WHAT IS A SENIOR ADVOCATE?

By Janice Martin, Senior Advocate and
Owner of Senior Liaison of Central Florida Inc.

What is a Senior Advocate and how do they serve the community? A Senior Advocate ensures that each senior is treated fairly and honestly as an individual. They assist seniors in being their voice, finding a service or appropriate community, or avoiding exploitation. If your loved one is in a rehab, nursing home, or assisted living and you don’t feel they are receiving good care and you speak up for them, you are their advocate. Some may call themselves an advocate, but their actions speak otherwise. When the guidance of others is influenced by personal gain, they are not an advocate.

Before founding Senior Liaison of Central Florida, I worked as a Director of Sales in senior living communities. Families knew that if they had concerns about their loved one’s care or if they weren’t getting answers from other directors, they could count on me to be their advocate and keep the lines of communication open.

It was frustrating when a placement service referred a potential resident to the community where I worked, knowing their care needs could not be met. It was difficult to fight a corporation that insisted on “heads on beds” rather than seeing the person as an individual needing care and compassion. They expected me to admit as many residents as possible. The corporate and the placement service goal was purely financial gain. I was determined to be a true advocate with a different approach and resigned from community care.

Since I started Senior Liaison in 2021, my mission has always been to focus solely on the needs of those I serve. I am an advocate and educator on senior living options, and I also help with placement. I am heartbroken when I hear stories about how people are being misled by those who appear trustworthy. I have worked diligently to educate the public on all available options, either in their home or a senior community. Placement isn’t always the answer.

When a placement company refers someone to a community, we are paid a referral fee by the community when the client moves in. However, we must be the initial referral source, or we will not be compensated. As a result, too many merely submit a name before they have a chance to learn more about the client. They may misrepresent who they work for, making it appear they are a hospital or rehab employee. Others send personal information to every community – often without their knowledge or permission.

As a result, I am committed to taking action to serve with the greatest integrity. Senior Liaison is now a National Association of Senior Advocates (NASOA) member and abides by their “unwavering commitment to integrity, honesty, and client advocacy.” I have pledged to act in only the client’s best interest, be unbiased, offer all options available regardless of my financial gain, and be held to the highest standards possible. Before being accepted for membership, there must be a background check, consideration of online reviews, and no indication of a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

I am also a National Placement and Referral Alliance (NPRA) member and a Certified Placement and Referral Specialist. The Code of Ethics is similar to NASOA but also requires all members to observe local, state, and federal laws governing placement and referrals, including Medicare and Medicaid policies, and may not receive gifts to influence guidance.

Surprisingly, there are no Florida regulations overseeing placement services. Therefore, I have contacted our congressman and proposed legislation to ensure an honest process of giving and receiving referrals and to stop misleading vulnerable families. My proposal requires that all placement services…

… must fully disclose who they represent upon initial contact,

… must disclose how they receive compensation at initial contact,

… must ask if the individual is working with another placement service before obtaining any information,

… must receive permission to use personal information before giving it to a community. If a community does not receive any information other than a name, it shall not be considered a valid referral,

… must not have an exclusive relationship with one single community,

… must not influence a client’s decision on where they choose to move through manipulation or scare tactics,

… must only refer a client to the communities that meet the individual’s needs,

… that no hospital or physical rehabilitation company may have an exclusive relationship with only one placement service,

… And there may never be any compensation changing hands between the placement service and any member of the community other than the contracted compensation.

I am the only Certified Placement and Referral Specialist in Central Florida and the only local member of the NAOSA. If you are approached by someone to assist you with your search, I encourage you to discuss these key factors before proceeding.

For the last three years, it has been my honor to provide articles in this magazine educating readers about assisted living. This will be my final submission as I put more attention to finishing my next book, “The Essential Guide to Assisted Living: Expectation vs Reality.” Please visit my website or contact me by email to be notified when it’s available. I also welcome the opportunity to speak to local clubs, churches, and civic associations. I am always available to assist you in your search for placement or connect you with trusted companies to provide in-home service. Thank you for your readership and support!

Janice Martin is an advocate, author, educator, and specialist on senior living options and the owner of Senior Liaison of Central Florida Inc. She assists families in locating senior options and communities and has written “The Complete Guide to Assisted Living: Everything You Need to Know Before, During, and After a Move” available on Amazon.com. For more information or a schedule of upcoming events on how to have a successful transition to senior living, call 352-477-1866 or visit www.seniorliaisoncfl.com.

Senior Liaison of Central Florida

352-477-1866 | www.seniorliaisoncfl.com
seniorliaisoncfl@gmail.com