Most people buying a 55+ home in their 60s plan for it to be their last move. Fewer plan for what that takes.

AARP’s 2024 survey found that about 75% of adults 50 and older want to stay in their homes and communities as long as possible, yet roughly half believe they may not be able to. The gap between those two numbers usually comes down to choices you make before you buy.

Here’s how to pick a home you won’t have to leave.

Why Choose Carefully Now

  • Homes aren’t built for aging. Fewer than 4% of U.S. homes can be easily modified for someone with mobility challenges, and 43% of adults over 50 say their current home would need modifications to be safe and accessible.
  • A second move is expensive. Selling, moving, and starting over all cost money and energy, and a new Florida purchase resets your property tax assessment.
  • Staying put has a tax benefit. Florida’s Save Our Homes cap limits assessment increases for a homesteaded home to 3% or inflation, whichever is lower, and that protection builds over time.

What Aging in Place Actually Costs

Staying home is usually cheaper than assisted living until you need regular help.

Home modifications (national estimates)

  • Typical projects: $3,000 to $15,000
  • Comprehensive modification set: $5,000 to $30,000
  • Major renovation (full bath remodel, elevator, main-floor addition): $15,000 to $50,000+

Care costs

  • Home health aide: about $34 to $35 per hour nationally
  • 20 hours per week: roughly $2,950 per month
  • 44 hours per week: roughly $6,100 to $6,450 per month, comparable to assisted living in Florida
  • Assisted living in Florida: roughly $4,750 to $5,650 per month, depending on the source and region
  • Memory care in Florida: about $7,000 per month
  • Semi-private nursing home room in Florida: about $10,300 per month

The takeaway: modest help at home costs less than assisted living. Near-daily help at home costs about the same or more, and you still pay for home maintenance, utilities, and taxes on top of it.

What to Look for in a 55+ Home

Choose features that are cheap to build in now and expensive to retrofit later.

Inside the home

  • Single-story layout with the primary suite on the main level
  • No-step entry from the garage and the front door
  • Wide doorways and hallways (widening one doorway typically costs $300 to $1,500)
  • Curbless or low-threshold shower, and blocking in the walls for future grab bars
  • Lever-style door handles ($15 to $50 each if you need to swap them)
  • An extra den or flex room that could become a caregiver’s space
  • Good lighting throughout, with night lighting in hallways and bathrooms

In the community

  • Exterior and lawn maintenance handled by the HOA (Stillwater, for example, bundles lawn care into its HOA)
  • Gated, with a lifestyle director and social programming, which helps with isolation
  • Close to Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and Baptist Medical Center, both within about 30 minutes of most St. Johns County communities
  • Walkable or golf-cart-friendly paths for as long as you want to use them

Questions to Ask Before You Buy

  • Do the HOA rules allow wheelchair ramps, grab bars, and home health aide parking?
  • How strong are the HOA’s reserves, and have special assessments been levied recently?
  • Is a nearby assisted living or memory care facility within a short drive, so your spouse could stay close if needed?
  • Which floor plans are truly single-story, and which have bonus rooms upstairs?
  • What is the HOA fee history, and what does the fee cover?

If You Already Own a Two-Story Home

  • Start with the lowest-cost fixes: grab bars, lever handles, lighting, non-slip flooring
  • Add a main-floor bedroom suite if you’re staying long-term
  • Get quotes from a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) before committing
  • Compare the total cost of modifications against selling and downsizing into a better-suited home

The Bottom Line

You can’t plan for everything, but you can pick a home that works for you at 65 and still works at 85. Prioritize single-story living, a no-step entry, bundled maintenance, and proximity to care. A few thousand dollars in smart features now is cheaper than a second move, and it keeps you where you want to be.

Want Help Finding a Home You Won’t Outgrow?

I can show you single-story floor plans in 55+ communities across St. Johns County and help you compare HOA services, reserves, and distance to healthcare.

Call or text Gail DeMarco: 904-640-8000
Best St. Johns County Realtor and 55+ Community Specialist
Serving Stillwater, Del Webb communities, Nocatee, RiverTown, and all of St. Johns County, FL

Survey and cost data come from AARP, Genworth/CareScout, and published 2026 cost-of-care sources, and vary by region and provider. This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional about your situation.