When families visit aging parents during the holidays, small signs often show that daily life at home is becoming harder.

Full written guide:

⁠https://wheredowego.ca/blog/the-holiday-reality-check-senior-housing-transition-plan⁠

In this episode, Michael Wright shares a calm and practical way to understand how your aging parents are managing at home during the holidays. He explains the Holiday Lens, a simple approach to observing lighting, floors, kitchen routines, bathroom safety and the winter conditions that often reveal new challenges.

Michael discusses the four barriers that keep families from planning early. Denial, lack of information, the size of the process and fear. He then introduces the Housing Care Continuum, which includes independent living, home support services, downsizing, retirement residences and long term care. This gives families a clear picture of the options that exist long before crisis.

He also explains the real cost of aging at home, the role of social connection and the value of trying a winter stay at a retirement residence.

If you are an adult child supporting aging parents, or an older adult planning ahead, this episode offers plain English guidance to help you understand the home, the risks and the next steps that bring clarity and calm.

In this episode, Michael Wright explains the Housing Care Continuum, a simple way to understand how support needs change as we age. He begins with independent living, then describes home support services, the role of retirement residences, assisted living and finally long term care.

Michael also explains what makes his work unique. Before focusing on the sale of a home, he helps older adults and families understand what transition is needed. He shares examples of how people struggle with activities of daily living, what social isolation looks like at home, and why retirement residences often provide the connection people are missing.

He clarifies how long term care placement works in Ontario. It is a needs based system, not a position based list, and people can remain on the list for years without moving forward unless they meet priority need. Families often misunderstand this, and early planning can reduce fear and avoid crisis decisions.

If you are an older adult planning ahead or an adult child supporting a parent, this episode offers plain English guidance to help you understand the options and choose the right next step with dignity and calm.

More resources: wheredowego.ca

In this introduction, Michael Wright talks about the heart of his work. He explains why he supports older adults and the families who care for them, and how senior housing decisions often begin with confusion, mixed emotions and a lack of clear information.

Michael shares real examples from his forty years of experience and explains the idea behind “aging in the right place.” He also describes what families can expect in future episodes as he covers topics like retirement living, home safety, long term care, downsizing and how to make decisions with dignity and calm.

If you are an older adult planning ahead, or an adult child supporting a parent through change, this series will give you plain English guidance you can trust.

More resources: wheredowego.ca