- 1. EHPAD
- 2. Conventional Retirement Homes
- 3. Sheltered Flats
- 4. Serviced Apartments (Résidence avec Services)
- 5. Retirement Villages (Village Retraite)
- 6. Intergenerational Housing
- 7. Additional Resources
Living in France is advantageous for those over 60 for various reasons, including the country’s world-class healthcare system, i.e., one of the best in the world.
Serviced apartments, or résidences autonomie, provide one type of senior housing in the form of private residences with shared amenities like housekeeping, entertainment, and reception for non-dependent elders. On the other hand, medicalized housing, unités de soins de longue durée (USLD), provides constant care for the most dependent seniors and often attaches to a hospital.
1. EHPAD
If you have researched retirement home options in France, you have probably heard of EHPADs. EHPAD refers to care or nursing homes and is an acronym for Établissements d’Hébergement pour Personnes Âgées Dépendantes. EHPADs are for seniors who do not need on-site nursing care. More than 7,200 public and private care homes operate across France, and the state registers all of them.
There are four main types of Ehpad:
- Etablissement privé à but lucrative is private profit-making homes, usually part of a national group.
- Then, Etablissement privé à but non-lucratif is a non-profit-making home, usually managed by an association, and often cheaper.
- Etablissement hospitalier public: is a state-run home attached to a local hospital for administration purposes.
- And, Etablissement public territorial is a state-owned home run by the city hall or intercommunal body.
2. Conventional Retirement Homes
Public or private organizations operate conventional retirement homes, or maisons de retraite or maisons de repos, and they may provide or lack specialist care facilities (avec section de cure médicale or médicalisée). These buildings usually house senior citizens who can live independently.
3. Sheltered Flats
Sheltered flats for seniors with low incomes (foyer logement or foyer soleil) accommodate seniors who can live independently but prefer or need special services and supervision. They can be found in buildings with mixed occupancy. Seniors rent a private apartment furnished with their own belongings and share amenities like a restaurant and laundry room
4. Serviced Apartments (Résidence avec Services)
Similar to sheltered flats, private companies typically offer serviced apartments (résidence avec services pour personnes âgées or simply résidence services) for purchase or rent.
5. Retirement Villages (Village Retraite)
Retirement villages, or villages retraite, remain rare in France. These villages provide many benefits, including security, ready-made communities, and on-site amenities and services. Possible amenities include a swimming pool, lounge, library, music and fitness facilities, and a restaurant. They offer services like pet sitting, meal delivery, cleaning, administrative support, hairdressing, physiotherapy, excursions, lectures, games, shows, and movies. Most villages are in southern France, but some are located in other regions as well, such as Normandy and Charente-Maritime.
6. Intergenerational Housing
Lastly, a growing number of intergenerational housing units, joining senior citizens, students, and families, are being developed in France to solve the isolation issues exacerbated by the health crisis. These intermediate housing options, many of which are managed by social landlords like CDC Habitat, ought to increase and enable lower monthly costs. In an effort to support seniors’ autonomy and socialization, accommodation sharing between seniors has also surged in France in recent years. (KORIAN and Ages & Vie have tried this kind of housing).
7. Additional Resources
- Retirement housing and Care homes in France: Information and advice for seniors;
- Retiring in France for expats: FAQ;
- Top retirement cities in France: What are the top retirement towns in France? And why? A survey reveals ideal places for seniors’ health, housing, and safety.
Organizations
- Résidences seniors avec services pour louer ou investir – Senioriales: A widespread network of senior residences in France that offers independent living in a community setting.
- EHPAD : trouver sa maison de retraite gratuitement (retraiteplus.fr): A platform providing information and directories for different types of senior housing and care options, including retirement homes (EHPADs) and serviced residences.
- Fédération Nationale Avenir et Qualité de Vie des Personnes Âgées: A national federation that provides resources, guides, and support for elderly care and living options in France.
