There are a number of elder care services that can be offered. Usually the goal is to keep the person in a familiar environment if at all possible while minimizing the expenses. The extent of services needed depends, of course, on the severity of the functional impairment. There can be so many reasons why a senior reaches a point of being unable to perform an essential daily living activity such as eating or bathing. For example, the person may have a progressive disease like cancer or a mental impairment such as Alzheimer's disease. In many cases it is simply due to the general failure of the aging body. The services that can be provided to elders include delivering meals, housekeeping, respite care, temporary or long term home health care, adult day care, and personal care. Elders also need socialization when confined at home. One of the advantages of moving an elder into a nursing home or care facility is the fact he or she is with people regularly and not isolated. Some families will choose to move an elder into their home and also engage special services, but it requires a significant commitment to care for a frail person. Elder care can be very expensive. Medicare insurance will cover some of the cost but it is left to the elder or the family to pay for the balance out-of-pocket or through supplemental insurance coverage.