Choosing Assisted Living? Here's What Agencies May Not Be Telling You
- Tim Jones
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
Updated: 13 hours ago
Imagine you’re struggling to find an assisted living facility for your loved one. So, you turn to a specialist - a senior placement agency - trusting that they will provide expert guidance throughout one of life’s most challenging transitions.
Beautiful promises are made one after another. They claim they’ll find you the perfect place, with a dedicated staff and reasonable pricing...
But how many of those promises will actually come true?
The Promise vs The Reality
As soon as the paperwork is signed, the "expert" - the person who was supposed to guide you - vanishes. You’re left alone to deal with problems you thought had already been solved.
The place you entrusted with your loved one’s care gradually deteriorates. The staff is indifferent, the rooms are dusty, and they even forget to give your loved one their medication?!
That is the harsh reality unfolding in this industry - a place where people are willing to trade others’ trust and safety for cold, hard cash.
Stories like this are far more common than you think. And it’s a painful lesson that most families only learn after going through it atleast once…
The Problem No One Talks About
Here’s something most families don’t know: placement agencies usually get paid by the care facilities, not by you.
This business model prioritizes profit over people.
That means if one community offers a higher commission than another, the "recommendation" you receive may not be based on what’s best for your parent - but rather on who pays the most.
After all the broken promises from agencies and the harsh reality of rundown communities and rude staff, you’re left feeling drained - both physically and mentally.
And that might just be the beginning…
The Real Cost of a Poor Choice
Making the wrong assisted living decision for your loved one isn’t just emotionally draining – it can be extremely expensive.
Families can lose $5,000 or more on:
Non-refundable community deposits
Unrecoverable additional expenses
Costs of moving your loved one from one facility to another
And many other hidden fees…
That’s why I created this free guide to help families:
>> Download “5 Ways Families Can Lose $5,000 When Choosing Senior Living”
It shows you how to avoid the most common (and costly) mistakes before you sign the deal.
What Families Should Do
If you’re looking for an assisted living facility, don’t just depend on agencies or polished brochures. They don’t always show the full picture.
Here’s what you can do instead:
Understand your budget
Check staff qualifications
Visit more than once - drop in unannounced if possible
Read reviews or talk to other families
In fact, many families are getting better outcomes by bypassing placement agencies and speaking directly with local assisted living communities, which leads to more honest conversations.
The Bottom Line
Not all placement agencies are bad. Some genuinely care about your feelings and the safety of your loved ones.
But stories like the one above serve as a wake-up call for families.
At the end of the day, your parent doesn’t need a “living arrangement.”
They need a home - a place where they are respected, safe, and treated with dignity.
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