Good Neighbor Podcast: Bergen
Bringing together local businesses and neighbors of Bergen County
Good Neighbor Podcast: Bergen
Ep. # 85 Navigating Senior Care Options with Expert Connie Deveaux
Unlocking the complex world of senior living just got easier in this episode featuring Connie Deveaux, an expert from Assisted Living Advisers. With 16 years of experience helping families navigate the challenges of finding appropriate care options for their loved ones, Connie brings a wealth of knowledge and empathy to the table. The growing senior population in areas like Bergen County has heightened the need for accessible, informative resources, and that is precisely what Connie provides.
Throughout the episode, we delve into Connie's personal journey that fueled her passion for working in senior care. From early bonds with her grandparents to professional experiences in the assisted living field, she shares how these influences guide her advocacy for seniors. Listeners will learn the importance of planning for the future, especially since many families only explore assisted living solutions when faced with a crisis.
Connie discusses how her approach differs from other services available in the market. Instead of merely providing lists of communities to consider, she partners directly with families, offering personalized guidance through every stage of the search process. This collaborative effort ensures that families don’t feel overwhelmed and are well-informed about various options suited to their loved ones’ needs.
Addressing the financial implications of senior living, Connie provides insights into important topics like Medicaid qualifications and the importance of pre-planning. She empowers families by equipping them with relevant knowledge, making the search for senior care more manageable. With her services offered at no cost to families, Connie exemplifies how genuine support can create positive community impacts.
Join us as we navigate the complexities of senior living and learn how to equip ourselves with the tools and resources needed to make thoughtful decisions for our aging loved ones. Don’t miss out on this essential conversation—be sure to subscribe, share, and leave a review!
Assisted Living Advisers
Connie Deveaux
813-541-8584
connie@assistedlivingadvisers.com
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Doug Drahan.
Speaker 2:Everybody, welcome to another episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast from Bergen County, brought to you by the Bergen Neighbors Media Group. I am Doug Drahan and today I am thrilled to be joined by Connie ssisted Living Advisers, of the Assisted Living Advisers. Connie, welcome to the show. Well, thank you so much, doug, I'm so happy to be here. Connie Deveaux of the Assisted Living Advisors, connie, welcome to the show.
Speaker 3:Well, thank you so much, Doug. I'm so happy to be here. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 2:No, absolutely, and it's great to meet people of all different backgrounds and different businesses. I just met well, I just had an episode, just a few minutes before, with someone that you and I know. Her name's Linda and she owns the North Jersey Home Maintenance Group and she does a lot of senior living in place work and it's just interesting. I'm always digging into the why our higher why. Why do you do what you do? Why do you love what you do? So, with that in mind, tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, where were you born?
Speaker 3:No, I don't care where you're born. I'm a New Jersey and through and through so born and raised in New Jersey.
Speaker 2:All right and proud of it.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:Very good, because New Jersey gets a lot of flack. I'm a New Yorker, I'll always be a New Yorker, even though it's Long Island, and people from Jersey make fun of Long Island, and vice versa. But anyway so assistant living advisors like have you always been in the senior? Like living senior care space?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I'll tell you a little bit about you know about myself. So I have been in the senior living industry for over 15 years, 16 plus years now. And I'll tell you, although I am born and raised in New Jersey, I started my career in this industry in Florida. So which is you know, everybody knows everybody goes to Florida to retire and you know the sun and great. So it was a great segue into this industry for me from real estate. So I am a licensed realtor here in New Jersey.
Speaker 3:I was in Florida at the time that I transitioned into this field, 16 years ago, 16 years ago. And I chose to go into this field because from a young child, I've always had, like, great relationships and connections, for whatever reason, with older people. So you know whether you know they were, you know teenagers at the time. Right, I'm a little kid, but I just had an affinity for seniors, more mature people. I grew up with my grandmother primarily One of you know whether it was on my dad's side or my mom's mom primarily, is who raised me, and so I loved being around her. I really loved all of the insight and wisdom that you know she gave me and I went to work with her, you know, in her second job and everything. So I really enjoyed being around her and so I just, I think, gravitated towards seniors and wanting to help them. I started in the industry, though, as I said, segwaying from real estate in Florida. The market was turning back in 2008-ish or so I'm sorry.
Speaker 3:around 2010 is when I 11 is when I got into senior living. The market had changed in terms of real estate and so I needed something a little bit more stable for myself and my children. I had recently gotten divorced and so forth, and so it was a great opportunity for me. I said, well, this is great, I love being around seniors and older people, I love all of the experience and their wisdom, and for me, it was about just being able to help people.
Speaker 3:I've always loved being able to help and being a resource and just providing education and so forth, on whatever it was right, whether it was real estate or the senior living industry. And so, yeah, I started in Florida and then I made my way back to New Jersey to help take care of my parents, who are both ailing back in 2013. And really became an advocate for my mom, who ended up in a nursing home by this time. I think I had been in the industry maybe about four years by then and was really able to help her with some things, including New Jersey Medicaid, which is always a big thing for people.
Speaker 3:But um yeah, just you know being able to help provide resources. You know finding all of that stuff out for my parents um you know was important and then being able to you know, I guess you know translate that or transfer that over to clients.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I mean, we know in our area in Bergen County, the senior living or senior care industry is huge, because the amount of people that are seniors in Bergen County there's a million people in Bergen County and I think by 2030, there's going to be like 30% of the population are going to be seniors. So there's a lot of choices there. Mm-hmm, the kids you know the 40, 50-year-old kids or whatever helping them make those choices, maybe they've decided, you know, I don't want to live at home anymore. Spouse died. You know where's grandma, where's mom going to go? How do you like me as a child of? You know, a 90-year-old parent? Like, how do I do? I just go and knock on doors of Allegro and Brookdale and Sunrise and like or is that where you come in?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so that's such a great question, Doug, because that's actually the question that adult children do have. They have no idea how to go about finding, you know, a place for their loved one when things get, you know, too complicated at home. And most times, what I find is that you know adult children are looking into a solution when there's a crisis, and so you know, obviously that's kind of a little bit too late, but you know that's generally what we see, Right, so, um. So to answer your question, that is where I come in, right At that time.
Speaker 3:Um, what I do is I partner with various professionals in the industry to be able to provide resources and support for clients. Um, you know, that way, that's one of the services, um, that I provide. Um, but then directly one-to-one. I work with clients and families on a one-to-one basis to provide education, to provide resources directly and to go with them hand-in-hand as an advocate, as a support for them, when they are looking into assisted living options or memory care options, even home care, I do. I may be able to provide information and resources where that's concerned, because maybe some people aren't ready for assisted living for whatever reason, so I can provide, you know, different options and solutions for them.
Speaker 2:So it's kind of like, in some ways, you know when you hire a realtor, hopefully they know the area, they're familiar with the schools, they're familiar with the commute when we cared about commute.
Speaker 3:That's right.
Speaker 2:So for you in that way, it's like, okay, you're familiar with some of these, some of these communities, you know what they offer. You kind of get a lay of the land, I guess, of the family, of what their legs, what their lifestyle is like and because I'd imagine not every community is the same- that's right. There's a price difference, but then there's also like lifestyle, lifestyle, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so generally, yeah, that's what I do and I do want to say I mean, the service that I provide is completely free to all of my clients, so there's no charge from my client. Yeah, it's 100 percent free to them.
Speaker 2:So what's the catch man? You can't get nothing for something, or something for nothing. Yeah, you know there is no catch.
Speaker 3:Yeah, no, there's no catch whatsoever. Yeah, no, there's no catch whatsoever. You know, this is about being able to provide resources for people who, who don't even know that you know how to go about assisted living we are. You know, there is a company that is a nationwide company that provides information on various senior living solutions. Right, but how I differ is that I work directly with the family, one-on-one. They're actually going to see my face, I'm going to go with them to these various communities and, as you said, it's like a realtor. Right, I am very familiar with the area. So my actual title with Assisted Living Advisors is New Jersey Regional Sales Director, and I have that role because I have a vast knowledge and experience all over the state of New Jersey. So when I moved back to New Jersey, I was situated in the Burlington and Camden County areas, where I worked for seven years in the capacity of a sales director, sales counselor, in the community. Right, I worked for a specific company in their community.
Speaker 3:I relocated to Bergen County back in 2020 and as a regional sales director for a different assisted living company, director for a different assisted living company, and so I've worked in different capacities.
Speaker 3:But you've also been behind the curtains, so you know which ones might be a little bit more dysfunctional or poorly run versus others, and that's the experience that I have, so I'm able to really give a firsthand account to my clients as to what really goes on in the communities. I've worked in communities, or, you know, on one side for, like I said, over 15 years.
Speaker 3:So, yes, I'm able to give that firsthand experience, that knowledge. So you know, clients are able to, I think, have a little bit more trust in me than you know. The nation, the national referral agency.
Speaker 2:Yeah, let's talk about your competition I can say that so I am going to Google, let's see. I need help finding. I'm not going to say finding a place for mom, because we know that's a company.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:I'm not going to say finding a place for mom, because we know that's a company Right Finding a senior living community. Mm-hmm, I spelled that wrong?
Speaker 1:It doesn't matter.
Speaker 2:Okay, so what comes up is a place for mom, yeah, and senioradvisorcom and seniorlivingcom, and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, right, so kind of put my guests on the spot. But um why? What is different about assistant living advisors?
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know what do you guys provide, that may you know that the others may not provide that the others may not provide.
Speaker 3:So, as you said, that first result that you got up there was a place for mom, and so the way that we are different than a place for mom, as I mentioned, a place for mom is a national organization and, coincidentally, I do have experience working with them as well. So I got to yeah, so I got to be able to do that when I had my youngest daughter and I was looking to just be able to stay at home with her. That was an option for me and it was a. It was a great opportunity for me to be able to see how the company is run and how it works and how those advisors work.
Speaker 3:So the advisors never meet the families in person. So I am meeting my families in person, one-to-one, where I go with the family or the client to the visits or tours at the communities. That's not going to happen with your A Place for Mom advisor. You're really left on your own. They'll give you a long list of places to look at, to visit. They themselves actually never even have visited those communities, so they have no real firsthand knowledge or experience either.
Speaker 3:So, they're just basically doing what you can do on your own pulling up each community and looking at it Right. So, again, my experience, my firsthand knowledge of working in the community and I will be going with my clients to these appointments to act as an advocate and a support really differentiates what I do from the other advisors.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think you also touched on the fact that you've worked on the other side with a lot of these different communities, so you know I can really tell you like you know I can you know people?
Speaker 3:you know some of the questions. You know everybody is wanting to know that they may not get a truthful answer when they go to the communities are like well, you know well what happens when my money runs out or when my parents money runs out, and you know what happens. You know, if I have a question, what happens if my mom comes down late for a meal? Like is she going to eat? Like, like, those kinds of things are really important and what really are the activities like? Like, is it just really bingo or what's?
Speaker 1:really going on, right so.
Speaker 3:I'm able to really answer those questions truthfully for them. I know really what each community is able to offer in terms of we call it acuity, but it's really like care level, right. So, and you know, oftentimes you know families will go into assisted living communities and and they're not going to tell you, well, once your parent reaches this level of acuity or care need, they won't be able to live here, right, so I'm able to and adult, you know, my clients don't know to ask that right off the bat, right, they really some of them, don't know. So that's why I'm there.
Speaker 2:Okay, so let me ask you this question so what if I saved a million dollars and I'm paying $10,000 a month and you know I'd say it's a million? Let's say I got $300,000. What happens when I run out of money and I'm still living there.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's such a great question yeah great question.
Speaker 3:Well, fortunately for a lot of for seniors. You know eviction is not a very easy process once you're in an assisted living community. So it you know it's not an easy process, if ever it gets done. But in that when families do ask me that question, there are a couple of things right. I can give them a bit of education on how the Medicaid process works right If they would be a candidate for that and to qualify for Medicaid in New Jersey. It's a two part thing. It's not just financially needy or financially accepted. You have to have I'm sorry, medically needy. You have to meet the financial needs and you have to be medically needy. So in that regard it can't be somebody who is, you know, super independent, right who doesn't need any help with your activities of daily living.
Speaker 3:You have to meet those needs, but first I would certainly recommend that my clients talk with an elder law attorney or somebody who assists with Medicaid planning or estate planning. I'm a high advocate of educating yourselves and getting that knowledge right.
Speaker 1:And so pre-planning.
Speaker 3:I think all of us, I don't think that we do a good enough job with planning for this phase of our lives. Right Once we've reached there, then it's like okay, what do I do now? I think we you know we've got all the information on putting money away in our 401k and how much do we need for retirement, right, but what retirement looks like has changed over the years.
Speaker 3:And certainly the financial resources needed has changed as well, and so, in that regard, I like to be able to educate my clients and, like I said, provide resources to the various professional partners that I work with, including elder law attorneys, estate planners and different things like that.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I'll put you on the spot again. So obviously you know it's no cost to me. So I guess you guys get like a referral fee from the community homes. But are you being influenced? Is one paying more than the other and saying, hey, listen, man, you placed five families this month. I'm going to give you a Mercedes, a little bonus. I'll send you on a trip to Aruba. I'm hoping I'm not saying I'm sure, but I'm hoping there's some industry standards and laws and regulations, like there are now in the pharmaceutical industry. So what are you being influenced? And listen, what are you going to say on a public podcast?
Speaker 3:A public forum right, what would I?
Speaker 2:say I'm just giving you the mindset of you know what have I? You know yeah.
Speaker 3:How could?
Speaker 2:this be free. How could this be free to me? Like what's she getting at? Yeah.
Speaker 3:Well, so a couple of things. So we do, the company does get a referral fee from the community, right?
Speaker 3:So we have contracts with almost all of the senior living communities that are private pay right. So if it's a, you know, a Medicaid or government funded community, we are not paid from those individuals nursing homes and so forth as well, so we do get paid by them. The contracts vary and so the owner of my company negotiates that contract directly with, you know, with that particular company, and you know that can vary based on the relationship with the company and based on the company's willingness, I would say, to partner with us and if they understand the benefit of our services to them, then perhaps you know they will pay a little bit more so, but that's certainly, you know, company based, but I would say industry wide.
Speaker 2:You know the percentage that most communities are offering to referral agencies like ours is pretty standard, yeah, and you know you're using your client feedback and your knowledge to place somebody in the best place for them, Not not what that's right, that's right.
Speaker 3:So we do, I do a discovery. I like to have a conversation with my clients. I, you know, ask, you know, really it's. It's so much more than, like you said, you know well, what are your care needs? What are they needing? Right, I want to find out. What is their typical day like? What's their lifestyle? What are they looking for in a community? What do they want to get out of this?
Speaker 3:next experience or next phase of their life. Right, and so I am. And also, what are the finances? Right, because I would be doing any of my clients a disservice if you know they're saying you know we really only have X amount in the budget and I'm showing them, you know, taj Mahal, right. So that's. I'm not going to win any points from them, right?
Speaker 3:So if they're not, able to stay there for you know a good amount of time. So, but you know some people. I have had clients who've said you know what? I have X amount set aside. Show me the best of the best. I'll pay for it, and once it's done then it's done.
Speaker 2:I'll figure it out afterwards. Some of these places are pretty swanky man. They're like college campuses.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Four-star hotels and they're like oh man, it's like that Seinfeld episode. I don't know if you're a Seinfeld fan, but when George has to buy a wheelchair because his dad does his volunteer work and he has to go buy it, the guy shows him his wheelchair and says this wheelchair is so nice. It's almost like you want to be handicapped. Sometimes I go to these senior living communities and it's like wow.
Speaker 3:They're pretty amazing.
Speaker 2:Maybe I want to be 80 years old and move here, because it's pretty nice and the food looks good and you know movie theaters and you know whatever.
Speaker 3:So and there's something for everyone, right? There's something really, to be quite honest, at every price point or budget, should I say and there's something for everyone in terms of your lifestyle. If you like something a bit more quiet, there are communities that are for that, if you like. You know all the bells and whistles. There's something for you, right? And obviously there's a cost associated with those things. So there's something for everybody. And, fortunately, I'm going to do all of the legwork for my clients, find out the best place for them, based on their needs and their wants, what they've shared with me.
Speaker 2:So yeah, and one last question. So if I call you and we want to go look at a few communities, I mean you can't do it all in one day, right? How much time should I budget to go visit and say I tell you I want my mom to be within 10 miles of me, so you know we don't want to go outside of driving 10 miles, or maybe it's 50 or maybe it's an hour. So what is it like going shopping for a car and I got to just do one a day or two a day, and then, you know, go the next week and we're like how does the process work? Like how?
Speaker 2:many how many places do we? Do you normally show someone?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I. I recommend no more than two If I'm going with adult children, but especially if you know mom or dad are coming along for the trip. I would even put that down to just one for the day, because it can be a very overwhelming experience just with all of the questions and the information, and I don't want my clients to one get overwhelmed, I don't want them to get the places confused because it's a lot of information. Oftentimes you know when people are going through this process, the reason why they give up and they just go wherever or they just settle with home care, even if it's not the best fit socially for their loved one, is because they're overwhelmed. They just are, you know, out of, you know gas or energy right to be able to do it which really brings me back to my point about education and pre-planning.
Speaker 3:You know I'm, again, a huge advocate on getting the education on this before a crisis happens, so my services obviously are available and they are free of charge. Even you know somebody who is just starting planning and just starting to look if it doesn't happen for a year. You know I still. You know there's no cost to you. But, I think it's important to have a plan in place and I'm you know I'm down to do that. I'm happy to help out with that.
Speaker 2:Nice. So how do people get in contact with you?
Speaker 3:Do we go to it? Nice? So how do people get in contact with you? Do we go to assistedlivingadvisorscom, which was also known as Call Eric? Eric Leopold is the owner of our company, but he's based in New York, which is why he hired me to handle New Jersey for him. But yes, so you can go to the website. We are revamping the website so you will see my face and some information on me there very shortly. My face and some information on me there very shortly. But in the meantime, you can also reach me directly at my phone number, my direct cell. I only have one phone, so my clients can always reach me, and that number is 813-541-8584. And you can also email me and my email is Connie C-O-N-N-I-E at assistedlivingadvisers. com, and that is advisers with an E. It's E-R-S, not O-R-S.
Speaker 2:Got it Dot com. All right, connie, this is amazing, and you know, I Googled beauty of AI senior living advisor and this is what came up. A senior living advisor is a professional who helps families find the best senior living community for their loved one by assessing their needs, providing information about different options in their area, hey and guiding them through the decision-making process.
Speaker 3:Hey absolutely.
Speaker 2:And then it goes on to say, connie DeVoe, no, just kidding, this is. You know, it's a valuable, valuable resource.
Speaker 3:I know what you're saying about planning ahead. Unfortunately, most of us.
Speaker 2:Don't deal with it until we have to. Yeah, but the more we can get the word out, the better it is, and thank you so much for being on the show.
Speaker 3:Oh, it was my pleasure.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me, doug, thank you, yeah you, and I'll be right back.
Speaker 3:All right, thanks so much.
Speaker 1:All right. Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpbergen. com. That's gnpbergen. com, or call 201-298-8325.