About Assisted LivingAssisted living facilities offer housing and care for active seniors who may need support with activities of daily living, like bathing, dressing, and medication management.Complete guide to assisted livingBest of 2025 Assisted Living Winners
About Memory CareMemory care facilities provide housing, care, and therapies for seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an environment designed to reduce confusion and prevent wandering. Complete guide to memory careBest of 2025 Memory Care Winners
About Independent LivingIndependent living facilities offer convenient, hassle-free living in a social environment for seniors who are active, healthy, and able to live on their own.Complete guide to independent livingBest of 2025 Independent Living Winners
About Senior LivingSenior living is a term used to describe various housing and care options for older adults from maintenance-free, 55+ facilities for active seniors, to secure, fully staffed facilities for seniors with Alzheimer's or dementia. Complete guide to senior livingFind senior living facilities near you
About Nursing HomesNursing homes provide short-and long-term care for seniors who have physical or mental health conditions that require 24-hour nursing and personal care.Complete guide to Nursing Homes
About Senior ApartmentsSenior apartments offer accessible, no-frills living for seniors who are generally active, healthy, and able to live on their own.Complete guide to Senior Apartments
About Care HomesResidential care homes are shared neighborhood homes for seniors who need a live-in caregiver to assist with activities of daily living, like dressing and bathing.Complete guide to care homes
Veteran ResourcesVA benefits for long-term care, such as Aid and Attendance benefits, can help eligible veterans and their surviving spouses pay for senior care.Guide to VA benefits for long-term care
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Photo of expert panelist Letha Sgritta McDowell
Expert Panelist

Letha McDowell, CELA, CAP

Managing Member at McDowell Law Group
Apfm Logo2024 Expert Panel Member
Expertise
Certified Elder Law Attorney Letha Sgritta McDowell is a past president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

About Letha

Letha Sgritta McDowell is an attorney practicing in both Virginia and North Carolina. Her practice spans estate planning, estate and trust administration, Medicaid asset protection, and special needs planning, as well as related tax law. She is a fellow of the American College of Trusts and Estates Council, a Certified Elder Law Attorney, and a past president of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. As a passionate advocate for elder law, Letha also frequently teaches continuing education programs and is an adjunct professor of Tax and Estate Law at Stetson Law University.

More from Letha

A caregiver smiling and showing a tablet device to a senior couple
Learn which Social Security benefits, including optional state supplement (OSS) payments, can be used to pay for assisted living.
A senior and a caregiver
Learn what Medicaid will and won’t pay for when it comes to memory care services and facilities.
An in-home caregiver leaning in to conversation with a senior man
Learn all about Medicare home health care coverage, including what exactly it covers, duration, and eligibility.
A senior man and woman sit at a table while looking at a document.
Learn all about Medicaid long-term care eligibility and coverage.
A senior and a caregiver review a document
Seniors with limited funds may be eligible for benefits through Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs, Social Security, and more.
A senior man and a younger woman reviewing Medicare information on a tablet
Discover whether Medicare pays for assisted living and what services it covers within a community.