Free tool · for families comparing elder care
Elder-Care Web Scorer
Compare two assisted living, memory care, or in-home care options side by side, weighted by what matters most to your family. A beautiful tour is very good at drowning out everything else about a care option. This free scorer turns the decision into something you can see: weight five of the things that most often matter — cost, level of care, staffing, location, and reputation. Then rate each option 1 to 5, and it returns one weighted score per option, so the best overall fit for your person rises to the top — not just the place with the nicest lobby. Use it right here in your browser, or download the starter scorecard to keep.
| Criterion | Weightof 100 | Option A | Option B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost & AffordabilityThe all-in monthly cost, and whether it's sustainable | |||
| Level of CareDoes the care match your person's needs, now and as they change | |||
| Staff & CaregivingRatios, training, turnover, consistent caregivers | |||
| Location & AccessHow close, how easy to visit, near the right care | |||
| Reputation & ReviewsLicensing, inspections, references, complaint history |
Weights total: 100 — balanced.
Take it with you — free, no signup
Direct download. No email, no account — just the files.
What it does
- Weights five core criteria by how much each matters to your family, then scores two care options across all of them at once.
- Returns one weighted score per option on a clean 1–5 scale, so the best overall fit — not just the place with the nicest lobby — comes out on top.
- Comes pre-loaded with an example where the pricier, more impressive option doesn't win, so you can see the method working.
- Runs entirely in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere, and nothing is saved.
Own it, don't rent it
Comparing more than two places?
This free scorer weighs two options across five criteria. The full Elder-Care Decision Helper compares up to four options across eight criteria you choose, folds each option's money into one comparable effective monthly cost, ranks them, and names the gap between the best-fit and lowest-cost option in real dollars — a 7-tab workbook you keep (Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice) plus three guides, including a tour-questions checklist.
A one-time purchase you keep and revisit if your person's needs change — the structured workbook between a blank spreadsheet and a sales-driven referral service.
A decision aid, not medical, financial, or legal advice, and not a substitute for a doctor, care manager, or elder-law attorney. A weighted score is a tool for thinking, not a verdict. The example options are fictional. Free to use; please don't resell or redistribute.