Sources & Methodology

Where the numbers come from.

Care Costs should show the source and date for important figures whenever practical. National medians and averages are starting points, not personal quotes.

How we build calculators

Each calculator should identify its inputs, formula, assumptions and limitations. When a number varies substantially by state, hours, care setting or eligibility, that variation should be made visible.

Source hierarchy

Prefer primary sources such as government agencies and established cost-of-care surveys. Where secondary sources are used, label them clearly and avoid presenting an estimate as a guaranteed or personalized amount.

Corrections

If a published number becomes outdated, update the result and methodology rather than silently changing the underlying assumptions.