Council on Aging Answers 2015 - 69

COUNCIL ON AGING - ORANGE COUNTY

Senior Living Referral Agencies:
Make Informed Decisions
n Linda Armas, CSA

Council On Aging-Orange County | 714-479-0107 | www.coaoc.org

Linda Armas is the current President of Southern
Cal Association of Senior Referral Agencies and owner
of Clear Choice Senior Services, Inc.
Answers Guide 2015

hOUSING

Learning that a loved one can no longer safely remain at home often takes families by surprise. They
are often unsure where to turn for help locating the
right senior housing solution.
Orange County has approximately 1,000 licensed
assisted living choices, ranging from luxurious, expansive communities to small, homelike 6 bed care
homes. All are licensed by the Department of Social
Services under the same rules and regulations, but
that's where similarities often end. Every individual
and situation is different. A place that works well for
the parent of a friend or neighbor may be completely
wrong for another person.
The assistance of a reputable, experienced senior
placement agency can make the process easier. An
experienced advisor can guide families through the
maze of decisions that need to be made. The agency's
goal is to help families find a place they are happy
with, because every move is stressful, and mistakes
must be avoided.
Referral agents are not regulated in this state, thus
quality and extent of services can vary. It is recommended that a family ask questions to make sure
the agent they are considering has sufficient experience and is knowledgeable about the area and local
resources. The agent should have personally visited
a home and know the reputation of the places they
recommend. Referral agents should have a business
license and liability insurance. The agent should ask
detailed questions about the prospective resident's
care needs and personality and ascertain the family's
priorities. Sample questions include:
n Age of resident
n Present health conditions
n Care requirements
n Cognitive abilities
n Religious or spiritual interests

n Personality, hobbies, interests
n Preferred geographic location
n Budget
It is imperative that the family be completely honest about their loved one's condition and discuss in
advance any concerns or potential challenges.
The agent will make every effort to narrow down
the choices to those which will best meet the individual's needs, and should be available to address questions and concerns. The family and the referral service should work together to make a sound judgment
on whether the facility is the right fit for a resident.
The family is always responsible for the final decision. Placement agencies' services are offered at no
cost to families, as they often receive compensation
from the facilities after a resident moves in (similar
to a rental or employment agent).
Be aware when shopping on the internet for senior
housing assistance, personal information entered on
a website may be released to others or even sold to
other companies. When entering information on a
website, many people don't read the fine print on the
Privacy Policy. Often it states they reserve the right
to disclose, sell or share personal and contact information with third parties.
Information is available online to help evaluate the
compliance record of a senior care facility. Refer to
the Department of Social Services, Community Care
Licensing website (www.ccld.ca.gov) to view information. A search can be done by location or name.
Once a facility's file is located, the quantity of past
Citations and Complaints can be viewed. Type A citations are the most serious, as they affect the immediate health, safety or personal rights of a resident.
This information can be very helpful, but should
not take the place of making a visit in person and
careful observations and discussions with management and staff.

http://www.ccld.ca.gov http://www.coaoc.org

Council on Aging Answers 2015

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