For many families in Central Texas, there comes a quiet moment of realization: The home that once felt safe and manageable for Mom or Dad is no longer the right fit. The steps feel steeper. The yard seems bigger. The summer heat makes simple chores more tiring. And, perhaps most concerning, the risk of a medical emergency while living alone begins to weigh heavily on everyone’s mind.
As Americans age, staying in their own home often becomes less realistic. Living alone is rarely a long-term option. Many older adults struggle to keep up with household maintenance, and without someone nearby, even a minor health issue can quickly become a serious situation. Eventually, most families find themselves facing a difficult choice: move an aging parent into an eldercare facility, or invite them to live under the same roof as their adult children.
Neither option is simple.
For some families, eldercare facilities provide structure and medical oversight, but they also come with a steep price tag. As of 2025, the median annual cost of assisted living in the United States was about $72,000. A private room in a nursing home costs even more: roughly $131,000 per year. For most households, those numbers are simply not sustainable over the long term. And history suggests this challenge isn’t going away. Between 1997 and 2024, facility costs rose by 197 percent, far outpacing normal household income growth.
Cost isn’t the only concern. Staffing shortages have become a serious issue in eldercare. In 2022, 98 percent of facilities reported difficulty hiring enough staff, and 87 percent were already understaffed. For families, that can translate into worry—not just about affordability, but about the level of attention and care their loved one will receive.
Because of these pressures, more families are choosing a third path: bringing aging parents into the family home. Here in Central Texas, where family ties often run deep and many people still think in terms of roots and land, this decision feels especially natural.
Doing so can bring meaningful benefits. In the family home, older parents experience more daily connection, more activity, and a stronger sense of purpose. They get to be present in the lives of their children and grandchildren in ways that simply aren’t possible from a distance. For many families, that closeness becomes one of the greatest gifts of this season of life.
Still, sharing one roof isn’t always easy. Crowded spaces, changing routines, and a loss of privacy can strain even the healthiest family dynamics. Independence matters, both for aging parents and for the families welcoming them in. That’s why more households are turning to multi-generational housing as a thoughtful middle ground. This might look like a backyard guest home, a casita, or a new build that includes a well-designed mother-in-law suite—spaces that keep family close while still respecting everyone’s need for dignity, privacy, and autonomy.
In communities across Central Texas, this idea is becoming more than a trend; it’s becoming a practical solution.
That is why All in Planning and Strong Roots Development have partnered to create the Legacy Homes program. All In Planning helps families step back and look at the full picture—your financial resources, your property, your long-term plans, and your family’s needs—so you can decide whether a multi-generational home truly makes sense. If it does, we help translate that vision into a plan Strong Roots can build around, resulting in a home designed specifically for your family’s future.
A legacy home isn’t just about solving today’s problem. It can also be a long-term investment. Historically, U.S. real estate has appreciated at an average of 4.2 percent per year between 1967 and 2025. While no investment is guaranteed, adding a well-designed living space to your property can increase both its usefulness and its long-term value—especially in a region where land and home continue to play such an important role in family wealth and stability.
More importantly, it can create something priceless: more time together. More shared meals. More everyday moments that turn into lasting memories. If your family is beginning to sense that change is coming, we’d love to sit with you and simply help you see your options clearly. A thoughtful conversation now can prevent rushed decisions later. Reach out to All In Planning to schedule a complimentary legacy planning consultation, and together let's figure out what's possible.
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