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Housing choices and downsizing

At some point many people ask whether the family home still fits their life. The answer may be staying with changes, moving to a smaller home, or choosing a place where help is built in. Each choice has a price, and the prices differ a lot by city and state.

The guides in this category compare the real options: downsizing to a smaller house or apartment, senior housing, assisted living, and living with family. You will find what each choice costs with sources named, how to sort a lifetime of belongings without rush, and how to make a move in stages so it does not overwhelm everyone involved.

The numbers

Figures for this topic
Assisted living, median (CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025)$6,200 a month
Nursing home, semi-private room, median (CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025)$9,581 a month
Nursing home, private room, median (CareScout Cost of Care Survey, 2025)$10,798 a month

Continue on Care and Living Guide

Living options — Compare living options, from staying home to residential care.

Free local help

Three national programs connect you to help in your own community, at no cost:

Eldercare LocatorFind your local Area Agency on Aging and aging services near you.BenefitsCheckUpA benefits check from the National Council on Aging.State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)Free, unbiased help with Medicare questions from trained local counselors.

More in Your Home

Preparing the home for changing needsRoom-by-room changes that make a home safer and easier to live in as needs change.Home ownership, renting, and maintenanceKeep up a home you own or rent: repairs, big expenses, and seasonal work.Emergency and unexpected-event planningContact sheets, outage plans, and backup care for the days things go wrong.

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