CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 303-810-1816

Email:   Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com

Golden, Colorado – October 28, 2019

The Caring Generation® Why Assisted Living Is Not Always A Place for Mom

Golden CO- Caregiving expert, Pamela D. Wilson hosts The Caring Generation radio program for caregivers and aging adults this coming Wednesday, October 30, on the Bold Brave Media Global Network. The program airs live at 9 p.m. EST. The Caring Generation® originally aired from 2009 to 2011 on 630 KHOW-AM in Denver, Colorado.

The caregiving topic for this week's program answers the question," What is Assisted Living?" Special guest Corky Kyle, a professional lobbyist, and speaker from The Kyle Group, shares legislation to protect consumers by requiring disclosure of relationships between assisted living communities and referral agencies.

Consumers lack an understanding of the role and background of referral companies that help family members identify assisted living residences for elderly parents. As in all industries, there are reputable companies and other companies that seek to take advantage of the elderly.

The referral industry is one in which companies can make a hefty sum as a result of the high placement fees paid by assisted living companies who view the fee as a cost of doing business. The nation's largest senior living referral service, A Place for Mom, in television advertisements states "it's a free service and there is never any cost to you." Many referral and placement agencies tell consumers that their services are free.

What referral companies omit to disclose to consumers is how much they are paid and by whom. For consumers who choose to use referral or placement agencies to search for assisted living communities, knowing how and how much referral and placement agencies are paid is important.

Consumers want to choose the best assisted living community for a loved one – NOT the assisted living community that writes the biggest check to the referral or placement agency. Payments to referral agencies range from 1-2 times the monthly rent, which can be a payment ranging from $3,000 – 10,000.

While assisted living communities contract with referral and placement companies, many feel that the process is faulty. Referral and placement agencies believe in "first touched is first paid." This means that if the initial contact with a consumer came as the result of visiting a referral website that community collects the fee no matter how long into the future a move occurs.

For example, Community A calls a family. The family does nothing. Eventually, the family hires an independent company to assist them and later chooses Community A. The referral agency wants their fee because the consumer did not "fire" the referral agency in writing – even though the consumer did not realize that they hired the referral agency simply by visiting the website.  

Consumers fail to realize that when they agree to use some of these sites, they create an implied agreement to use the services of the referral agency. Their information may be provided to communities in the area for contact. The phone starts ringing and the family member is shocked and upset.   

Legislation requiring that referral and placement agencies disclose their policies has passed in four states, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Legislation is under consideration in other states.  Corky Kyle, the lobbyist, of The Kyle Group, joins The Caring Generation to share the background of this legislation.

Consumers are shocked to know that many representatives have little or no knowledge of the communities that they recommend. Additionally, communities that do not contract with the referral and placement agencies are rarely recommended but may be the perfect fit for an elderly parent or a spouse. 

According to Wilson, "consumers hear the word free and they fail to ask logical questions." The questions that should be asked include: how and how much are you paid, who do you represent me as the client or the assisted living community, and have you visited and confirmed that the care community you are recommending is a long-term match for my loved one?

The answers to these questions may make consumers realize that free isn't really free. Especially when a loved one moves into a community and is asked to leave because the community is not a good match for the needs of the elderly parent. This and other timely and important subjects are shared on The Caring Generation each week.

Joining The Caring Generation® radio program is a way everyone to become comfortable talking and laughing about aging, health, caregiving, and everything in between. There are many things to learn about life and being a caregiver.  Pamela's approach to caregiving is authentic and light-hearted. She believes that serious subjects benefit from humor and laughter. 

Make plans to join Pamela D. Wilson, caregiving expert and the host of The Caring Generation® radio at 6 p.m. Pacific, 7 p.m. Mountain, 8 p.m. Central, and 9 p.m. Eastern.  Replays of the weekly programs are available in podcast format with transcripts on Pamela's website.  More information about online support and online courses for caregivers is available on Pamela's website.

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