Navigating options for elder parent care is daunting. Cost factors, financial implications, and specialized needs are all things I knew nothing about but had to grasp so I could find safe care and housing solutions for my mother suffering from dementia. After continuing deterioration resulted in my mom being hospitalized, we had to face the difficult reality that my dad could no longer care for my mom by himself. Kayla, our social worker from Kindred at Home, referred us to Derek Esses - and we could not have asked for a better partner to help find a home that met all our needs.
During our initial meeting Derek patiently listened to all the elements that were important to us: a location that was close to my sister's home since that's the neighborhood my dad wanted to live in / care-givers who spoke our native language since my mom would toggle between that and English / a home that cooked food from our culture since mom seemed to be more interested in eating foods that were familiar to her / etc. He asked additional questions (are pets in the house ok ... what about children ... live-in care vs. shift-scheduled care ... etc.) to effectively match our needs with the available options that fell in our price range. Within two weeks, we had three options to discuss. My family and I visited two of the homes, met with the owners and staff, discussed cost factors ... and ... within approximately 6wks from the start of my engagement with Derek, my mom was moved and settled into her new home.
Close to six months later, Derek Esses still checks in to see how my mom and our family are doing. I consider him our "local expert" for elder care options and services related to ensuring my folks live their best lives into their golden years. I've reached out with a variety of questions and recently asked if he might help connect relatives in CA with similar resources/services as they are also working through this process with our senior family members. He listens ... is always helpful ... super efficient ... truly empathetic ... and committed to providing exceptional service to his clients and partners. Derek made an emotional and difficult process very manageable for me and my family -- we are so grateful for his kindness, help, and expertise! read more