Free Planning Tools
Practical, interactive calculators and checklists to help you plan for a parent's care, understand Medicare, and organize a downsizing move — right in your browser. Use them to get oriented before you start calling agencies, speaking with benefits offices, or comparing your options. They give you a clearer starting point for more informed conversations with family and professionals.
Three calculators for the numbers families argue about
Some questions need a number before anything else can happen. What does care cost? Does Mom qualify for Medicare? How much of the house do we need to clear? These three tools give you a working answer in a few minutes.
- Care Cost Estimator: compare the monthly cost of home care, assisted living, and other options in the Northwest Suburbs, so you can see what a few extra hours a week does to a budget.
- Medicare Eligibility Checker: a short set of questions that tells you whether a parent is likely eligible, and what to ask the Social Security Administration next.
- Downsizing Planner: a room-by-room plan and timeline for moving out of a longtime family home.
The tools produce estimates, not quotes or eligibility decisions. Care costs vary by provider and change every year. Medicare eligibility rests on work history and a parent’s specific circumstances, so confirm it with Social Security or a free SHIP counselor.
Once you have a number, our guides explain what to do with it.