At home
Depending on your needs, you may be able to get help with your personal activities (for example, help with the laundry, bathing, dressing, cooking, and cleaning) at home from family members, friends, or volunteers. Some home care can only be given by licensed health workers, such as if you need skilled nursing care and certain other health care services that you get in your home for the treatment of an illness or injury.

Adult day care centers
Adult day care services provide health, social, and recreational activities in a supportive setting for adults who have functional and/or cognitive impairments that do not need 24-hour care. Some programs offer services in the evenings and on weekends, in addition to standard business hours. Programs may provide services for individuals with specific impairments such as Alzheimer's or mental illness.

Continuing care retirement communities
These housing communities have different levels of care based on your needs. Where you live depends on the level of care you need. In the same community, there may be individual homes or apartments for residents who still live on their own, an assisted living facility for people who need some help with daily care, and a nursing home for those who require higher levels of care. Residents move from one level of care to another based on their needs but still stay in the CCRC.

Assisted living facilities
This group living arrangement provides help with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, and using the bathroom, taking medicine, and getting to appointments as needed. Residents often live in their own room or apartment within a building or group of buildings and have some or all of their meals together. Social and recreational activities are usually provided. Some assisted living facilities have health services on site. Costs for assisted living facilities can vary widely depending on the size of the living areas, services provided, type of help needed, and where the building is located. Residents usually pay a monthly rent and then pay additional fees for the services that they get. In 2001, the typical cost of living in an assisted living facility ranged from $900 to $3,000 per month, but costs can be higher in urban areas or in upscale facilities.

Nursing homes
These facilities provide care to people who can't be cared for at home or in the community. Nursing homes provide a wide range of personal care and health services. For most people, this care generally is to assist people with support services such as dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom, for people who can't take care of themselves due to physical, emotional, or mental problems. Medicare doesn't pay for this type of care and doesn't pay for most nursing home care.