How do you know when to move to a senior living facility?

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September 16th, 2025 | By Ryan Genova

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The decision to move into a senior living facility involves more than just practical reasons. The emotional investment in a home is way more impactful than moving furniture and treasures into a new set of walls. It’s important to spend time thinking about how a new environment may help or hinder the reasons why you are considering the move. 

I think that the pandemic and stay-at-home orders that many of us have experienced gave younger generations an insight into how our home environments can affect our mental health and physical health. Being in a home filled with positive memories can help someone who is struggling with stress of any kind, but especially the loss of a loved one or who is in the early stages of dementia. Familiarity can be extremely beneficial to healthy longevity. 

Unfortunately most of us never think about aging when we buy a home. In the U.S., we talk about starter homes and plan to move about every 13 years. (Plus, the National Association of Realtors recently started recommending that we stay in our homes for at least 10 years in order to break even on home buying costs.) So if the plan was to eventually move, the ‘starter’ house wasn’t ever designed for the changing needs that aging can bring. 

It can actually cost less to update a home than live in a senior living facility. Depending on the requirements of the homeowner, an update could involve simple changes or bigger remodeling projects. But before I would do any changes to the design of a home, I first encourage decluttering. Piles of magazines, unused furniture, knick knacks, and extra clothes stored on racks can reduce the space allowed to move through rooms. About 20 million adults in the US have difficulty walking, and every year 36 million older adults fall. Reducing the trip hazards in a home can greatly improve the chances of being able to care for yourself and stay in your home. 

I have a go-to list of easy changes that can help make a home easier to live in at any age. Here are a few of those recommendations. 

DIY Aging-in-Place Updates

These updates don’t require a pro, but it’s always best to hire a licensed contractor if you aren’t experienced with DIY projects. Check out the local National Association of Remodeling Industry chapter list for a reputable contractor near you. 

  • Change out door handles to lever-style handles that are easier to grasp
  • Update light switches to a paddle switch (often called a Decora switch) that’s easier to use.
  • Add a smart home assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant as a safety measure to more easily call for help in case of a fall.
  • Place motion-sensor lighting along the route from the bedroom to the bathroom.
  • Add step lights to stairs that help reduce trips and falls. 
  • Replace toilet paper holders with grab bar toilet paper holders. 

Pro Aging-in-Place Updates

Bigger changes are usually best completed by a licensed contractor who is certified in aging-in-place design. Check the national listing of Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists near you. 

  • Consider an induction cooktop to reduce the chances of burns. 
  • Raise outlets so there is no need to bend over to plug and unplug items.
  • Replace the bathtub with a walk-in tub or a shower with grab bars.
  • Add a bathroom on the main level.
  • Update light fixtures with motion sensors and timers to make navigating at night easier. 

The costs for these improvements vary based on the number of changes, the location of plumbing, and types of fixtures and finishes. For example, a switch replacement can cost about $100 each. Adding a bathroom typically costs around $15,000 or more. When a senior living facility can cost $50,000 or much more per year, these home improvements are much more affordable. 


The author of this article, Theresa Clement, is a home designer, Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPs), and certified color consultant. She shares her ‘Design Prescription’ for living with Alzheimer’s at national trade shows, home shows, and senior living communities. She also specializes in old home remodeling projects in Montgomery County, PA, with her licensed-contractor-husband Mark, and shares home tips and home makeovers as a book author, writer for Men’s Journal, Architect magazine, and BobVila.com. She’s also hosted a home improvement radio show, designed for TV shows, and creates helpful home content for her brand MyFixitUpLife.com.

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