As parents grow older and their children begin their adult lives, maintaining the family home can become a burden. When children have their own homes and families, they might feel sad to see their parents put a For Sale sign on the lawn of the home where they grew up. Still, adult children understand that an empty nest might not be the best place for their parents to live.

Older adults move to new residences for many reasons. Downsizing might make their budget more manageable when they no longer have income from fulltime employment. Repairs and home maintenance require energy that older parents may no longer have. Climbing stairs may be a chore for parents whose hips and knees have experienced too much wear and tear.

Some older parents might decide to enjoy the amenities that retirement communities offer their residents. Some may need the caregiving services offered by assisted-living facilities. Some might want to live in a warmer or cooler part of the country. Some might search for affordable housing in a part of the country they find appealing.

When parents turn to their adult children for advice, the choices might seem overwhelming. Here are some factors to consider as children help their parents decide where to live.

Geography

Many older adults want nothing more from retirement than to take a walk in February without donning a parka and shoveling the sidewalk. Others view climate change as making summers unbearable and hope to enjoy milder weather.

Every year, U.S. News ranks the best cities for people who are ready to retire. The ranking considers a variety of factors, including affordability, healthcare quality, and a “happiness index” that compares crime rates, air quality, and a measurement of well-being. A “desirability index,” based largely on polls that ask people where they would like to live, contributes to the methodology.

The 2025 list includes three cities in sunny Florida (Naples, Sarasota, and Jacksonville) among the top ten. Other cities in the top ten with moderate climates include Virginia Beach, Raleigh, and Huntsville. Retirees who enjoy the mountains and don’t mind snow might consider Boise. Winter enthusiasts who are football fans might be surprised to see Green Bay in the eleventh position, although they may be disappointed to learn that 147,000 people are ahead of them on the waiting list for Packers season tickets.

While U.S. News does not list a California community in its top ten, San Francisco — one of the nation’s most beautiful cities — makes the list in the 14th position. More affordable California options appear in the WorldAtlas list of California’s 10 Best Retirement Towns, including St. Helena, where almost 30% of the residents are 65 or older, and Laguna Woods, which offers a senior bus system to make transportation easy for retirees.

Housing Options

After settling on a location, children should ask their parents about the kind of housing they would prefer. An assisted-living facility might be the answer for parents with disabilities that limit their ability to perform such activities of daily living as bathing and getting dressed. Parents who can live independently should decide whether they might enjoy a retirement community.

Rules vary, but most retirement communities require the primary resident to be older than a designated age (typically 55). Some communities impose age restrictions on all full-time residents; others make exceptions for spouses. Most prohibit residents from allowing minors to live with them, although many allow younger relatives to visit and stay for a short time.

One journalist who writes about retirement planning listed five states with the most affordable retirement communities. The list takes into account the cost of living and tax incentives for retirees. Alabama, Iowa, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Wyoming are potential destinations for budget-conscious retirees in search of a retirement community.

Retiring parents have a wide range of choices outside the states that are deemed “most affordable” or “best places to retire.” Each year, U.S. News compiles a list of the best senior living communities around the nation. The list is based on surveys of resident satisfaction.

The 2025 list recognizes almost 1,900 communities, operated by 129 companies. Communities that score in the top 25% in the areas of caregiving, activities, management, staff, food, and home-like environment are designated as “High Performing.” The list is one of many resources, including SeniorCareAdvice, to which children can turn as they research housing options for their aging parents.