Making the decision to move out of the family house...

[jghorton]

The "how" part of the OP is unclear? --- A house is not a family member or person with whom one has an emotional attachment. If one no longer wants (or is able) to live in a particular house ... or knows of a place they would rather live, one contacts a Realtor to sell the place they have. One then (or at the same time), buys another house and moves. In the process, one typically gets rid of things that fit/worked in one house, but, not the next. It's also a great time to add features and upgrades one wants.

Is change the issue? Are you asking about "how" to move-on from a place where one has lived for 40-years -- and subsequently 'feel' the same way about another distant house/neighborhood? That can be more difficult than the simple mechanics of buying/selling houses ... and there is no 'one-size-fits-all' formula. Each situation is different. (We moved to a distant location to be nearer family/grandkids, after 28-years in the last town ... and are working to get re-established in the new location).

[silibran]

I think the OP's word, 'how' is more about how he or she feels about moving than the mechanics of it. Or maybe I'm wrong.

But I think how you think about things holds either the difficulty or the solution.

[jasper12]

Some people are emotionally attached to a house, especially if there are memories of a deceased spouse that lived in the house.

I think for some people, who have not moved in over 40 years, that just the thought of moving is overwhelming and paralyzing. Along with the uncertainties of where to go...

A lot of people at 75 are not really doing forward thinking, and excited about a move. Especially if it is due to finances, health, other "forced" choice issues.