SARASOTA – Caring for an elderly loved one is often overwhelming during normal times. But now during a pandemic? A Suncoast concierge service is helping families find the right senior housing and resources.
The Suncoast is a hub for seniors, and thus the area boasts senior living communities of all types.
“We do have so many options, and there definitely is the right community out there for every single person because of that, but how do you find it? Google is not the answer,” SUNWAYS Assisted Living Concierge co-founder and president, Elli Baldwin, said.
SUNWAYS Assisted Living Concierge is a free placement and referral service for seniors and caregivers. Having struggled finding a home for a loved one, co-founders Mark and Elli Baldwin say their goal is to work one-on-one with families to identify their care needs.
“When somebody moves into a senior housing community, they’re moving into a new home,” Elli Baldwin said. “So, it’s just like a real-estate agent trying to find somebody a new home. So, it’s really about matching those two.“
“Usually one of our first steps is meeting our clients in their living room, figure out who they are,” Mark Baldwin said. “You know to create a relationship with them. Obviously now, it’s more Zoom, it’s more FaceTime.”
As this is a trying time maintaining a senior’s health the Baldwins say their work is more critical now more than ever. They want to ensure families get the help they need. One important component is to know the protocols of the facility.
“Is there a nurse on a staff, or are they just on call if something were to happen? What’s the protocol to bring the caregiver in?” Elli Baldwin said.
Questions like these are what Dee Dee Fusco says helped her during her time searching for a home for her mom. Elli went to all of Fusco’s appointments.
“When you’re going from place to place to place, sometimes you forget, did I ask about that?” Fusco said. “And Elli was very good at reminding me.”
Fusco says because of SUNWAYS, her mom is living at Inspired Living Lakewood Ranch.
“It was right before the holidays and it was just so nice to sort of exhaling and not have those stresses when there’s already a lot of stressful things going on,” Fusco said.
Today, Fusco’s mom is getting the proper nursing care she needs and is in good spirits.
“She’s got some new buddies, she loves to go to dinner, she likes to play bingo,” Fusco said.
Even though pandemic has everyone hunkered down, the Baldwins are only a phone call away. They offer virtual meetings and they created an online caregiver course. They are taking the first seven people who sign up. Cut off date is April 26th.
“We’re here for whatever you need,” Mark Baldwin said. “We’ll be here for a shoulder to cry on or to give a virtual hug.”
For more information on SUNWAYS, you can visit their website.
