Are Referral Companies a Good Option for Finding a Senior Community?

When a parent, spouse, or other senior loved one needs to move to assisted living or memory care, family members may feel overwhelmed by the process. It can be difficult to determine what type of care meets the senior’s needs and what community would be the best fit. If you’ve spent time searching online, you may have interacted with a senior living referral service. But oftentimes, families aren’t even aware that this kind of service exists.

So, what is a referral service, and is it a good option? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of working with one of these agencies.

What Is a Senior Living Referral Service?

A senior living referral service assists people in finding housing options that align with their needs and preferences. These services typically educate clients on the various types of senior living, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes.

The companies also offer guidance in navigating the complexities of senior housing. Team members are skilled at taking into consideration factors such as location, amenities, healthcare services, and affordability. By understanding each client’s unique situation, referral services hope to help families make decisions that promote comfort, safety, and quality of life for loved ones making this transition.

Pros and Cons of Working With a Referral Service

While some companies are regional and others have a national service area, they all have in common certain advantages and disadvantages that families should be aware of.

• Con: Referrals may be limited to the company’s network

An attractive feature of the majority of senior living referral services is that they are free for older adults and their families. The company receives payment from the senior living community the client moves to. While some companies say they will refer to communities that aren’t part of their paid network, whether that is actually the case is open to doubt. If you decide to work with a referral service, keep in mind there may be additional options in your area that haven’t been presented to you.

• Con: Costs may be passed on to you by the community

Another factor to keep in mind is that while the referral company doesn’t charge you for help, the community may pass those fees along to you. Some do that by increasing your monthly fee until the cost charged by the referral company is paid in full. Because these companies typically charge one to two months’ rent, that can add up to much higher monthly fees, at least temporarily.

• Con: Your information might be shared with many communities

In an effort to find a community for you before another referral service does, or you find one on your own, a company might send your contact information indiscriminately to all potential solutions. That’s because many referral services state in their contract that they will be compensated if they are the first company to make contact with the family and send the referral. The result can be an overwhelming number of phone calls and emails for families.

• Pro: Senior care advisors can save you time

Depending on the referral service you choose, a senior care advisor will typically be assigned to you. Before entering into an agreement of any kind, you’ll want to ask if the advisor is local to your area. That helps ensure they understand the market and have insider knowledge of the communities. It can help you save time sorting through communities that might not have the level of care you need, don’t have any current openings, or are too expensive. This can be especially useful when adult children who live far away are trying to help their parent find housing.

• Pro: Reduces stress associated with the search

While some seniors move to a community before a crisis occurs, many do not. Family members might be dealing with the stress of a loved one’s health emergency. The older adult’s physician may have indicated the senior isn’t safe to return home. Trying to conduct a search on your own while coping with the seriousness of a family member’s injury or illness can be difficult.

• Pro: Company may have connections to help with the transition

Deciding what community to move to is only the first step. The real work includes downsizing the older adult’s home, hosting an estate sale, lining up movers, and more. Local senior living advisors often have a network of professionals, such as senior move managers, estate sale companies, and seniors real estate specialists, who can guide you through this process.

One last resource you might find useful is Tips for Touring a Senior Living Community for a Loved One. In this article you will find suggestions for how to make the most of your visits to senior living communities.

Invest in a Mobile Monitoring Unit

Finding a senior living community that is a good fit for your loved one and then making the move is rarely a quick process. If you are concerned for their safety while you plan for this transition, a mobile monitoring unit might give both of you peace of mind. These discreet devices allow the user to summon help with a simple press of a button. Call 1-844-203-5617 to learn more!