There's a conversation I have almost every week. It usually starts with "We probably should have started looking for resources sooner." A daughter calls after Mom's fall. A couple realizes the stairs have quietly become a problem. A son is suddenly handling a parent's affairs from three states away.
What almost every one of those families tells me later is the same: they wish they'd known what was out there before they needed it.
That's exactly why I look forward to Senior Living Week every October. Presented by the Housing Bureau for Seniors, a program of Michigan Medicine's Community Health Services, it's Washtenaw County's one-stop information shop for older adults and the people who love them. It kicks off with an expo on Saturday, October 10, followed by a full week of open houses and free workshops, October 11 through 17.
And this year, I'll be there with a table. I'd love for you to stop by.
📍 Start Here: The Senior Living Week Expo
Saturday, October 10, 2026, 9 am to 1 pm Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Building
The expo is the best place to begin, because everything is under one roof. You can talk face to face with dozens of senior living communities and service providers, gather information at your own pace, and leave with a much clearer picture of your options.
This year's featured speaker, at 10 am, is social gerontologist and community educator Jeanette Leardi, author of Aging Sideways: Changing Our Perspectives on Getting Older. I love that title. So much of what holds families back is the idea that aging is only a slow decline to be managed. A talk about seeing it differently is a wonderful way to open the week.
Also at the expo:
💉 Free flu vaccines and health screenings from Community Health Services at Michigan Medicine
👂 Hearing screenings and hearing aid cleanings
🤝 Vendors offering products and services that help seniors and their caregivers
Registration is available on the Senior Living Week page.
🏡 Walk Through the Door: Open Houses, October 12–16
Brochures and websites only tell you so much. The open houses let you step inside a type of community you may never have considered, ask questions, and get a feel for daily life there. Here's the lineup:
If you're in the Chelsea or Dexter area like I am, Wednesday is a great day: The Cedars of Dexter in the morning and Chelsea Retirement Community after lunch, with Brecon Village in Saline as an easy add-on.
📚 Learn From the Experts: Free Workshops All Week
The workshop lineup this year is strong, and several sessions speak directly to the questions I hear from families during a move. A few I'd circle:
📝 For planning ahead
What Should Be in My Legal First Aid Kit? Mon, Oct 12, 2–3 pm, KMS Building, Ann Arbor. Attorney Terry Bertram covers the essential documents your loved ones need to help you in an emergency.
When Life Changes: Revisiting Your Plan After a Move, a Diagnosis or a Loss. Fri, Oct 16, 10:30–11:30 am, Bassett Murray Law Group, Ann Arbor. A move is one of the most common reasons an estate plan falls out of date. This one is worth your hour.
Medicare 101. Tue, Oct 13, 1–2 pm, Turner Senior Resource Center, Ann Arbor. The basics of Parts A through D and how Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage differ.
❤️ For families and caregivers
When Help Is Hard to Accept: Navigating Resistance to Support. Tue, Oct 13, 11:30 am–12:30 pm, Turner Senior Resource Center. Care manager Natalie Adewunmi on what's behind a "no" and how to introduce support without taking away choice. If you've ever tried to talk a parent into a move, you know why this matters.
Homecare vs. Home Health Care: What's the Difference? Thu, Oct 15, 11 am–12 pm, Ypsilanti District Library, Whittaker Branch.
Finding the Peaceful Passage. Tue, Oct 13, 10–11 am, Turner Senior Resource Center. How end-of-life doula care, hospice and palliative care work together.
🛡️ For staying safe and well
Safe Banking for Seniors. Wed, Oct 14, 11 am–1 pm, Washtenaw County Learning Resource Center. Huntington Bank volunteers on avoiding scams and protecting your finances.
Making Medications Easier (Mon, Oct 12) and Take Charge of Your Health and Medication Use (Fri, Oct 16), two practical sessions on keeping medication routines simple and staying in charge of your care.
🌳 For the bigger picture
Older Persons Millage at Work. Thu, Oct 15, 12:30–1:30 pm. Shannon Effler, director of Washtenaw County's Office of Aging Services, shares progress under the new millage.
Livable Communities. Thu, Oct 15, 2–3 pm. AARP Michigan on making our towns more age-friendly, including Ann Arbor's efforts and the HomeFit Guide.
Full descriptions, addresses and phone numbers are on the Senior Living Week page.
💡 Why I'd Go Now, Even If You're "Not There Yet"
After nearly 30 years helping Washtenaw County families through housing transitions, here's what I know for sure: the best moves are the ones people make by choice, not in a crisis. When you explore early, you get to decide what matters most to you. When you wait, the decision often gets made for you, on someone else's timeline.
Senior Living Week takes the pressure off. Nobody is asking you to sign anything. You're simply gathering information, the same way you'd research any other big life decision.
A few tips to make the most of it:
Bring a notebook or a list of questions. Cost, levels of care, waitlists and what happens if needs change are good places to start.
Bring a family member. Two sets of ears are better than one, and it opens the door to conversations that can be hard to start at the kitchen table.
Visit more than one type of community. You may be surprised by what feels right.
Think about the house, too. For most of my clients, the home is both their biggest asset and their biggest emotional tie. Understanding its value and what a sale might look like is part of the planning, not an afterthought.
👋 Come Say Hello
I'll have a table at the expo on Saturday, October 10, and I'd genuinely love to meet you. Whether you're planning your own next chapter, helping a parent, or working with older adults in your profession, stop by. Ask me about the local market, what your home might be worth, how to time a sale with a move, or how to start downsizing without feeling overwhelmed. No pressure, just a good conversation.
Can't make it Saturday? I'm always happy to talk. ☕
Dani Hallsell, REALTOR®, SRES® LIVgreat Real Estate | Next Chapter Living 734-623-9442 | dani@danihallsell.com | www.danihallsell.com
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