My mother prepared for retirement, but a dementia diagnosis wiped out her savings. I had to scramble to figure out her care.

"When my mom retired, she owned her home and had "enough" saved in her savings account. She had planned the way most people do: based on her ideal aging scenario, which was also the least expensive one. She had hoped to continue living alone in her condo into her elder years, without much thought to how she would source and pay for help if and when she needed it."

"My husband and I were living a couple of hours away, busy with our toddler and a new baby. Since my mom was single, with no other family members nearby except my brother with Down Syndrome, there was simply no one who could help. I felt like a deer in headlights, alone with no idea where to start, and with the caregiving weight of small children and now aging and disabled adults on my shoulders."

The retiree owned a home and had modest savings but planned for the least expensive, independent aging scenario. A sudden illness and dementia diagnosis caused a rapid decline from independent living to assisted living and nursing care within a decade. An adult child living hours away confronted disorganized finances, an unsafe home, and urgent decisions while managing young children and a sibling with Down Syndrome. The family spent down savings and sold the home to pay for care, and ultimately relied on Medicaid for long-term support.

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