If she wants to stay at home
What parts of the home are hard to use? Which daily tasks need another person? Could practical changes and help work together? Ask who will assess the situation before agreeing to any work.
If you’re considering a caregiver
Who will come? How will Mom meet them? What help is included? What happens if that person is unavailable? Ask how updates, schedule changes, and concerns will be handled.
If you’re looking at a community
What does an ordinary day look like? What support is available at night? How do costs change as needs change? How can family stay involved? Ask Mom what she notices on a visit.
For every path
Ask for a clear written explanation of the service, the provider, the costs, and any referral arrangements. Take time to ask the questions you still have.
You can combine paths—and revisit them.
A more accessible bathroom and a few hours of support can belong in the same plan. Exploring a community now doesn’t decide the future. Start with the needs and wishes in front of you.
What the paths tend to cost.
In-home care is usually priced by the hour, so the bill follows the hours. A community charges monthly, and the number moves as her needs do. In the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey the median rate for a non-medical caregiver in Georgia was $32 an hour, against $35 nationally. Those are survey medians, not a quote for your family.
Ask who gets paid when you are referred.
Some services are paid by the provider they send you to, which can shape what you are shown. It is a fair question to ask anyone helping you choose, including us. Ask how they are paid, and whether they are paid more for one option than another.
Keep reading
Ten quiet signs, before anything breaks.
What care actually costs, in plain ranges.
Who actually pays for care at home.