A Note of Caution to Families When Beginning a Search for a Senior Living Community
When a family wants, or needs to figure out which senior living community will best fit the needs of their loved one, there are a variety of ways to get advice. Some recommended sources would be to ask your doctor, or discharge planner if your loved one has had a recent hospital or rehab stay, your local Area Agency on Aging , your local senior center, or friends, co-workers or neighbors who may have a had past experience with placing a family member in a senior living setting. These sources all tend to factor a the word of mouth reputation coupled together with their own personal experiences which are much more valuable than just looking at a brochure or website.
The note of caution we have to offer families as they are researching their options via computer search engine results is that they should be aware that there are a handful of national referral companies who have invested heavily in order to dominate computer search engine results. You may find yourself on their directory listing, yet you may think you are on the website of the actual facility. You may call the phone number listed, yet it will not be the phone number of the community. This is because their business model is to do everything possible to capture the attention of a potential client, so they can in turn become an agent for that potential client, and make recommendations to that client in exchange for a referral fee (the typical amount is often equal to one month’s rent). The company eventually receiving the placement of that resident is the entity who pays the referral fee to the agent because they have established a contractual agreement to do so.
If you click on the info page of a community that appeals to you via one of these national referral website directories and then are made completely aware that you are choosing to enter into the referral based relationship with one of these national referral companies, there is nothing wrong with that decision at all. They have given you full disclosure, and that is your choice. But that doesn’t always happen, and you could have chosen to contact that facility yourself directly. Also, what they won’t tell you is that they will only refer you to a company location who has entered into a contractual agreement to pay them this large referral fee in exchange for your decision to move in. Therefore, if there is a company in your geographic area that is known for being a phenomenal provider of senior living services, but does not have a contractual relationship with the referral company, then you will never be advised of this company as an option. You need to understand that their recommendations will be biased. And often times, these referral companies will provide you with a list of places without giving you any real guidance as to why one may better suit your specific needs over another. Or better yet, the vast majority of the times this referral company representative has never visited any of the locations they are recommending. Remember, these referral specialists are claiming they know best, yet they are often just sitting at a computer screen looking for the list of companies who will will be willing to pay them their referral fee.
What we want families to know is that there are many very reputable senior living communities likely in your area who do not participate with these national referral companies. One reason for this is because of the excessive size of the referral fee. (The typical referral fee rate is one month’s rent, and that translates into a typical range between $2,000 and $7,000 or more for specialty placements, like dementia care.) Many small to medium sized businesses do not have operating budgets that will allow for such large investments in procuring new business. These non-participating businesses depend on marketing the reputations they work very hard to build, and the positive word of mouth on the street that comes from that reputation. You should be able to find websites, and contact information for reputable places like these by searching your appropriate key word (ex. senior care, assisted living, memory care, nursing home, rehab center, etc.) coupled with your specific geographic areas of interest. Be as specific as you can initially, and then branch outward from there. Again, just pay close attention to avoid clicking on the paid ads luring you in, as well as the website directories from these large referral companies if it is your intention to insure you are considering all of your options.
However, regardless of how you arrive at touring a particular senior living community, there are many things you should take into consideration when determining which place will be the best fit to meet your needs. When you make a site visit, what is your first impression? How does the setting look? Is there an attention to detail regarding the atmosphere and environment? Is it visually pleasing? Does it smell fresh and clean? Are there residents out and about enjoying themselves? Do people look happy? Do staff seem friendly and attentive? Do you even see any staff? Does their meal presentation look appealing? Then, you need to ask questions to learn how their operations work to determine if they are in line with your preferences. What is the length of stay required with their admission contract? (Many senior living settings only require a 30 day notice which gives the resident a fair amount of flexibility when making their choice to give a place a try.) Are there strict visiting hours? Can family pets come to visit if they meet certain safety standards? Are there incidental costs not included in the rental agreement? If so, what are they? Is the care component included, or provided by a third party? Are apartments furnished or can you bring your own things? What happens if care needs change-at what point would you need to seek other arrangements? Is the community state licensed? What education levels or specialized training certifications are required of key staff? What type of activities are offered? Does the community have a bus with a wheelchair lift? Are excursions offered? The National Center for Assisted Living has a consumer’s guide which mentions additional helpful questions for you to consider asking.
Cambrian Senior Living communities are state licensed and specialize in offering assisted living and memory care services to seniors aged 60 or older. They have locations in both Tecumseh (Lenawee County) and South Lyon (Oakland County), Michigan. After a trial basis, and then further investigation into the common practices of these national referral based corporate business models, Cambrian chooses not to have contractual relationships with them. To learn more about us simply visit www.CambrianSeniorLiving.com. We are a small family owned and operated local business with a great reputation earned since 2005. We are confident that you will notice the personalized service you receive. We call it The Cambrian Way: Comfortable Elegance, Gentle Care and Peace of Mind. For more information on senior living options in our areas, give us a call at 517-423-5300, or email us at denise@CambrianAssisted.com.
Links to Local Resources:
Area Agency on Aging Lenawee County MI
Area Agency on Aging Oakland County MI
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