What does a senior living advisor do, and not do?
An advisor helps a family narrow licensed options to a short list that fits the care level, location and budget, sets up tours and explains the paperwork; an advisor does not assess medical needs, give legal or financial advice, or guarantee a home's quality.
| Does | Doesn't | |
|---|---|---|
| Options | Matches licensed homes to needs, budget and area | Hide homes that do not pay referral fees from you |
| Records | Walks you through LARA reports and Care Compare | Vouch for a home beyond its record |
| Money | Explains MI Choice, PACE, Medicaid and VA basics | Give legal, tax or Medicaid-planning advice |
| Cost to you | Free to families | Charge the family anything |
How are senior living advisors paid?
Most, including us, are paid a referral fee by the community when a referred family moves in. That keeps the service free to families, and it is a conflict of interest worth naming.
We publish every licensed home in the region whether or not it pays referral fees, and we show its state record. More: how we are paid.
When is it better to search on your own?
When you already know the care level, the town and the budget, and you have time to read records and tour. The directory on this site is free to use without ever talking to us.
Advisors earn their keep in a hurry -- a hospital discharge on a Friday -- or when the care need is hard to place, such as dementia with behaviors, or a tight budget that rules out most homes.
What should you ask any advisor before you start?
Ask how they are paid, which homes they do not work with, whether they have visited the homes they recommend, and whether they will share the state inspection record for each one.
A good advisor will answer all four without hesitation.
What should you have ready before talking to an advisor?
The care needs in plain words (what help, how often, day or night), any diagnoses including memory loss, the monthly budget and payment sources, the towns that work for visiting, and the move-in timeline.
If a hospital is involved, have the case manager's name and the discharge date. With that, a useful short list takes a day, not a week.
Does using an advisor cost the family anything?
No. Advisors paid by communities charge families nothing; if anyone asks you for a fee to find a home, ask exactly what it covers.
