The cost of being old in the US is ridiculous. I am in charge of an octogenarian family member who has a decent amount of money in the bank, long term care insurance, Medicare supplement etc.

If they continue to rack up the care costs they currently have, the money will not last longer than a few years.

Changes in physical or mental health needs can trigger 'elimination periods' by insurance companies, meaning months of self-funding; not every nursing home will take every kind of resident, and sitter fees are extortionate.

It's worrying.