How do you find a home when you are retired?
Last updated: 28 June 2025
With longer life expectancy and an ageing population, senior housing has become a major issue for France’s silver economy. Between staying at home, senior residences and shared living, there are many options. But how do you find your way through them and choose the home that suits your needs and your budget?
1. Staying at home: adapting and fitting out your house
Many retirees want to grow older at home, in familiar surroundings. That may call for some adaptations:
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Accessibility: installing ramps, removing steps, widening doorways to make moving around easier.
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Safety: fitting grab bars, non-slip flooring, smoke detectors.
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Home automation: alert systems, remote assistance, automatic lighting.
Financial support is available, such as the APA (French personal autonomy allowance) or grants from ANAH (the French national housing agency).
2. Senior residences: independence with services
For those seeking a secure setting while keeping their independence, senior services residences (RSS) offer private apartments with shared services (housekeeping, dining, activities). Often located in town centres or close to amenities, these residences help break isolation while providing a well-adapted environment.
Costs vary depending on the services included, but some residences offer affordable rentals, while others operate on a purchase basis.
OBEO Résidences specialises in managing senior services residences across France: www.obeo-residences.com
3. EHPADs: for medical care
When independence declines, EHPADs (French nursing homes for dependent elderly people) provide medical support and day-to-day assistance. The fee depends on the resident’s income and level of dependency (the GIR scale), with a financial contribution often topped up by the APA (French personal autonomy allowance).
4. Shared and intergenerational living
An innovative alternative, shared living lets several seniors live together, pooling spaces and costs. Platforms such as Ensemble2Générations or Le Pari Solidaire make it easy to be matched with young house-sharers, creating an exchange of services (childcare, help with paperwork).
5. Social housing and housing benefits
Retirees on modest incomes can apply for senior social housing, offered by landlords such as Action Logement or the OPH (French public housing offices). Schemes such as ALS (social housing allowance) or APL (housing benefit) can also reduce rental costs.
6. Choosing the right town or region
Some towns attract retirees thanks to their quality of life, their medical services and favourable local taxes. Cities such as La Rochelle, Annecy and Toulouse are known for their quality of life, while departments such as the Creuse or the Dordogne offer more affordable housing.
Conclusion
Finding a home in retirement depends on many factors: budget, level of independence, desire for social connection or need for specific services. By exploring the different options within the silver economy, every senior can find a solution that fits their way of life.
**Find your senior services residence in France with ****OBEO Résidences. **** **We offer service residences for independent seniors, combining safety, comfort and à la carte services: dining, housekeeping, activities, concierge, remote assistance. Rent a furnished senior apartment in a warm, secure setting, with support 7 days a week: ** HERE**** **