assisted living

America is facing an invisible economic tax due to the lack of infrastructure supporting an aging population. The financial strain widens wealth disparities, forcing those with fewer resources to shoulder major caregiving burdens by sacrificing income and savings. Specialized care is extremely costly, with median costs for assisted living exceeding $74,000 annually.

A Minnesota widow successfully advocated for a law change allowing residents of assisted living facilities to drink alcohol at care homes. She argued that older adults should retain freedoms comparable to others despite living in assisted care.

Margaret Burke's 91-year-old mother lives independently in an affordable condo in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with meals, activities, and communal services. The arrangement costs less than assisted living, allowing the mother to maintain an active lifestyle while Burke manages her care remotely from Taiwan.