Carolyn C.

My Father-In-Law developed worsening symptoms of dementia last year. By October, we had observed such a notable decline that we weren’t sure whether he would be able to continue living independently. His wife had passed away the year before and he was now living alone. I was on medical leave so I told my husband that I would begin the process of looking for a placement. I had seen advertisements for a nationally based placement service on tv and decided to call. I spoke with someone who asked a lot of personal questions about my father-in-law’s health, income, level of independence etc. and was subsequently sent a list of about 5-6 referrals by e-mail. We either called or were called by a representative from each facility to make an appointment to tour the facility. We toured three and discussed services and costs with the others. We came away from the experience overwhelmed and second guessing our decision to place our loved one was the best option at this time. Each facility had their strengths and weaknesses but all the facilities were out of my father-in-law’s price range. We concluded that he would run out of money in the not so distant future and would then end up in a nursing home. We were hoping to find a comfortable permanent placement that would see him through all stages of his illness. Rather than returning to the national placement service for more referrals, I decided to contact Deborah Bakalich to see if she could help us in our search. Deborah is a committed senior care representative; knowledgeable about community resources, in-home services, disease progression and a strong advocate for the senior and family. She escorted us to several smaller assisted living facilities in the community. All were home-based but licensed for all stages of care. She was able to share pros and cons of each based upon experiences of those whom she had placed. There are so many considerations and it is a comfort to have someone like Deborah by your side to help you navigate the process of finding appropriate senior care and placement. I unreservedly endorse Deborah’s services and only wish I had contacted her sooner to assist us with our need.

Deborah Bakalich, Certified Senior Advisor®
Deborah Bakalich, Certified Senior Advisor®
Owner, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA®) & Assisted Living Placement Specialist - Senior Care Lifestyles, LLC provides compassion, guidance and recommendations to families faced with transitioning a loved one into Assisted Living, Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care, Skilled Nursing, Temporary Respite Care or a Continuous Care Retirement Community. Senior Care Lifestyles was founded in 2014 by Deborah Bakalich, a Certified Senior Advisor and graduate from both Towson University and Stevenson. Senior Care Lifestyles is uniquely positioned as a local (not National) Maryland based placement firm familiar with Maryland senior care facilities and in-state financial assistance programs for senior residents. They meet personally with each family to understand the seniors care needs including medical, personal lifestyle preferences, budget, religion and desired geographic location. They pride themselves in locally guiding and educating families through the entire maze of senior living options available and will schedule tours on behalf of the family and accompany the family on visits of communities. They are passionate and committed to finding the perfect match to call home and stays with the family throughout the entire process, every step of the way, until a decision is made, and the senior is safely moved into their new home. Senior Care Lifestyles can also provide the family with trustworthy, vetted, and reputable experts to assist with the transition for organizing, packing, moving, sale of real estate, estate planning, legal services, and determining eligibility for State, Federal and Veterans Benefits to assist with care costs. Deborah is a proud member of the Maryland Senior Resource Network (MSRN) where she has served as Vice President on the Board of Directors. She is a member of the Alzheimer’s Organization, Society of Certified Senior Advisors, Mid-Atlantic Network Group and a member of the Business Opportunity Network (BON).