support that a family caregiver might, but you'll be getting help from paid professionals instead. When you find a reliable agency in your area, you can schedule visits from their staff to receive personal care, companionship, housekeeping, grocery delivery, and other services at home.
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Nursing care may be the best in-home support option for people recovering from a hospital stay or an injury. If you're ready to leave the hospital but still need medical attention while you recuperate, a private nurse can visit your home to monitor your condition, administer medications, dress your wounds, and perform other clinical tasks. This is a temporary solution, not a form of ongoing long-term care.
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Home health agencies offer a broad range of medical support services, like nursing, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. You can go through these agencies to book appointments with private doctors, specialists, and other providers who are able to fulfill prescribed treatments.
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If you're having a tough time living independently and none of the in-home care options are a good fit, you might be healthier and happier at a senior living community. Here are some of the options you can explore when you're thinking about transitioning from your home to another living situation.
When you think about the average "senior" or "retirement" community, you're probably thinking of assisted living. These resident communities are for older adults who need too much help with everyday tasks to continue living at home but who don't need a lot of ongoing medical attention.
When you stay at an assisted living community, you'll most likely have your own room or apartment, but you'll share common spaces with other residents. This makes it easy to socialize, play games, and have dinner with new friends, offering built-in companionship you might not get from living alone at home.
Staff will be on-site to take care of cleaning, cooking, laundry, and more personal tasks like dressing and bathing if necessary, but you can still enjoy a fairly independent lifestyle. It's very important to note, however, that you will probably be paying for your assisted living stay entirely out of pocket.
Right for you if:
A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a short-term residential community for those who need medical care (e.g., nursing care, physical therapy, or occupational therapy). If you're recovering from an injury or a hospital stay, and you need around-the-clock medical supervision before you go back home or to another long-term care community, you might spend the transitional period at a SNF. A Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, or long-term care insurance plan may cover a portion of your SNF stay, but you'll most likely pay for the bulk of it out of pocket.
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You can't have too many choices when it comes to your long-term health and comfort. Here are a few more options outside of the more typical types of in-home care and senior living communities.
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) perform a variety of long-term care services in one location. You might rely on one for assisted living, skilled nursing care, or even just recreational activities (in which case you may not need to reside on-site to participate). You'll usually pay a one-time entrance fee to join a CCRC, and then a monthly rate for as long as you receive services. Health plans may cover some of the cost, but as with other senior living options, you'll pay for most CCRC resources yourself.
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If you need support during the daytime only, an adult day care center could be for you. These are nonresident communities that can help with everyday tasks, companionship, and often certain medical needs, but unlike assisted living or SNF options, you'll go home after receiving services instead of living on-site. Adult day care centers are most commonly used by people who need daily assistance while their family caregivers are busy at work.
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We hope this overview of common care options can start you on the right foot, but you'll want more info before you make such a big decision. If a particular type of care has caught your eye, be sure to do more research about services available in your area, the cost, any coverage you might get from your health plan, and more.
Area Agencies on Aging are excellent local resources that can give you a better idea of where to go from here. You can also reach out to your health plan for guidance, especially on how to manage your care expenses.
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