Whether considering assisted living facilities, retirement homes, senior living communities or Alzheimer’s care centers, Options for Senior Living is a valuable source to start exploring alternatives.

Senior Options is a placement referral agency that “advocates, navigates and educates” clients in choosing assisted living options.

Scott Fischer, a nurse by profession, founded Senior Options. He has 30 years of healthcare experience in the Phoenix metro area.

Lanie Martin, a new member of the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce, became a local representative for Senior Options five months ago after her family experienced an unsatisfactory situation involving her late father, Marty Goodwin.

Previously she was involved in the mortgage industry for 33 years. She said she brings the same set of customer service skills applicable to clients shopping for a mortgage as those looking for assisted living options.

Her family consulted a placement agency similar to Senior Options to find a health care facility for Goodwin.

“I felt that I needed to honor him,” said Martin. Her father was admitted to an assisted living complex where he should not have been placed.

“What I know now, I wish I could go back and correct the situation,” Martin said. “What that person did is the difference between night and day from what I would do now.”

Assisted living may be the right solution when the following signs are observed:

*Unsteady on feet or having falls.

*Increased memory difficulties and decision-making.

*Stress and fatigue for the current primary caregiver.

*Unable to manage household responsibilities.

“When a client comes to us, we vent out places,” Martin explained. “We’re not going to put the individual into a place where we would not put our own family members.”

There is no cost for Senior Options’ services to an individual or family.

“Wherever the individual is placed, the group home or facility pays us,” said Martin. “They (the family or individual) are not charged any differently if they walk in off the street or use the senior options service.”

She compared the situation to a real estate sale where the seller pays the Realtor, not the buyer of the property.

Martin said she would conduct an extensive interview with a client about the medical situation, required care level, lifestyle and finances.

“At the end of the day, it’s their choice. We’re giving them options.”

Martin can be contacted at 480-200-4132. Her email is lanie@optionsfsl.com.