Everything You Need to Know About Senior Living Advisors
When searching for a house, people hire realtors to help them navigate the current housing market. When you are trying to help an elderly loved one to find a good housing option, however, there are even more variables to consider. Budget, location, size, and the level of care a senior needs are all factors that impact the housing decision you make, and that’s where senior living advisors come in. Sometimes called senior care advisors, assisted living advisors, or even senior resource advisors, this type of professional has extensive knowledge to help individuals and their families select the best assisted living option.
What is a Senior Living Advisor?
A senior living advisor is an expert in all things related to senior living and eldercare. They work for an advisor company that gives them access to all the communities in the area. In effect, they have obtained much of the insider knowledge on the options in a certain geographical range. Senior care advisors’ relationships with senior communities are often personal, so the insights you get from one will give you an idea of what you can really expect from each assisted living option. Last, they are paid by a senior community when someone moves in with their help—so there’s no cost to you.
What Do They Do?
The whole goal of senior resource advisors is to help you find the right living situation for your senior loved one, and one size never fits all. They’ll sit down with you or talk with you over the phone, taking time to understand your senior’s wishes and physical and emotional needs. Afterward, the advisor will offer a list of care options that best fit. Once you’ve narrowed it down to your top choices, a senior living advisor will set up tours for you to take through the communities and buildings, acting as a guide to help answer questions. Senior advisory services don’t just leave you with information either—even after you’ve investigated your options, they’ll continue to follow up, answer any questions you have, and work with you until your loved one moves into a good situation.
What Don't They Do?
Assisted living advisors aren’t here to sell you the highest price or promote a specific community. A certified senior care advisor succeeds when the needs of their clients are successfully and optimally met, including budget and personal wishes. Unlike a realtor, the assisted living advisor doesn’t actually handle the sale if a community is selected. For that reason, they won’t try to rush you through the decision—they will match your level of urgency, even if you’re just inquiring months out from a possible move. In the end, if the right decision is to keep a senior in their current home, senior care advisors will advocate for it.
When Should I Talk to a Senior Living Advisor?
Perhaps you’re now wondering, ‘Should I contact a senior living advisor near me, and if so, when?’ The whole point of senior advisory services is to provide advocates for clients as they face the difficult decision of trusting a loved one into the care of others. You can certainly research, tour, and make this decision without a senior living advisor—but if you don’t have the time to do so properly, or if you want to triple-check all your options, they are a great resource. All the variables of senior living and care can be confusing, so it’s a relief to get an assistant. You can ask them about what kind of care they recommend for your loved one, what options are out there, and even take a tour with their help.
A senior living advisor wears many different hats through the process of helping your loved one select the right housing option—emotional support, advisor, and tour guide, to name a few. Their experience helps them to listen to a senior’s story, health, background, needs, and wishes, and then apply their vast amount of knowledge to help you find the perfect option for your loved one.
