About

Editorial Policy

Last updated: October 2026

Who writes this site

Senior Care Explained is an independent, one-person editorial project. Articles are published under the name of the site rather than under an individual author. The person behind the site is not a doctor, nurse, lawyer, or financial advisor and does not claim any professional credentials. The goal is to organize and explain information from official and published sources so families can understand their options.

How articles are made

Each article is researched from primary sources: federal health agencies, government databases, and established nonprofit organizations. AI tools assist with organizing the research and with initial drafting. Every article is then reviewed by a person, and each claim is checked against its original source and corrected where needed before anything is published.

When something is uncertain or varies by state, the article says so. Sources are listed at the bottom of every article, together with the date it was last reviewed.

Sources we rely on

Factual claims are sourced to the original publication. Official sources come first; published surveys are used for cost figures, and the source and year are named wherever a figure appears.

Federal government

  • Medicare.gov — coverage rules, nursing home costs, facility inspection records via Care Compare.
  • Medicaid.gov — eligibility rules, HCBS waivers, spend-down rules, state-by-state coverage.
  • ACL.gov (Administration for Community Living) — federal agency for aging services; primary source for in-home care and caregiver resources.
  • NIA.NIH.gov (National Institute on Aging) — peer-reviewed research on aging, dementia, and care decisions.
  • VA.gov — long-term care options and benefit rates for veterans and surviving spouses.
  • HHS.gov — Department of Health and Human Services; source for broad health statistics.
  • MedlinePlus.gov — NIH medical library; used for clinical definitions.
  • Eldercare.ACL.gov — official locator for state-level aging services.

Professional organizations

  • AARP.org — the leading nonprofit for adults 50+; widely cited across the sector.
  • Alz.org (Alzheimer's Association) — primary source for all memory care and dementia content.
  • NCAL.org (National Center for Assisted Living) — industry statistics on costs and services.
  • HealthinAging.org (American Geriatrics Society) — clinical guidelines for senior care environments.
  • HCAOA.org (Home Care Association of America) — in-home care sector data and policy.
  • LongTermCare.gov — official government portal for long-term care planning.

Cost data

How we handle figures

Costs, Medicaid limits, and benefit rates change, so we review them at least once a year: when the annual CareScout/Genworth survey is published (March), when VA benefit rates adjust (December), and when Medicaid thresholds are revised by CMS (January). On our state pages, a Medicaid figure is shown only when it was read in an official document, and it appears with its source and the date we checked it. When we could not verify a state's figures, we say so instead of showing an unconfirmed number. Where an official source gives conflicting information, we point it out.

Independence

We do not list, rank, or recommend individual facilities or providers, and we do not accept payment from them. The site may show advertising. Advertisers have no influence on what we write. We do not use affiliate links.

Corrections

If you find a mistake, an outdated figure, or a source that contradicts something published here, please tell us. We will check it against the official source and fix it, and we update the review date on the page when we do.

What this site is not

Nothing on this site is medical, legal, or financial advice, and it cannot replace a conversation with a qualified professional or the agency that decides your eligibility. See our disclaimer and our about page.