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If you’re planning a move to France, you’ll want to check out a lot of our past videos. We shared every step of our retirement from the US to France, in step by step videos showing you how to apply for a long stay visa, exchange your US driver’s license for a France license, get your pets to France, get on the healthcare system and even renew your visa —along with lots of tips and hacks for getting settled in your new home in France.
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Hi! We are An and Jeff Scott, two happily retired septuagenarians from the USA, who had a dream. That dream was to retire in France. In 2024, close to 2 years ago, we sold, donated and gave away most of our lifetime’s collection of “stuff”, packed and shipped the rest, and with our bossy little Yorkie, Bella, said “goodbye” to the USA. We moved from the sunny coast of southwest Florida to the beautiful sunny coast of the south of France, to enjoy our “golden years” and embrace the “joie de vivre” available to us, here in beautiful Nice, France.
Moving from the USA to a foreign country was no small “project”. Through our videos, we’ve been taking you with us, through our weekly vlogs, sharing our daily life, what we’ve learned and continue to learn, day by day.
We hope you’ll come with us on the fun journey in a “new country, new culture, new life”—our life!
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MUSIC CREDITS: (Our music comes from the artists of Epidemic Sound)
In The Temple Garden by Aaron Kenny
Lifting Dreams by Aakash Gandhi
Most of our videos are shot with An’s Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra Smartphone and a circular ring light, as needed. And, in this video, we’re using our Rode Wireless Go II Microphones, for clear sound.
****The link to the France TV video (dubbed in English version) that I mentioned in my video is —
“The Gravediggers: The Hard-Blowing Investigation into Orpea Nursing Homes – Part 1”
Part 2 – https://youtu.be/zTuwZ1m4jo8
29 Comments
Yeah, the one bathroom norm in France is a fact, albeit disappointing.
All of this is something we’ve thought about because my husband’s French sister has had a lot of hospitalizations & various care facilities. We are impressed by the low-cost level of care for aging people. That being said, my SIL certainly had complaints.
That was a very thoughtful and important discussion. Not easy to think about, but is a fact of life & particularly hard when one only has a basic grasp of the language.
I’m reminded of your video of Jeff’s recent hospital stay & wonder how communication with the caregivers went for him. I gather he doesn’t speak French nearly as well as you.
Excellent and timely theme. Thank you!
My husband and I plan to retire in Nice, currently still in the USA because we are taking care of our elderly parents. We have thought about this topic because currently we are dealing with my MIL living in an assisted living facility. Definitely something to think about, thank you for sharing.
Before going to an EPHAD or a Maison de Retraite, you can ask for help at home : someone who will clean your home, go shopping groceries for you or even bring you an already cooked meal if you're no longer able to cook by yourself. The price depends on your income. Google "pour les personnes agees gouv fr" (I can't give you the link because YT will immediatly erase my message).
Dear Ann Thankyou for your video . Was a director in a French Ehpad for 25 years . CAN give you a lot of advice on Ehpad’s and all the other solutions before moving into a Ehpad. And know about Sunnybank also.
An, I just want to thank you for this very sensitive video that you just recently put on YouTube regarding Aging in place I'm right there with you I'm 67 I have to wait till 70 for my full retirement so I can't afford to relocate everything you talked about I've already given thought to several times I too watched my mother pass away literally in my arms she had dementia and I'm worried about me so yes your video touched a nerve I really hope to be able to sit down with you and Jeff when I come visit this October at least for a cup of coffee. David DuBois/Chicago
Bonjour An, Merci for another fantastic video on an important topic. FYI, I moved to Nice 3 weeks ago and am settling in. 🙂 Cheers.
Good morning/afternoon, Ms. Ann,
I pray all is well with you and Mr. Jeff.
I was really hoping to meet you two in June, but unfortunately, we had to change plans. So, now, we’ll be there in December for Christmas. Hopefully, we can meet up then. Thank you for your videos as always. I’m so happy that you two left the states when you did. It is quite awful here right now.
I just heard you mention your email. I would love to communicate with you more. Is it okay that we exchange emails?
Thanks for mentioning early 70’s and been there two years I’m alone already so I need to think about it
Your blouse is ,ABSO'LUTELY magnificent!
I haven’t moved yet and yet I have thought of it, this is excellent coverage as you emphasized French learning importance
My French/ American friend has relatives THERE, and the Government SENDS people to their house!!!!
So, DON'T WORRY!!!!
Great video, and now that I've been a French resident for 10 months and my 1st CdS is in processing, and I'll soon have my Year One FR taxes done… I, too, need to start researching this. At 67, I've outlived my mother by 15 years and my sister, younger than me, by 10 years. In my family? I'm already past the average expiration date.
❤❤❤❤
Thanks again! ❤
Thank you for proving us with lots of info about today’s topic. Your Chanelle is the best source of information for my future move to France. 😊
Thank you Ann so much for the such valuable information, much needed and appreciated 🥰👍
Merci An for doing this research! This has been something as a single person, I have had on my list to figure out what would happen if I needed care after relocation to France. How would I extend my visa yearly …then to 10 years…what then? Who, in the US would come to help me if need be? Who would help me there if there was no one else around? Like most people, I plan on staying active and enjoy wellness and a healthy life style to the end of my days yet, it is good to know a plan B or C.
Thanks again for another excellent video that is certainly thought provoking. Your kindness in sharing information is greatly appreciated. Take care.
merci, i like the way you think…. it parrelels how i think as 1/2 of a childless couple fast approaching 70
Thank you for such helpful information. As I’m in the middle of planning (I have a home to sell and some medical issues needing to take care of) my move to France next year which I’ll be 70 years old, I actually was hoping someone would talk about this very topic. Again, thank you❤❤❤
Thank you so much for this video. It’s perfect timing in my life. ❤
An, someone here commented that their disabled, older friend/relative in France gets a caregiver sent to their home as part of the healthcare coverage. You dismissed it as wrong, but this time you were wrong ! (I know, it hardly ever happens:)
To summarize:
Healthcare coverage (foundation of everything)
If you're legal residents, and enrolled in:
Assurance Maladie
This covers:
Doctor visits
Hospital care
Home medical services (nurses, physical therapists, etc.)
If a doctor prescribes home care, it’s usually largely or fully covered.
In-home caregiver support (non-medical help)
If you begin to struggle with daily life (bathing, dressing, cooking), you can apply for:
Allocation personnalisée d’autonomie
This is the main program for seniors living at home.
What it provides:
Financial support for caregivers coming to the home
Help paying for:
Personal care aides
Meal assistance
Mobility support
Key points:
Available from age 60+
Based on level of dependency, not just income
You will still pay a portion, but it’s subsidized
Medical care at home
If your condition worsens, France can scale up support:
You may receive:
Daily nurse visits
In-home rehabilitation
Even hospital-level care at home through:
“Hospitalisation à domicile” (HAD programs)
This is one of the strongest parts of the French system—serious care without needing to move to a facility.
If staying at home becomes difficult
There are intermediate options before a nursing home:
Assisted living residences (less medical, more independence)
Day-care centers for seniors
Temporary respite care
If needed, full nursing homes (EHPADs) are available, with financial aid options.
Important conditions for you
To access these benefits, you must:
Be legal residents in France
Actually live there full-time (not seasonal)
Be enrolled in the healthcare system
Citizenship is not required—many non-French retirees receive these benefits.
Reality check (honest view)
The system is generous but bureaucratic
There can be delays in assessments and approvals
Availability of caregivers varies by region
Out-of-pocket costs still exist (but are manageable compared to the U.S.)
Bottom line
For seniors living permanentlypermanently in France:
Yes, they can receive in-home caregivers
Yes, they can get medical care at home
Yes, there is financial support to help pay for it
In many cases, they’ll be much better supported than in the U.S. for aging at home.
Hope this info is useful to you and your viewers. Kudos to you for starting this important conversation.
Thanks again for another excellent video!!!!!
Thank you! Ann and Jeff for sharing this information. This is so brave and so smart to start planning now. I was also responsible for taking care of my mother in her last years. I know how hard that is when you're working a full-time job and taking care of young children at home. And there was no plan in place, so I took the initiative to talk to her about what she wanted in her final days and her send-off. When the time came, I was prepared and didn't have to scramble. Everything was set, and that took a lot of stress off me. Now I myself plan to move to France and retire early with my daughter in 3 years. I have a will and trust set up now, but that is something I would have to update before I move. Once I move to France, I will consult with a French attorney to update my will. Thank you for being honest and open. This is a highly sensitive and emotional subject. My weekends are not complete unless I watch your latest video.
May God bless you, and Jeff, wishing you both a long and healthy life together!
Peace from NYC,
Clarissa
Just a heads-up: there's a typo/error at 37:53. Saint-Quentin is actually in northern France, even though those residences are found in many other cities.