Data Methodology, Sourcing & Editorial Standards

1. Independent Consumer Research Charter

What We Are: An independent digital research platform and interactive cost-calculator engineered to help families evaluate senior living costs and navigate public benefit programs.

What We Are NOT: ElderGuide NearMe is not an insurance agency, Medicare broker, Third-Party Marketing Organization (TPMO), or healthcare provider. We do not sell Medicare Advantage plans, represent insurance carriers, or market health policies under CMS 42 CFR § 422.2267. We do not provide individual medical, legal, or financial advice.

2. Primary Government & Regulatory Data Sources

Our rate benchmarks, facility registries, and regulatory guidelines originate exclusively from official government and verified public datasets:

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS data.cms.gov): Federal skilled nursing facility (SNF) provider data, inspection deficiency citations, star ratings, and statutory Medicare Part A/B coverage guidelines.
• State Health & Human Services Licensing Portals: State-licensed assisted living and memory care facility counts, inspection databases, and statutory staffing minimums (e.g., Florida AHCA, California CCLD, Texas HHSC, New York DOH).
• State Medicaid & HCBS Waiver Programs: Official income and asset caps for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers (e.g., Florida SMMC LTC, California Medi-Cal ALW, Texas STAR+PLUS).
• U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.gov): Statutory Non-Service-Connected Pension with Aid & Attendance rates.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): Consumer Price Index for Medical Care and elderly living expenditure trends used to model rate inflation.

3. Pricing & Out-of-Pocket Calculation Methodology

All interactive calculations on our state and metro pages are processed client-side within your browser using transparent formulas:

• Base Cost Median: Derived from state-level regulatory census reports and industry cost of care surveys, adjusted for 2026 inflation using BLS regional healthcare indices.
• Memory Care Pricing: Calculated using state-verified specialized dementia care surcharges (typically 20% to 28% above base assisted living rates to account for secure perimeter monitoring and elevated staffing ratios).
• Medicaid Waiver Gap: Compares user-entered monthly retirement income against the official 2026 state-specific Medicaid institutional income cap (e.g., $2,829/mo in Florida and Texas). If income meets eligibility thresholds, the tool flags potential waiver relief for qualifying clinical services.
• VA Aid & Attendance: Applies the statutory maximum monthly pension allowance ($2,431/mo for qualifying wartime veterans) to offset room and care liabilities.

4. Editorial Review & Professional Verification Standards

We strictly reject the practice of inventing fictitious medical reviewers or assigning fabricated credentials. Our editorial and data compilation process adheres to strict standards:

• Primary Source Attribution: Every factual claim, waiver cap, and penalty statistic links directly to the underlying government agency or regulatory statute.
• Editorial Research Team: Content is compiled and maintained by our digital research team using publicly published administrative codes and state registers.
• Accredited Advisory Roadmap: We are actively building partnerships with licensed elder-law attorneys and Aging Life Care Professionals® (geriatric care managers) to conduct certified, named reviews with verifiable state bar and licensing credentials.

5. Consumer Privacy & FTC Advertising Disclosures

100% Client-Side Privacy: All calculator inputs (income, savings, care level) remain in your local browser session. We do not collect, store, or sell Protected Health Information (PHI) or personal financial data.

Advertising & Referral Transparency: ElderGuide NearMe may display non-intrusive advertisements or partner with verified local referral resources. Such relationships never influence our data benchmarks, regulatory reporting, or calculator math.