Winter Village

Questions to Ask Your Parents Before Moving to Winter Village

Written by Winter Village | May 5, 2025 4:00:00 AM

About three in four Americans cite family time as the most important thing in their lives. Family is the backbone of our daily lifestyles, so choosing a good retirement community for your parents is likely a top priority as they age.

 

Making this transition can be challenging, but knowing the right questions to ask your parents makes it easier. Read on to learn some things to ask when having conversations about senior living in Frankenmuth, MI.

 

Do You Have Questions or Concerns About Senior Living?

There are lots of questions to ask your parents before transitioning to senior living, but this is one of the most important. After all, AARP reports that 75% of older adults still want to live in single-family houses.

 

Communicating with reluctant parents is a two-way street. You need to get your points across, but it's just as important to listen to and address their trepidations.

 

Ask your parents what concerns they have about senior living. Help them dispel any misconceptions they have.

For example, many older adults think that a retirement community will take away their independence. You can tell them that this is far from the case in a well-appointed independent living community.

 

Talk about the social opportunities and programs that help seniors live their best lives while preserving autonomy. Show them some online information about the benefits of transitioning to community life to back up your claims.

 

You also should answer their questions about assisted living thoroughly. Even if they're not worried about something, your parents may want to know more about a specific element of community life. If you're unsure of the answer, do some research together!

 

Planning with aging parents can be difficult, but keeping them looped in is the best way to make things easier.

 

What Kind of Help Do You Need?

Some people go into retirement communities for extra day-to-day assistance. Many seniors struggle to take care of their health and hygiene. They may have higher support needs and prefer a program that offers more help.

 

Others are better tailored to independent living with supportive services. These let seniors choose what to do each day and create their own routines. This increases autonomy and bolsters their sense of self.

 

However, these independent living options do come with supportive services like:

  • Balance and coordination help
  • Self-care education
  • Medication management
  • Necessary intravenous injections
  • Respiratory care
  • Grooming and toileting
  • Dining help

Regardless of support needs, most seniors can benefit from these communities because they offer a great, easy-to-personalize atmosphere.

Apartments and amenities make life comfortable and relaxing. Plus, housekeeping services mean a great environment with minimal effort.

 

What Do You Value in a Community?

Communities offer a lot of different support services. However, they also offer unique programs and amenities for residents to enjoy. These events won't be the same in every community, so asking your parents what they would prioritize can help make the decision easier.

Ask them whether they want things like:

  • Painting workshops
  • Cardio groups
  • Chair yoga
  • Coloring and sketching
  • Balloon volleyball
  • Card games
  • Bingo
  • Movie nights
  • Technology education workshops
  • On-site worship services
  • Guest lectures
  • Outdoor walking groups

Have your parents list their priorities in order. This will show them that you care about finding a community that's the perfect fit for their individual tastes and preferences.

 

Winter Village community activities are diverse enough to make everyone happy. Whether your parents want an outdoor relaxation space or crafting workshops, we've got them covered.

 

You can show them our activity calendar to get them excited about senior living! Looking over this calendar is a great way for your parents to understand what sort of lifestyle they'll experience at Winter Village.

 

How Can We Bolster Your Independence?

Contrary to popular belief, senior living communities support independence more than they limit it. They offer:

  • A wide range of activities and events that seniors can choose from independently
  • Housekeeping and personal care services that promote a resort-style carefree lifestyle
  • Chef-prepared meals with restaurant-style service
  • Tons of areas where seniors can relax on community grounds without depending on a family member to drive them to social outings
  • Closer relationships with loved ones because of the lack of family caregiving frustration
  • Support for managing medications that can lead to greater autonomy for a longer time

Make sure your parents understand that this support can help them feel in control for longer. Community activity and wellness programs keep them mobile, while social events encourage social activity. This ultimately leads to prolonged independence.

 

Will You Look Into Communities With Me?

It's critical that your parents feel like they have a say in their future retirement community. Being autonomous and self-reliant is important for seniors. After all, that's why people move into independent living communities.

 

Kick off the conversation by showing your parents photos of the top Frankenmuth senior living community. Let them peruse the images and connect with the resort-style environment. Ask about tours afterward.

 

Make sure that you look into communities independently before asking this question. You don't want to drag your parents along on 10 different senior living tours. Narrow your options down by considering:

  • Cleanliness and atmosphere
  • How apartment floor plans look
  • What amenities the community offers
  • What supportive services there are
  • Social opportunities
  • Communication with families
  • Personalization of care plans
  • Customizable living spaces
  • Retirement community pricing

Since Winter Village offers some of the best calendar events and wellness programs in Michigan, touring our community is a great way to start!

 

Beyond the Best Questions to Ask Your Parents

Now that you know some questions to ask your parents during retirement living discussions, it's time to learn more about independent living with supportive services. Winter Village is committed to showing residents and their families what daily life here is like and why we stand out in terms of active senior living.

 

Seeing our apartments and amenities is step one toward effective senior lifestyle planning, and talking to current residents can help you feel more confident during the transition. Contact us to schedule a tour and learn what makes us stand out.