If your parent is unable to live at home, the next stop need not be a nursing home. An apartment in an assisted-living facility may be the answer for a loved one who can still manage largely on her own. Most facilities provide meals, housekeeping services, and help with daily activities, such as bathing or getting dressed. Many also organize group outings and social activities as well as transportation to doctor visits. Assisted-living facilities usually do not offer skilled nursing care. They typically charge between $500 and $3,000 per month, depending on the location, accommodations, and services the resident needs. Facilities are licensed on a state level. Check with the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging to locate accredited facilities (www.aahsa.org).

Another relatively new option is a continuing-care retirement community (CCRC). Your parent starts out living in independent housing. If her care needs increase, she moves into an assisted-living apartment or into a nursing home on the premises. (Average costs: $1,082 per month for a studio apartment and $1,768 per month for a two-bedroom.) Generally, CCRCs require your parent to sign a long-term contract and pay a large entry fee (which ranges from an average $45,461 to $107,800), so it's important to check out all three levels of care at the facility and review the admissions agreement carefully. If possible, choose a CCRC accredited by the Continuing Care Accreditation Commission.