THE SEARCH for an assisted-living apartment can seem overwhelming to families. Often, they are under time pressures and unfamiliar with the options.
Paul Jones, who founded the Care Concierge of New England LLC in March, is in the business of matching clients to those openings.
The reality is that internet searches and online comparison only go so far, said Jones, who previously worked in senior care management at several facilities.
“My service is much more personalized. I’ll sit down with my clients personally and I’ll talk through with them what they need for either themselves or their loved ones,” he said. “I’ll create a curated list of two or three assisted-living [facilities] for them to go and see.”
The placement service is free for clients. He is paid by the facilities. For care management services, essentially client follow-up, he is paid through a one-time fee based on client income, which is typically around $300.
While evaluations of nursing homes are available to the public through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the world of assisted living is largely unreviewed in that way, he said, which puts the onus on individuals to conduct their own assessment.
“The reality is senior care is so much more complex and nuanced than you can get out of any website. And the added layer is most families, when they are reaching out to me, are reaching out in a time of crisis.”
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Macdonald@PBN.com.
