When senior citizens and their families are faced with selecting a retirement or assisted-living community, it’s a life-changing decision. There are so many different facilities and options available these days, so it can become overwhelming for even the most savvy and prepared individual. Having some guidance to find the right place is crucial, but most people are unaware of this type of service or believe it to be too much of an additional expense. One local company, however, is here to help people navigate the senior care industry — all at no cost!
Leslie Jackson, owner of Assisted Living Locators of Charleston, explained that her company helps families navigate through the process by educating and being their advocate. “We’re here so people don’t have to stumble around, trying to figure out what community would be the best fit for their loved one,” she explained. “I see a lot of people who look like the proverbial ‘deer in the headlights’ when they realize they need to do something quickly. There are many things to consider when finding the right place.”
A practitioner by trade, Jackson did patient care for years and saw too many people not having the help they need. “Not everyone understands the medical industry or knows the terminology,” she said. “And when dealing with the emotion of a family member who suddenly needs help and quick decisions have to be made, it can be overwhelming for the family to face alone.”
Assisted Living Locators of Charleston doesn’t represent one specific senior-care facility but is paid a referral fee when they match a client to the best location.
“Being the liaison between the family and a potential assisted-living community allows me to find the right place for each person,” Jackson said. “People have different needs, and no one place is the right fit for everyone.”
Living in Charleston, Jackson has extensive knowledge of what’s available in the Lowcountry and has spent time vetting each one. “Living and working here has allowed me to get to know the different communities, tour them and know what’s offered. Our model is to work with all of them and be able to send people to the location that best fits their needs.”
She works with all people, no matter their funding as well. She has partnerships with communities that have long-standing reputations and elite-level amenities for their residents. She also works with financially less-fortunate clients to help them discover their very best options. Because Jackson is part of a franchise system and national network, she can help families throughout the nation navigate the assisted-living space regardless of the final destination.
“It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to help a family truly understand what’s going on,” she said. “When people come to me saying thank you and that they couldn’t have done it without me, there’s no feeling like that in the world. It honestly is a blessing.”
For more information, please visit www.Charleston.AssistedLivingLocators.com.
By Diane Pauldine
