Written by Michelle Grace, Marketing Coordinator, approved by Kim Petersen, VP of Design & Brand Strategy. Quotes approved by Julie Metcalfe, Executive Director, Briargate, and Amber Whitehead, Executive Director, Muskoka Traditions.
Winter in Ontario can be challenging — icy walkways, snow shovelling, and the isolation that comes with cold, grey days can make the season feel long and lonely for many older adults. A winter stay in a senior living community offers a welcome alternative — a chance to trade winter’s demands for warm lounges, delicious meals, engaging activities, and meaningful social connection, all in a safe, supportive environment. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for individuals and families to experience community life firsthand before making a permanent decision.
For this resource, we spoke with two Levante Living Executive Directors, Julie Metcalfe of Briargate in Amherstview, just outside of Kingston, Ontario, and Amber Whitehead of Muskoka Traditions in Huntsville, Ontario, about what they commonly see, hear, and recommend when someone is considering a winter stay.
What Is a Winter Stay in a Retirement Residence?
A winter stay is a short-term, fully furnished stay at a senior living community during the colder months, with no obligation to move in permanently. It gives someone the chance to experience daily life, meals, activities, and support firsthand, rather than only seeing a community from the outside. That firsthand experience is what sets a winter stay apart from a scheduled visit.
Julie Metcalfe, Executive Director at Briargate, describes it simply: a winter stay lets someone come and enjoy the meals and activities, make new friends, and feel safe, all without needing to commit to anything beyond the stay itself.
“A tour gives you a quick look into what we look like, but not what we are. You don’t know what it feels like to wake up here, have meals together with other residents, participate in an activity and enjoy laughter, or spend an evening relaxing in your suite.”
— Julie Metcalfe, Executive Director, Briargate
Amber Whitehead, Executive Director at Muskoka Traditions, puts it similarly: a tour shows you what a community looks like, but a stay lets you actually live it.
“A tour gives you a glimpse of what life at Muskoka Traditions is like. A short-term stay lets you experience it. You get to wake up here, have your meals here, participate in activities, meet the residents and staff, discover the routines and experience the culture and feeling of the home firsthand. You aren’t just looking at a suite or walking through the common areas; you are becoming a member of the community.”
— Amber Whitehead, Executive Director, Muskoka Traditions
Why Do Older Adults Consider a Winter Stay?
There is no single reason someone considers a winter stay. Executive Directors often see residents and families exploring one for a combination of practical, social, and lifestyle reasons.
For many, it starts with the physical risks of a Canadian winter. Snow and ice make getting outside or driving more difficult and increase the risk of falls, while shovelling, home maintenance, groceries, and meal preparation all become harder to keep up with. Isolation is often the bigger challenge underneath it, though: as the weather turns, people tend to stay home more, and that takes a real toll on their ability to socialize.
“Winter can be a challenging time for older adults. The weather makes getting outside unsafe; maintaining a home and clearing walkways is very hard, and it can also be unsafe to be outside in the elements. A short-term stay can provide a safe, comfortable environment, as well as a great opportunity to experience what senior living is like.”
— Julie Metcalfe, Executive Director, Briargate
Amber sees the same pattern at Muskoka Traditions, and points to a few specific everyday stressors a winter stay removes entirely: meal preparation, snow removal, grocery runs, and icy drives to pick up prescriptions.
“The winter months can feel long and challenging for anyone, but especially for older adults who may be concerned about shorter days, snow and ice, driving conditions, snow removal, grocery shopping, or getting to appointments and picking up prescriptions. A winter stay can eliminate many of those stressors. We provide three homemade meals a day, have a backup generator to ensure our residents’ needs are met even during the worst weather conditions, and take care of snow removal around the property.”
— Amber Whitehead, Executive Director, Muskoka Traditions
Family concern is often part of the picture too. Adult children worry about a parent managing alone through the colder months, and a winter stay can address both the older adult’s safety and the family’s peace of mind.
Can a Winter Stay Help Someone Decide if Retirement Living Is Right for Them?
Yes. A winter stay allows someone to experience the routines, people, services, and atmosphere of a senior living community firsthand before making longer-term decisions.
Julie says the value is that there’s no pressure attached. Someone can try it the way they might try a short vacation, then decide based on their own lived experience rather than assumptions about what senior living involves.
“The benefit of a short-term stay is that there is no need to commit, you can just try it, like a mini vacation. Spending time here allows someone to make a decision based on their own experience.”
— Julie Metcalfe, Executive Director, Briargate
Amber adds that arriving to a fully furnished suite helps keep the stakes low. There’s no moving day, no furniture to sort out, just the chance to settle in and see how the lifestyle actually feels, backed by support that’s available around the clock if needed.
“A winter stay allows someone to experience retirement living without committing to a permanent move. You arrive to a completely furnished suite, so there is no need to move furniture or make a major change to your home. We are staffed 24/7, and residents have access to a complimentary emergency response system for added peace of mind. A short-term stay allows someone to experience the lifestyle for themselves and discover what they enjoy, what they may need, and whether senior living feels like the right fit, all without a long-term commitment.”
— Amber Whitehead, Executive Director, Muskoka Traditions
It’s worth being clear about what a winter stay is not: it isn’t a sales trial aimed at a permanent move. Its purpose is to give someone the room to experience the community and decide what feels right for them, on their own terms and their own timeline.
What Concerns Do People Have Before a Winter Stay?
It’s normal for someone considering senior living to have questions or reservations before arriving. A few of the most common ones came up directly in our conversations with Julie and Amber.
“Will I Lose My Independence?”
This is one of the most common worries families raise, and both Executive Directors hear it often.
“Living independently doesn’t necessarily mean doing absolutely everything yourself. It means having choices and living your life the way you want to. You don’t lose your independence when you come here. You gain a community and support system around you while still making your own choices about your day.”
— Julie Metcalfe, Executive Director, Briargate
Amber frames it the same way: the goal isn’t to take independence away; it’s to support it, with help available if and when it’s actually needed.
“Our goal is not to take away independence; it is to support it. Someone can move in while they are completely independent and have the comfort of knowing support is available as their needs change. That allows them to age in place rather than having to make another major move later on.”
— Amber Whitehead, Executive Director, Muskoka Traditions
“Will I Fit In With the Other Residents?”
Someone arriving for a winter stay may not think of themselves as especially social, or may feel perfectly content on their own. Julie’s team often sees that shift within days, as new residents find themselves at activities, sharing meals, and building friendships without necessarily planning to.
“Am I Ready for This?”
This is perhaps the most common hesitation of all, and one Julie addresses directly rather than brushing aside.
“Most people do not feel ready. Think of it as a step past retirement, a time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labour. Come for a short stay. Try the meals. Meet the residents. Participate in an activity. See what it’s actually like. You may decide that you’re not ready for a permanent move, and that’s okay. But you may also discover that you’re more ready than you thought.”
— Julie Metcalfe, Executive Director, Briargate
What Do Residents Often Notice During Their First Few Weeks?
The first few weeks of a winter stay often give residents the clearest sense of what everyday senior living actually feels like.
According to Julie, one of the most common things she hears from new residents is genuine surprise at how many people around them are just like them. Someone may arrive saying they aren’t especially social, or that they’re perfectly happy staying home. A few weeks in, that same person is often at activities, sharing meals with other residents, and chatting with staff they’ve come to know by name.
“One of the things we hear often is ‘I had no idea how many people are like me.’ They also feel less of a burden on family members who come to take care of them, and they gain confidence. That extra time and freedom can make a real difference in someone’s quality of life.”
— Julie Metcalfe, Executive Director, Briargate
Amber notices the same shift at Muskoka Traditions: residents who arrive still finding their way around soon settle into routines and friendships of their own, to the point where the community starts to feel less like a temporary stay and more like home.
“After a few weeks, they often know which activities they enjoy, when their favourite programs are happening, and who they want to sit with at meals or visit with throughout the day. There is often a point where Muskoka Traditions stops feeling like a temporary place they are staying and starts feeling like their home and their new community.”
— Amber Whitehead, Executive Director, Muskoka Traditions
What Should Someone Pay Attention to During a Winter Stay?
Julie’s advice for anyone on a winter stay, or a family member visiting, is to pay attention to:
- How comfortable you feel in the community day to day
- Whether the suite meets your needs
- The meals and overall dining experience
- Activities and social opportunities, and whether you find yourself joining in
- How staff interact with you and with other residents
- The support and care available, and whether it matches what you were told to expect
- Whether everyday life feels easier, or more enjoyable, than it did at home
Who Might Benefit From Considering a Winter Stay?
A winter stay may be worth exploring for an older adult who wants additional support or connection during the winter, would like a break from home maintenance, or wants to experience senior living before making future plans.
Based on what Julie and Amber see at their communities, that often includes someone who:
- Lives alone and finds winter maintenance, driving, or grocery runs increasingly difficult
- Has been feeling more isolated as the weather turns colder
- Wants more opportunities for social connection and conversation
- Has family who are worried about them managing safely through the winter, including power outages or icy roads
- Is managing prescriptions or appointments that become harder to get to in winter weather
- Is curious about senior living but is not sure what it will actually be like
What Advice Would Our Executive Directors Give Someone Who Is Unsure?
Asked directly what she’d say to someone stuck on “I’m not ready yet,” Julie’s answer was straightforward.
“It can be about making life easier, more social, and more enjoyable. Come for a short stay. Try the meals. Meet the residents. Participate in an activity. See what it’s actually like. The important thing is that the decision comes from experiencing it for yourself, rather than making assumptions about what senior living means.”
— Julie Metcalfe, Executive Director, Briargate
Amber’s advice lands in a similar place, reminding you that “ready” doesn’t have to mean any one thing.
“You don’t have to decide the rest of your life. Just allow yourself to experience what senior living could look like. You may discover that you were more ready than you thought.”
— Amber Whitehead, Executive Director, Muskoka Traditions
Frequently Asked Questions About Winter Stays
What is a winter stay in a retirement residence?
A winter stay is a short-term, fully furnished stay at a senior living community during the colder months. It includes meals, activities, and support, giving someone the chance to experience daily community life firsthand, without any obligation to move in permanently.
Can you stay in a retirement residence temporarily?
Yes. Levante Living offers short-term and respite stays, including winter stays, at select residences. Exact options and availability vary by community, so it’s best to check directly with the residence you’re interested in.
Do you have to become a permanent resident after a winter stay?
No. A winter stay carries no obligation to stay longer term. Some residents do decide to transition to permanent residency afterward. Still, the purpose of the stay is to help someone experience senior living and decide what’s right for them, with no pressure either way.
What is included in a winter stay?
Inclusions vary by residence, but typically cover a fully furnished suite, homemade meals, housekeeping, laundry, and access to activities and social programming. At Muskoka Traditions, that also includes a 24/7-stocked bistro, a backup generator, contracted snow removal, transportation into town, an in-house pharmacy contract, and a complimentary emergency response pendant. Speak with your local residence to confirm exactly what’s included in their winter stay offering.
How long is a winter stay?
The length of stay varies by residence and by individual circumstances, preferences, and needs.
Is a winter stay a good way to see if senior living is right for me?
Yes. A winter stay offers a firsthand way to experience meals, activities, staff, and community life, which often gives people a clearer sense of whether senior living is right for them than a tour alone.
How do I find out whether a Levante Living residence offers winter stays?
The best next step is to find a residence near you and contact them directly, since winter stay availability and offerings vary by community.
Explore Winter Stay Options at Levante Living
A winter stay can offer an opportunity to experience senior living firsthand and discover what feels right for you or your family. Winter stay availability, suite types, services, and offers may vary by residence.
Ready to learn more? Find a residence, schedule a visit at Briargate, or contact a Levante Living community today.