You have decided to start looking around for senior living options. Whether you are a proactive senior trying to decide on the next step or a child looking for the best place for your aging parent, there is no shortage of places to turn to for help. The internet is chock full of senior living referral sites with helpful content and reviews. However, as an educated consumer, you should know that all of that useful information and guidance comes at a price. Senior living referral is big business – and you are the product.
Who Are Senior Living Referrers
Local referral companies and national sites are a huge piece of the senior living industry. These companies provide a referral service to seniors or their loved ones by collating information, reviews, and resources about senior living options and providing recommendations to the consumer. Many times these companies offer great content, education, and guidance for consumers looking for senior apartments and housing. However, there are some darker sides to the business model. In some cases, the sites or referrers are named deceivingly to look like educational or non-profit organizations. And while they may look like they are purely informative, in truth many of these companies make a massive profit recommending senior living communities to consumers and their families.
How Referrers Make Money
Senior living referrers make their money from senior living management companies that pay them for leads, consumer information, or for them to recommend their community. For suggesting a specific assisted living or providing your contact information as a lead, these companies get paid well, often your first month of rent or a move-in fee. What can be worrisome, is that some companies will base their referrals on the amount of money they will make off of the interaction; referring you to communities that will benefit them the most. Or if they are only contracted with certain communities in the area, won’t even have other housing options listed on their site or register. This doesn’t mean the communities they recommend aren’t quality facilities, but it does mean you are making a life decision in a vacuum of information, and won't have all the data you need to be sure you are choosing the right community for you.
Comparing Senior Living Housing
If you need to find a community fast and don't have time to shop around, a referral service could be the right choice to get you into a community that fits all of your needs. They often have quick checklists that can ensure the communities listed meet your personal care, lifestyle, and social needs. However, if you choose not to use a referral service, you can have more power of choice and can become an educated consumer and compare senior housing facilities for yourself. Often times you can find non-profit, local referrers that will give a more comprehensive list of communities in your area. Check sites like Lilisity, that collate reviews from seniors living in communities and show more about daily life. Find out what your budget is and then start checking amenities and environments. Visiting a community is one of the best ways to ensure it will be a fit for you or a loved one. Many communities have started offering weekend or overnight stays to ensure it will be a fit for both the new resident and community. Finally, talking to multiple residents and their family members can give you a good idea of what to expect and insights about the community or staff that aren’t necessarily obvious at first glance.
While referral sites can be a good resource for some information about senior living in your area, it isn’t necessarily a good idea to base your decision of the recommendation of one person or a website. Do your own homework to find a community that is right for you or your loved one!