Senior Living shops

I've recently noticed several senior living shops in my area. I've never done one before. Any tips from a more experienced shopper?

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I just completed 2 of them. I liked them. They were recorded which was easy to do. I used my own mom as a source of reference. She is 77 and visually impaired so I just pretended I was looking for her and that way I did not have to "remember" my story.

I have done a couple dozen. Basing your "loved one'" story on someone that you know is definitely the way to go. That way, for can answer almost any question about the person's likes, dislikes, interests, food preferences, education/employment, hobbies, whether or not they would enjoy gardening/crafting/pub meals/trips to museums, etc, etc, etc. And, if you don't know the true answer, just say that you will check with them. There will be sooooo much that you can answer that it won't be strange if they ask a question that you don't know the answer to.

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.

I do have a friend that is almost 80 and expects she will be in assisted living eventually, so I can base everything on her. What kind of report is usually done? Is there a lot of writing? Would it be a good idea to bring my friend along, or go solo? The shop pays $47.

Go solo!!! You have to portray yourself as the decision maker!!!

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.

I would not do one of these shops for $47! I won't even do it for $75.

BusyBee - Why not? Do they take a lot of time? Long report?

I haven't done these since the base pay was 4X what it is now. 15 years, maybe.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2022 10:01AM by sestrahelena.

I did several senior living shops last year I was paid at least $100 for each shop and each report took hours.

YMMV

@gladysfarfel wrote:

BusyBee - Why not? Do they take a lot of time? Long report?

Gladys,

!-$47 is way too low for this type of work.
2-Definitely shop alone
3-This type of assignment requires narrative. If that is not one of your strengths, you may need assistance.
4-I would guesstimate the average visit time at one hour.
5-If the job has a target, AND the appointment call is recorded, you might need extra time to play phone tag.

Do not cancel the work, but learn from your experience. The facilities charge residents, depending upon the level of care, a considerable monthly fee. Then, the MSCs hope shoppers will work for a pittance. Dash their wishes and hold out for a fee that is commensurate with your efforts.

Luckily, I haven't taken any shops. I just wanted to learn more about them. I'll wait and see if the fees go higher.
Thank you guys for all your suggestions and tips.

These require time in setting up the visit, spending at least an hour on the tour and writing extensive narrative. I saw one for $115 the other day and passed. Too much work for the fee.

I did one maybe 3 years ago. I used my sister as someone who needed to be placed in a facility. Let me tell you the lady I talked to at the facility called constantly asking when I was going to bring my sister in so she could meet her. I had to come up with one excuse after another. She even sent a coupon for a free pie as a way of bringing my sister in. The only way I got rid of these phone calls was to change my phone number. It wasn't changed just because of the lady at the facility though. It was another reason.

Clamchatter, you could simply have told the caller that another family member had your sister move in with them or to a facility nearer them (a LONG way way). Dealing with follow-up calls needs to be part of every shopper's scenarios.

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.

Two quick comments to those shoppers considering independent/assisted/memory care assignments.

Although I have completed many such shops, I have never encountered a problem, after the visit, with being pestered by a community. Secondly, while I would never consider $45, even if it were next door, $115 would certainly be acceptable, predicated upon distance, to me. I am aware, though, that each person has their fee requirements. For me, these jobs are not difficult, BUT, a command of narrative is necessary. If one struggles differentiating between they're, their and there or to, two and too, the report will be frustrating for you.

I also find these quite easy. But the fee must be commensurate with the time commitment.

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.

Wales emphasizes--But the fee must be commensurate with the time commitment.

Bob agrees--That is the key folks. The prep, drive, shop and report are probably going to add up to approx. three hours; less if there is neither a target nor a recorded call. $45 is woefully insufficient. My bottom, for which I will not drop, is $85. For that sum. NO targets and the drive must be a round of 40 miles or I will be in that area for other business.

One big benefit of doing this mystery shop if you soon will be in the market for their services...I took my mom to look at several senior living homes. About two years later she was ready to move in to one of them. I called and found out they had a fairly long waiting list but when I mentioned I had toured two years before they said my mom would go to the top of the waiting list. They found a space for her within weeks instead of 6 months.

The more of these shops you do, the less time the prep takes. I've used my story so many times that in less than five minutes I can jot down the things I need to remember.

@shopperbob wrote:

Bob agrees--That is the key folks. The prep, drive, shop and report are probably going to add up to approx. three hours; less if there is neither a target nor a recorded call. $45 is woefully insufficient. My bottom, for which I will not drop, is $85. For that sum. NO targets and the drive must be a round of 40 miles or I will be in that area for other business.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

Prep, for me, includes attempting to set the appointment. If the job requires both a target, for whom I am not permitted to request, and a recorded call, I increase my minimum fee to $105.

I haven't done one of these in years, but did several back when my mom was alive and it was enlightening. I found them also very depressing and won't do anymore, especially the dementia unit ones..ugh. I don't like those places after what I've seen..Just my opinion.

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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..

Mark Twain

I am interested in possibly doing some senior living shops. Which MSCs have those? Please don't mention the clients, of course. Thanks

A Closer Look

I have probably completed 16 of them prior to the pandemic, I used to see them more often. One tip is making sure that you do not ask for the appointment unless at the end for most MSC’s they do not offer the appointment. Since there are multiple scenarios, you just have to make sure that you do the correct scenario if you have signed up for multiple locations. I have completed 4 different scenarios so I had to acclimate myself prior to each location. You want to make sure that you have the rates for each of the levels of care. Sometimes they will automatically provide you with the levels that you have discussed but you need info for all levels of care. The pay has to be $85+ because the reports can be pretty usually long and requires a lot of details.

I am waiting for the next exciting opportunity!

A couple of the locations were sad but one of them was downtown Chicago and the building was like a regular condo with a nice cafe, restaurants and a room where they do cooking classes. Most of them that I have done were nicer with some custom features. I went from doing one that they were adding a new phase due to the popularity and they looked like townhomes to doing just an ordinary location in two days. The nicer locations did give me a happier feeling and two of them sent me home with dinners (which I did not eat but the gesture was nice) and two sent me home with wine. Probably 5 of them were the typical location but they had a nice chef, dancing classes, beauty & barber shops and beer and wine Friday’s.

@MsJudi wrote:

I haven't done one of these in years, but did several back when my mom was alive and it was enlightening. I found them also very depressing and won't do anymore, especially the dementia unit ones..ugh. I don't like those places after what I've seen..Just my opinion.

I am waiting for the next exciting opportunity!

I have not done any of the shops myself but the quality really varies a lot in my city based on both the cost to stay there and the level of care the residents need. As a real consumer I always stayed for lunch and a class to see whether folks were conversing with each other at meals or just mechanically eating fairly uninteresting food. As for classes because my mom had her faculties intact this and the food were both important. At one pricey place no one showed for the class and the pr person said she would accompany my mom. The place she ultimately moved to each class had many attendees with most raising their hands and speaking and asking questions. If you are doing this purely as a ms job I assume they want you to pay attention to what they do and do not tell you but if you are also searching for a loved one, make sure to check not only the perceived quality but the actual quality of life there.

@BarefootBliss wrote:

I am interested in possibly doing some senior living shops. Which MSCs have those? Please don't mention the clients, of course. Thanks

Primo Solutions has senior living shops

ACL has a bunch

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.

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