
Planning for Home: Aging, Advocacy, and Housing with Dignity (Part 1)
Part 1: The Big Picture -- Why Housing and Advocacy Matter as We Age
Where -- and how -- we live as we age is one of the most personal financial decisions we make. It’s not just about square footage or floor plans. It’s about safety, community, autonomy, and care. It’s also about relationships -- who’s in your life, and who will be in your corner when it matters most.
Many of us say the same thing: “I don’t want to be a burden on my children.” That’s admirable. But it may also be idealistic. Because the truth is, as we age, we often need more than just help -- we need advocacy. Someone to make the phone call, navigate the hospital system, speak up when something feels off. And not everyone has adult children to call on. Some are estranged. Some live far away. Some are caring for their own children-- or facing struggles we don’t see.
So where does that leave us?
This blog series explores the full landscape of housing options and support models for older adults. Whether you hope to stay in your home, move to a retirement community, or explore something more unconventional, it starts with two questions:
- Where will you live?
- Who will look out for you?
These questions are not just about worst-case scenarios. They’re about living fully and with peace of mind -- knowing your home and support systems reflect your values, relationships, and needs.
Over the series, we’ll look at:
- Moving closer to adult children -- or welcoming them closer to you
- 55+ communities, mobile home parks, and lifestyle neighborhoods
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), with a look at Heron’s Key and Panorama
- Co-housing, shared housing, and aging-in-place with professional support
- Planning for aging when there are no children—or no trusted family members
- Putting it all together
Although not the focus of this series, a wonderful resource on aging in place is provided by the National Institute on Aging.
As a firm, Pacific Asset Management works with clients to align their finances with their life goals and housing is one of the most significant pieces of that puzzle. Aging may bring complexity, but it also offers a chance to clarify what matters most. Let’s start there.