Plan Your Later-Life Housing Before Circumstances Choose for You

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Kathleen Rehl, a financial planner and widow who moved with her husband into a continuing care retirement community while both were still healthy and in their late 70s, argues that the biggest mistake people make is waiting until a crisis narrows their options. The real decision, she says, isn't simply 'stay home or move' — it's how you want to live, who will provide support, and how you'll pay for it. A full financial comparison needs to include home maintenance, property taxes, transportation, modifications, and the unpaid time burden placed on adult children — not just the mortgage or an entrance fee.

Rehl outlines three starting questions: What do I want daily life to look like? Who will provide help if I need it? And what will each choice actually cost in full? She also flags a specific gap in couples' planning: most plans are built for two people and can collapse when one spouse becomes a caregiver or dies. Solo agers and widowed people face an additional layer — they need someone with legal authority (a power of attorney) and knowledge of their wishes and documents, before a crisis forces the issue. She has published a free 12-page guide with worksheets and conversation prompts at kathleenrehl.com.