Find the help that's actually out there.

Caring for someone with dementia comes with real costs — money, time, your own job and health. There are programs built to help with all of it, but most families never hear about them. Answer a few questions and get a personalized checklist of what's worth looking into.

The best time to set these up is before you feel desperate for them. Many of these programs reward the families who start early — waitlists, look-back periods, and paperwork all move faster when you're ahead of the crisis instead of inside it.

Nothing you enter is saved. Your answers stay on this page and disappear when you close it. No account, no tracking.

A few questions

There are no wrong answers, and we never ask for exact dollar amounts. This takes about two minutes.

Who are you caring for?

How old are they?

Did they — or their spouse — ever serve in the military?

Where do they live right now?

How would you describe the financial picture?

Rough bands only — we never ask for exact numbers.

What's the hardest part right now?

Are the legal documents in place?

Power of attorney, health care proxy, advance directive.

Are you working?

Which state? (optional)

Just personalizes the wording — it doesn't change your results.

Care Compass · Your benefits checklist

Start here

These four are free, open to everyone, and the best place to begin. If you keep just one number, make it the Eldercare Locator.

Worth looking into

This is a starting point, not advice. Care Compass is an educational tool. It isn't legal, financial, or medical advice, and it isn't affiliated with any government agency. Only each program can decide whether someone qualifies.

Numbers change; rules vary by state. Benefit amounts, income and asset limits, and eligibility rules are updated regularly and differ from place to place. Always confirm the current details with the official source before counting on them.

For anything involving power of attorney, Medicaid planning, or protecting assets, consider speaking with an elder law attorney. Find one through naela.org.