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.