US citizen leaves LA after 25 years to care for aging parents in Taipei

Dean Chou, a 53-year-old US citizen, moved back to Taipei in late 2025 after living in Los Angeles for over 25 years to be closer to his aging 78-year-old parents, selling his California home for $1.05 million in the process. Chou, an only child, built his life in LA after moving there for college in 1999, becoming a citizen in 2018 and running sourcing and roofing businesses. He decided to return after his wife passed away in 2021, feeling guilty about the distance and wanting to be available for his parents. Now living in a 780-square-foot apartment near Taipei 101, Chou spends about $2,500 monthly and manages his LA businesses remotely, waking early to accommodate the time difference. He enjoys spontaneous meals and everyday moments with his parents that distance once made difficult.