The Benefits of Working with a Local Certified Senior Advisor

local advisor

When looking for the right senior living solution for a loved one needing assisted living, memory care or independent living, it is critical to work with a local Certified Senior Advisor to guide you through all care options and costs. Local senior living placement advisors like Senior Care Lifestyles, also referred to as “The Assisted Living Matchmaker” of Maryland, have a pulse on the industry, costs, availability and which communities are in good standing. They have the knowledge and skills to perfectly match the care needs of the senior with a safe, affordable community to call home. Below are some of the advantages of working with a local senior living placement company like Senior Care Lifestyles.

Local Advisors Personally Tour and Approve Communities

A local advisor truly understands what each community has to offer. Although Maryland has many wonderful assisted living options, no one option is right for everyone. Senior Care Lifestyles pre-tours and screens all communities to make sure they are compliant with state regulations, in good standing and that the community meets their Gold Standard of Excellence. If not, they are not invited to be a Preferred Referral Partner.

Advisors Meet With Families to Understand Care Needs

Everyone is different, and that doesn’t change as we grow older. Each senior has his or her own care needs. Your local advisor can personally accompany you on tours, assist you with your decision-making process, support your move-in and help you with all required paperwork.

National ‘Free’ Assisted Living Referral Services Are Not Always Free

National call-in referral services like “A Place for Mom,” are just that—national. As a result, they are out of state call centers that work off a public list of licensed assisted living communities throughout the country. Call agents never meet the family calling in or tour Maryland communities. Instead, they sit in an office, answer the phone, gather your information and distribute it to multiple assisted living facilities. Those facilities will then call you to compete for your business. What families do not know is that when you provide personal details to a national company, you are considered a client of that national company even though you never signed a contract. This often restricts you from working with local assisted living placement specialists like Senior Care Lifestyles.

Read the Fine Print

Always pay attention to the fine print and be cautious before providing any personal information online or over the phone to an out of state referral company. It is safer to stay local.

Senior Care Lifestyles specializes in connecting seniors with the right in-home care, assisted living, or senior living community to meet their needs. We have helped hundreds of clients and treat each senior as a valued member of our own family deserving our personalized attention, compassion and respect.

For immediate help, or questions please call us at 410-977-3718 or fill out the Needs Assessment form on our website www.seniorcarelifestyles.com.

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).

5 Comments

  1. It would be nice to have a local advisor accompany you on a tour to make sure that each senior’s needs are met. That could help ease my worries. I don’t want my parents to be left somewhere that won’t take care of them.

    • Chris, you did not finish the rest of your comment above. We accompany all our clients on tours after we determine the perfect location, cost, and care requirements we will make he appointment and join the tour. Please call if you have any questions! Debbie

    • Chris, thank you for your comment to this article I wrote and I apologize for the late reply. My website was being updated recently and then all these comments came to me! It is so important to work with a professional. So many think they can do it on their own but quickly realize who confusing and overwhelming the entire search process is, paperwork required and selecting the right community. We have a pulse on the communities out there, tour them first and make sure they are compliant with licensing and regulations and if the meet OUR standards. We ask the right questions of our clients to accurately provide them options that meet their care needs, location and budget without running out of money or needing financial help from family. Call if you need any assistance or have questions! Debbie 410-977-3718

  2. Roy McDavid says:

    My 87 year old mom has dementia

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