Updated April 2025

Deaths in the United States from COVID-19 infections spiked at almost 26,000 per week in early January 2021. Thanks in large part to widespread vaccinations, the death toll decreased to fewer than 1,000 per week in January 2025. People who are age 75 or older continue to be the demographic group with the highest death rate, primarily because they are more likely to have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the disease.

During the height of the pandemic, many seniors postponed making decisions about their future living environment. For a time, retirement communities and assisted-living facilities were in a state of lockdown. Even as restrictions eased, communal areas (including dining facilities, activity rooms, and recreational areas) often remained closed. Seniors had little incentive to move to facilities that could no longer offer the amenities that make them attractive.

Although some parts of the country experience higher rates of positive COVID-19 tests than others, the differences are not stark. Positive test results are subject to seasonal variation but have trended downward across the nation. Seniors who are contemplating a move to a retirement community or assisted-living facility are less worried about acquiring a serious illness if they leave their current homes, particularly if they stay up to date on their COVID-19, flu, and RSV vaccinations.

Relocation Decisions

The pandemic had a disproportionate impact on America’s older workers. As AARP reports, many Americans who lost their jobs are retiring earlier than they had expected. One study suggests that a quarter of all workers are planning to move up their retirement dates because of the pandemic. Another study found that 2 million older American workers have left the workforce for good since the pandemic started.

As older Americans struggle with early retirement, they look for ways to meet their basic needs. Selling a home and downsizing might be a way to reduce a mortgage payment, lower a property tax bill, or add a cushion to savings. Some early retirees may be able to lower their expenses by purchasing a small home or condo in a retirement community.

Downsizing has always been part of the plan for some aging couples. As the nest empties, a large house may become too large to manage comfortably. When commuting to work is no longer a necessity, the ability to live in a community that encourages walking rather than driving may be an attractive option.

Choosing the Right Retirement Community

Aging individuals who need help preparing meals or taking care of other daily needs might be best served by an assisted living facility. Assisted living fills a gap for seniors who need help but do not require the kind of medical care provided by a nursing home.

Retirement communities, also known as independent living communities, are well suited to active seniors who want to free themselves of the daily grind of mowing lawns and maintaining a home. Although some seniors will choose to downsize to a small house or condo in their former neighborhood, others prefer the amenities and sense of community that comes from living with other seniors in a planned development.

Choosing the right place to live begins by making a budget. After a senior understands the amount of retirement income and/or savings that can be devoted to housing costs, decisions can be made about buying or renting affordable housing. As a general rule, the more amenities a community offers — including activity rooms, dining options, laundry service, swimming pools, golf courses, fitness centers, and other recreational opportunities — the greater will be the purchase or rental cost. Seniors also need to budget for the entrance or monthly membership fees that cover those amenities.

Seniors should then do some research, including on-site visits to the most promising communities. That research usually starts by looking for communities in the geographical area where the retiree would like to live. Matching the communities against the budge narrows that list to options that the retiree can afford.

Visiting each affordable community will allow retirees to compare the environments offered by each potential choice. A community that seems attractive on a website might turn out to be a poor fit during a visit. Taking a moment to chat with residents (including potential neighbors) can provide more candid insights than a realtor is likely to offer.

The decision to move or to age in place can be difficult to make. Careful thought, a meeting with a trusted financial advisor, and input from family members can all help an early retiree decide whether the time has come to find a new living environment.

(This article has been updated April 2025 since it originally published June 2021.)