When evaluating the size of care settings, you have to think like Goldilocks: each individual kupuna needs a setting that is not too big, not too small, but just right.

It seems obvious. Nobody suddenly wakes up and decides that they want to leave their at-risk kupuna at home alone without supervision.

It's a balancing act for families to manage the care needs of their kupuna vs finances, and to get the timing right for when to seek care. But it may be even more expensive in the long run if a kupuna suffers an injury with lasting damage. If there are any "near misses" or other incidents, then it is already time to seek care for your kupuna.

Not knowing the broad differences between the care options means you might waste valuable time, energy, and money or (worse yet) settle on something inappropriate for your kupuna.

Avoid costly mistakes and narrow your search to the right category of care, before you begin to make phone calls to individual facilities.