Four ways that senior housing placement agencies can help your family.

It’s time to face moving your loved one to a long-term care community, and it feels overwhelming to how to even begin. You probably lack the time and knowledge to find the perfect new home. Luckily, there are dedicated senior housing placement agencies out there that have the staff with the expertise and compassion to guide and support your family during this transition.

Senior housing placement services can help you decide on the best assisted living community for your loved one. Still, it helps everyone if you think about the kind of housing you want before contacting them. 

You should at least have some idea about where and how far away you want your loved one to be, whether it’s in a specific town or within a certain distance. It’s also important to know the kind of care you’ll need: simple help with the activities of daily living or specialized memory care services for Alzheimer’s or dementia patients. Finally, you should also know if you are seeking the most affordable assisted living in the area, a mid-range or high-end residence.

Here are 4 invaluable ways that senior housing placement agencies can help you and your loved ones.

1. Understanding your needs

No 2 people are the same, and neither are their needs. Senior placement agency staff understand your basic and most of your specialized needs. In addition, the staff have experience with many different situations and the care homes that can meet your most common needs, and they’re ready to help you find the option that works best for you.

It’s customary when working with a placement agency that you meet with a consultant who will not only need to know about the location, cost parameters, and type of care required but also need to know about other important information, such as:

• Your loved one’s health issues and medical requirements–does she need help with medication, have dietary restrictions, etc.
• What amenities are available, such as barber or hairdresser, outings, group activities, and more?
• Religious or cultural beliefs are an important issue for some, including the availability of worship or chaplain services.

Based on the information you provide, your consultant can recommend specific living arrangements and make recommendations about facilities that meet your requirements.

2. Doing the research for you

Even if you don’t know what to look for and what you need, with a senior placement agency you can be sure its staff does. Not only do they know about the many requirements of a long-term care facility but they also can explain the differences and benefits of each type of facility. It’s their business to have done all the legwork so they can give you options to consider. A senior housing placement agency has the expertise to assist you in making an informed decision about which facility to choose.

If you tried to gather all the information about the assisted living communities near you or your loved one, it would take many days of meetings and telephone calls to collect a fraction of the information. You would be at the mercy of facility personnel to answer truthfully about the services they provide and to volunteer information you may have overlooked. Let’s be honest; most facilities offer a sales pitch instead of reliable information about their operations.

3. Making a perfect match

When a senior housing placement agency matches your senior with an assisted living community, there’s a lot to consider, as outlined above. It’s their business to sift through all of your criteria and the living facilities’ services and standard of care. 

Senior housing placement agencies can provide you with all of this information and more community-specific information that would take you hours to accumulate, in minutes. 

Whether you need to find an assisted living facility, nursing home, memory care community, or other long-term care option, placement agencies are well-versed in the available choices and eager to match you with the right one. Local agencies and national networks can help you find the right community no matter what part of the country you’re looking in.

4. Supporting the transition

Senior placement agencies are experts at navigating the transition to a long-term care community. From touring communities, navigating the application and move-in processes, and ensuring your loved one settles in well in their new home.

Because a senior placement agency is knowledgeable about the requirements for all levels of long-term care, and because its staff has vast experience with and information about the various services long-term facilities offer, you can be assured the agency has your interests front and center.

A good senior placement agency will be informative and unbiased about the facilities they recommend to you. If the staff doesn’t know an answer to your question, you can expect them to find the answer within a day or so. 

How much do senior placement agencies cost?

While some agencies may charge a placement fee or administrative fee, many of the best agencies will offer free services to you. 

Be aware that most senior placement agencies are compensated by the facility you ultimately choose in much the same way as an employment agency charges the employer. Ask about any contracts or agreements your placement agency has with senior care facilities. There should be none that require a certain number of placements with a facility, only the commission they receive if you decide on a particular care facility. A trustworthy agency will be entirely focused on your best interests and the benefits for your loved one.

Ready to make the move but not sure if your long-term care insurance policy covers certain care communities? We’d love to offer you a free policy review! Read more about our services for LTC claim management or call us today at 844-858-4500.