If you have aging parents or close relatives, you may have found that they're relying on you more and more to help them with their activities of daily living and appointments. They also may be lonely and need more social stimulation than they can get by living alone at home. As their needs become more complex, they need an increasing amount of time and attention – and you simply don't have enough of that to go around.
That's when you realize an assisted living facility or senior community might be the best place for them. However, evaluating the seemingly endless options for senior housing in your area can be overwhelming, especially if you're concerned about ongoing medical care.
Thankfully, you don't have to make this decision alone. A senior placement agency can help you find the best independent or assisted living facility for your family's needs and budget.
What does a senior placement agency do?
Like its name suggests, a senior placement agency equips seniors and families with services that are designed to meet the needs of seniors who need a more structured environment. Senior care placement and consulting professionals use their knowledge and experience to evaluate each incoming resident's situation and determine which communities would be best for them.
How do senior placement agencies work?
Senior placement agencies work with a multitude of senior living communities and are well-equipped to match clients to the best community for them. It is their job to look at any and all options that fit their clients’ physical, social, cognitive and financial needs, and address all their questions and concerns about the transition to a senior living facility.
As part of the consulting process, these agencies typically offer:
Comprehensive facility recommendations and tours
Evaluation of monthly income and assets
A review of living expenses and long-term care insurance, which could determine whether a policy could help offset the cost of assisted living.
Professional resources that can assist with legal and financial options and Medicaid qualification
What to know before working with a senior placement agency
Senior living communities are not created equal, and neither are senior placement agencies. When choosing which agency to work with, consider these three main factors.
1. Price: How much does a senior placement service cost?
Understand how the senior placement service you are considering makes its money. Some agencies charge for their services, but other agencies, like Welcome Home Senior Services & Placement Co., provide recommendations and referrals at no cost to the client. We take a hands-on approach to helping you identify the right community for your loved ones, and we only receive a commission payment if you choose a facility we recommend.
2. Reputation: Which senior placement agency can you trust?
Check out online reviews and ask friends to recommend agencies they know and trust. Don’t look at reviews from just one source – read Yelp, Google and Facebook reviews, and don't be afraid to ask a senior placement service if you can speak directly with previous clients for a reference. Learn as much as you can about the agency’s reputation so you can feel confident knowing your loved one will be in good hands.
3. Services: What is offered as part of senior care placement and consulting?
Good senior placement specialists will have a wealth of knowledge and connections to other helpful resources to assist with your loved one's transition. Ask about what else a prospective agency can offer in addition to their expert recommendations. This may include:
Moving services to assist with downsizing and transferring belongings from their current property to their new housing facility
Elder attorneys
Estate planning attorneys
Realtors
Care managers
When you work with a trusted senior placement service, you get the peace of mind that comes with knowing your loved ones are getting the care they need.
Need help finding an independent living, assisted living, or memory care facility for your loved one? Welcome Home Senior Services & Placement Co. proudly represents over 500 senior communities in Miami-Dade, Broward, the Palm Beaches, the Florida Keys, and Lee and Collier Counties. Contact us today to take the first step to a new beginning.