Anyone with Senior living shops experience?
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The report is never ending and not worth the fee.
"I told myself to quit you; but I don't listen to drunks." -Chris Stapleton
Honny, that depends on the MSC/client.
I have done a ton that paid very well for my time and effort.
I have done a ton that paid very well for my time and effort.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I would not do a senior living center for under $70. They are tedious, take lots of time, and the editors are crucial.
Guess it depends on the MSC. I only did one shop, and it was easy money. Very straight-forward guidelines and report. The guidelines said to get pictures, but I was not able to do so because residents were present. The nursing home director said I could come back the next day to get the pictures, which was fine with me, but the MSC said, "No need to go back. You asked to take pictures, and your request was denied. That's all you need to do. You're done." Easy. I don't remember what the report was like, so that's pretty telling in itself.
I don't mind them, and think they are interesting...some companies pay more than others, but are easier than most dealerships. You do get phone calls after, but they stop after a couple times. I'd do one and see if you like them.
Live consciously....
I did not find them tedious and they pay very well in my experience. Just have the scenario down and rehearsed so you come across as believable. A welcome respite from seeing if Susie had her name tag on and did she upsell you on the pretzel you just ordered.
I found my sister an Assisted living home from the one I did. I learned a lot and yes, much more challenging and interesting than the usual name tag, thank you, made eye contact and so on.....
Live consciously....
If you're getting something more than money out of them, go for it. For me, the time invested in the tour and chat plus the long report make them not worth it. I did take one not too long ago, but it was someone else's dropped shop and I charged accordingly.
"Let me offer you my definition of social justice: I keep what I earn and you keep what you earn. Do you disagree? Well then tell me how much of what I earn belongs to you - and why?” ~Walter Williams
First, I do not take these for less than $80. Next, the video ones tend to pay more than that. Third, I always use an alternative real phone number and real email addy for follow-ups, so that I can shop more places run by the same client without being detected. (And to avoid answering their calls.) Finally, I will not do them for the MSC that has such nasty editors.
I enjoy the complex scenarios for these. (My name and back story, plus the name and back story of the "loved one.") In addition, when they include a tour of the memory unit, I never cease to be impressed by the dedication of the staff that I observe there AND of the new ways of using design, decor and special display areas to enhance and prolong comforting memories and navigation skills. I have learned a lot from those tours.
I enjoy the complex scenarios for these. (My name and back story, plus the name and back story of the "loved one.") In addition, when they include a tour of the memory unit, I never cease to be impressed by the dedication of the staff that I observe there AND of the new ways of using design, decor and special display areas to enhance and prolong comforting memories and navigation skills. I have learned a lot from those tours.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Thank you. Just curious, have any of you encountered any trouble with recording them secretly or uploading the huge audio file?
I have senior living shops in NY that pay $190-$380 each. If you are in the area and interested, let me know! Thanks!
emilyr@ctcss.com
emilyr@ctcss.com
jainsuchi, a body mount camera is virtually undetectable. MSCs specializing in video have methods in place to make the upload faster and easier. Occasionally it does require us to be creative so I have a back up method for sending video when the one provided by the MSC doesn't want to cooperate.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
The one I've done require you use your real #,as they want to see if you get a follow up call. I'm not one for phoney numbers anyway, I can handle a call.
Live consciously....
The alternate phone numbers used by wales and a lot of video shoppers are real numbers, through Google voice or another provider. Having multiple numbers and/or email addresses is the only way to do a route with many of the same client's locations if follow up is required.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Emily,
I have sent you a PM.
I have sent you a PM.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Irene,
I always tell the MSC that I have real phone numbers, with my own voice on the outgoing voicemail. Those numbers email me the recorded message and I just forward that email to the editors. The MSCs love this. With such industry consolidation in the senior living industry, it essential that a different alias and phone number and email address be provided for each shop because the management company (that's the client in this case) has linked the data bases of all of their facilities. Worse yet, when client A buys out all of client B's facilities, they often KEEP the logo and name on all of the B facilities, but merge the prospective customer data bases. So, I (and you) are not safe assuming that the same phone number can be used for follow-up for and 2 facilities just because they APPEAR to be separate corporate entities. (It's a little like Chevy and Cadillac keeping their names but they are both owned by GM. But in the case of the senior living facilities, that relationship is not well known.)
BTW, I will be doing a workshop at the LV IMSC conference on managing aliases and follow-up phone and email contacts info effectively.
I always tell the MSC that I have real phone numbers, with my own voice on the outgoing voicemail. Those numbers email me the recorded message and I just forward that email to the editors. The MSCs love this. With such industry consolidation in the senior living industry, it essential that a different alias and phone number and email address be provided for each shop because the management company (that's the client in this case) has linked the data bases of all of their facilities. Worse yet, when client A buys out all of client B's facilities, they often KEEP the logo and name on all of the B facilities, but merge the prospective customer data bases. So, I (and you) are not safe assuming that the same phone number can be used for follow-up for and 2 facilities just because they APPEAR to be separate corporate entities. (It's a little like Chevy and Cadillac keeping their names but they are both owned by GM. But in the case of the senior living facilities, that relationship is not well known.)
BTW, I will be doing a workshop at the LV IMSC conference on managing aliases and follow-up phone and email contacts info effectively.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I wish I could weasel into one of these conferences. I've slacked way back in my shopping to cut stress and work on the marriage sitchiation -- which is going great 
although the bonus money lately looks good and I've been able to grab shops just in 90 minutes before and 90 minutes after my regular work days.
It appears we're about to head out of state for 2-3 weeks and possibly consider moving closer to my original home with all the chaos family wise so I'm unsure what the shop crop will be like once we get there. It'd be a 2.5 to 3 hour move away. From browsing the shop boards, there is definitely stuff to get into but it's kinda like where I am now with narrow selections. Hope there's bonus room and I can still use my ties to get $$$
I'm taking a single intro grad course this semester online. Very basic, online live class. Low stress.
$$$$$ I bet I could figure out how to make more $200, 4 hour days happen if I attended one of these, though. Never know it all.
although the bonus money lately looks good and I've been able to grab shops just in 90 minutes before and 90 minutes after my regular work days.
It appears we're about to head out of state for 2-3 weeks and possibly consider moving closer to my original home with all the chaos family wise so I'm unsure what the shop crop will be like once we get there. It'd be a 2.5 to 3 hour move away. From browsing the shop boards, there is definitely stuff to get into but it's kinda like where I am now with narrow selections. Hope there's bonus room and I can still use my ties to get $$$
I'm taking a single intro grad course this semester online. Very basic, online live class. Low stress.
$$$$$ I bet I could figure out how to make more $200, 4 hour days happen if I attended one of these, though. Never know it all.
MegglesKat
I am very good at them, as I had to go through the process in real life for my mother. I had one associate offer me tips on what I could negociate with the agent. I like them. They pay a higher fee and I usually get a bunch of free stuff. One chain that I shop always gives me baked goods from their resident's cook book.
Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
Richard Feynman-- letter to Ashok Arora, 4 January 1967, published in Perfectly Reasonable Deviations from the Beaten Track (2005) p. 230
I have done one written one and a few video assisted living shops. The reports were tedious and long either way. I would not do another written on, and I would consider a video only if the pay were at least $100. If you are going to do one, don't take the scenario preparation lightly. Prepare as if you were preparing for a role in a movie, because you really have to get into it and lose yourself in the performance.
AZ is right on about the scenario preparation. You need a back story for yourself (and alias) and a back story and alias for your "loved one" AND to convince the SA that YOU are the decision maker. If you are a ham this is the acting job for you!
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I've done so many phone shops (both for Assisted Living and Memory Care) that for a while I almost believed I had a mother who needed more care than I could give and a no-good brother who could care less about what happened to her. (I have neither) However, for follow up calls, the brother ALWAYS surprised me and offered to take Mom in, so no need of their services at this time :-)
Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt
Mountaincatcher,
IMSC has a "No Shopper Left Behind" program that helps shoppers who would not otherwise be able to afford the conference to attend at least one day. For more information, email
info@imsc.com
I do not have any details on which costs that program might cover. I just know that i have met shoppers who were at the conferences because of that program and who really benefited in terms of ramping up their MS income by working more efficiently and gaining better paying shops. I think that forum member CureMS is going to be repeating her workshop on moving from burgers to fine dining (and beyond) at LV. I attended that last year and it was awesome! The newer shoppers were positively thrilled. She is a true believer in paying it forward.
IMSC has a "No Shopper Left Behind" program that helps shoppers who would not otherwise be able to afford the conference to attend at least one day. For more information, email
info@imsc.com
I do not have any details on which costs that program might cover. I just know that i have met shoppers who were at the conferences because of that program and who really benefited in terms of ramping up their MS income by working more efficiently and gaining better paying shops. I think that forum member CureMS is going to be repeating her workshop on moving from burgers to fine dining (and beyond) at LV. I attended that last year and it was awesome! The newer shoppers were positively thrilled. She is a true believer in paying it forward.
Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel
Poor customer service? Don't get mad; get video.
I use my sister as the person who needs assisted living in the future. She is hard of hearing and can not do this or answer a phone herself. Works for me! I state that after I get the information I would bring her in for a visit.
I'm not talking video, which most of us don't do.....@LisaSTL wrote:
The alternate phone numbers used by wales and a lot of video shoppers are real numbers, through Google voice or another provider. Having multiple numbers and/or email addresses is the only way to do a route with many of the same client's locations if follow up is required.
Live consciously....
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