Tell us the situation. Get the plan.
Change any answer and the steps, costs and contacts update. Cost ranges are planning estimates for Greater Houston, not quotes.
Choose your lane
Who's making this plan?
Your plan · 24 steps in 5 phases
Example plan: a daughter coordinating from out of state after her mom's fall. Change any answer to make it yours.
After a hospital stay or fall, moving to senior living
Built for coordinating from out of town. Check steps off as you go.
One-time costs, typical range
$5,350–$25,300
+ $4,000–$6,500/mo ongoing
Start with free help
Call the Aging & Disability Resource Center at 855-937-2372, or dial 2-1-1. Both are free.
Before you start
The discharge date sets the pace.
Settle where your parent will go right after discharge first, whether that's rehab, home with help or a community that can take them now. The house and belongings can wait until they're settled.
Rehab days are planning days. If your parent goes to rehab first, use those weeks to line up the next home and the help they will need.
Sign the paperwork while it's simple. A power of attorney has to be signed while your parent can still make their own decisions. Doing it now means someone they trust can talk to doctors and banks for them.
Go at their pace where you can. People settle in better when they helped make the choices. Offer options, not decisions.
Ask about the next level of care. Choose a place that can add help later without another move, and get every fee in writing.
Let the move lead, not the sale. Settle your parent first when you can. Decide whether to sell first or move first based on cash, not a buyer's timeline.
- 1
Phase 1
Before discharge
Meet the hospital case manager
Ask for the discharge plan in writing, any home health orders, and whether rehab is recommended. Ask when discharge is expected so it doesn't come as a surprise.
FreeAsk about short-term rehab coverage
Ask whether the stay was "inpatient" or "observation." It changes what Medicare pays for skilled nursing rehab afterward.
FreeGet temporary equipment
Walker, shower chair, raised toilet seat. Medicare usually covers the walker with a prescription. Bathroom items are out of pocket.
$50–$300Cover the first week of help
A family rotation or a home care aide while you work out the longer plan. Most agencies require three- or four-hour visits and charge more per hour for shorter ones.
$25–$35/hrBring your parent into the conversation
Plans made without the person who's moving tend to fall apart. Lead with what they want to keep, and let them set the pace where you can.
Free
- 2
Phase 2
Decide and get paperwork in order
Hold a family meeting
Include your parent. Their preferences come first. Agree on who makes which decisions and who handles money.
FreeSign powers of attorney and a HIPAA release
Durable and medical powers of attorney let you talk to doctors and banks for them. Free at the City of Houston wills clinics if income is limited. About $1,800 to $2,800 if bundled with a will.
$300–$1,000Check benefits and eligibility
Medicaid waivers, caregiver support and in-home services can change which option is affordable.
FreeChoose whether to sell first or move first
Selling first frees up cash but can mean two moves. Moving first means carrying two housing costs for a while. Price both before you commit.
FreeTour at least three communities
Ask about the one-time community fee, what care costs extra, and how much rent goes up each year. Care levels add $400 to $1,200 a month, and memory care averages about $6,200.
$4,000–$6,500/moPay the community fee
A one-time charge most assisted living communities add at move-in.
$1,000–$5,000Name a local point person
A neighbor, church member or paid move manager who can be there when you can't.
FreePlan your trips to Houston
Most families need two or three trips: planning, move week and the house sale. Flying with a hotel and car runs $750 to $1,300 a trip. Driving in and staying with family is far less.
$300–$1,200
- 3
Phase 3
Sort and downsize
Measure the new space
A floor plan decides what furniture fits. Many communities will send one.
FreeSort into keep, family, sell and donate
Start with the rooms that matter least. Photograph meaningful items before they go.
FreeHire a senior move manager (optional)
Handles sorting, packing and setting up the new place. Most useful when you're out of town or short on time. Billed by the hour per person, usually $50 to $125, and small jobs start around $1,500.
$2,000–$9,000Book an estate sale or consignment
No upfront cost. Companies keep a share of what sells, usually 35% to 40%, and most want at least $5,000 in goods before they'll take the job. Smaller homes may be offered consignment or a flat fee instead.
30–45% of salesHaul away what's left
Priced by the truckload. Ask about donation pickups to lower the bill.
$150–$800
- 4
Phase 4
Move day
Book a licensed mover
Ask for the mover's TxDMV registration number and check it before you pay a deposit. A one-bedroom apartment can be as little as $500, and packing by the movers adds $800 to $2,500.
$800–$3,000Set up the new room first
Bed made, medications and familiar photos in place before arrival.
FreeChange address, pharmacy and doctors
USPS forwarding, pharmacy transfer, and address updates for Social Security and Medicare.
Free
- 5
Phase 5
Sell the house
Deep clean and minor repairs
Fix what an inspector would flag first.
$750–$5,000List with a realtor
Commission is negotiable, and since 2024 the buyer's agent fee is negotiated separately. Ask about selling as-is if repairs are large. Seniors Real Estate Specialists (SRES) focus on moves like this.
5–6% of saleKeep the basics paid until it sells
Mortgage, taxes and insurance keep running, and an empty Houston house still needs the air conditioning on and the lawn cut, about $500 to $900 a month. Tell the insurer before day 30, since standard policies stop covering an empty house after 30 to 60 days.
Free
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Totals include one-time costs only. Hourly, nightly and percentage costs depend on how long you need them. Costs last checked September 2026. This plan isn't legal, financial or medical advice.