What will a nursing home cost, and is there any help available?

If someone is over age 65 and requires only a short-term stay in a skilled nursing facility after a hospitalization, then Medicare should pick up the costs for the first 20 days and any costs over $128 per day for days 21 through 100. If he needs to stay in a nursing home for the long term, he may be eligible for coverage under Medicaid, but only if his assets fall below a certain level.

If he has long-term care insurance, skilled nursing may be covered. Otherwise, you'll need to find a way to cover the expenses, which average upwards of $200 a day.