Case Study: Senior Living Industry Companies Collaborate to Create a Better Experience for Loved Ones

Family Shepherd strives to go the extra mile and reduce the stress families feel during their journey of transitioning a loved one into Senior Living. Our empathic approach helps to remove barriers for families and provides them with trusted resources when they don’t know where to begin. Through our help, we speed up seniors getting moved safely into senior living to ensure a smoother, less time-consuming transition.

When we pull in resources we know and trust, seniors are less likely to be taken advantage of, and it frees up time and money to get them the care they need.

“This is all about introducing families to people I know, like, and trust. People who have the same integrity I have,” said Ben Rao, Founder of Family Shepherd.

After years of living independently in her home, it was time for Virginia, widowed five years, to transition to a skilled nursing community. Though she loved her home, it had become difficult to keep up with the maintenance it deserved.

Without family capable of supporting Virginia during this transition, her lifelong friend, Janine, stepped in help. Virginia would finally get the care and resources she needed to be safe, but they were facing a mountain of challenges before the move could take place.

When a loved one is faced with needing care, the costs seem insurmountable. Oftentimes, the house is the biggest asset, but may need updating. Families are hit with important decisions and little time to make choices regarding senior care and how to fund it. This is where Family Shepherd comes in.

Family Shepherd offers an all-encompassing, empathetic approach to aiding families during one of the most difficult times they will ever face, starting with the house. As the biggest asset, Family Shepherd purchases the home, freeing up the funds for immediate use to afford seniors’ long-term care.

But it doesn’t stop there.

The seniors we work with matter to us, and so do their families! To ensure they are taken care of, we focus on understanding their needs and surround them with local, trusted resources to support every need they have along the way.

Shepherding Families Through Tough Times

Virginia’s large family home was full of belongings collected over decades. And the home’s repairs and rehab costs totaled more than $100,000. Janine was tasked with sorting through a lifetime of memories while helping Virginia select a few items she would keep and take with her to skilled nursing. Virginia’s adult son also lived in the basement and would be displaced after the sale of the home; his situation added more stress to the situation.

Janine quickly realized that preparing the home to sell was more overwhelming than she expected. In addition to regular maintenance and updating, the backyard pool had been neglected and was full of dirty water, the garage and driveway were filled with multiple cars that needed to be sold, Virginia had pets that needed to be rehomed, and several tables were stacked high with neglected mail and bills.

Janine was overwhelmed and unsure where to start. Through the help of a placement agent, she was referred to Ben Rao at Family Shepherd, an experienced and caring guide for families who have a loved one transitioning to senior living.

Personalized Care Through an Overwhelming Transition

Ben Rao is a Senior Care Advocate and founder of Family Shepherd. He’s passionate about helping families navigate this often overwhelming process. Family Shepherd’s mission is to get the family in a better place while helping seniors preserve their dignity during one of life's most challenging times.

Janine knew that the biggest asset Virginia had was her home, which would need to be repaired, cleaned, and updated for sale. Ben was able to assist Virginia, her son, and Janine by buying her home “as is” and freeing up immediate funding for the care she needed, all at no cost to them. Family Shepherd purchased Virginia’s home without the fees and commission that a typical real estate broker charges.

The House is Just the Beginning

Family Shepherd's empathetic and understanding approach allows them to meet with families and determine what they are trying to accomplish, in what timeframe, and address the challenges they are facing.

Family Shepherd provided trusted resources that helped Janine sort through possessions, sell valuables, and donate items to partnering organizations. Family Shepherd also collaborated with local businesses to sell the vehicles, help sort through overdue mail and bills, and provided vital support so Janine could help fund Virginia’s care.

Thanks to Family Shepherd’s connection with an elder law attorney, Virginia was able to grant Janine Power of Attorney, allowing her to manage the estate and follow her friend’s wishes. Together, Ben and Janine were able to cancel recurring charges, such as medical alert services and cell phones, that Virginia no longer needed, freeing up additional money for her continued care. Ben partnered with Virginia’s adult son to find him temporary housing so he could figure out his next steps before the closing of the home.

He was able to meet with Janine at home where it was most convenient for her, assist with technology, and guide her each step of the way. Family Shepherd provides reliable, caring customer service that families will not find in the typical real estate professional. “Ben was always easy to get a hold of and went way above and beyond. He truly understood how overwhelmed we were and how to provide trusted resources to help solve our problems ” said Janine.

Ben works to connect families with much-needed resources for legal, down-sizing, placement, auctioning items online, resources for estate sales, helping manage possessions, providing resources for reliable moving companies and home maintenance, and more.

Help Us Connect With Families in Need of Your Services

If you have a family considering a move to senior living, we are here to be your trusted partner. Family Shepherd doesn't just offer a fair and efficient process for buying their home; we offer a compassionate approach to ensure they have the resources and support needed to thrive as they settle into senior living.

Our story is one of compassion, dedication, and going the extra mile to make senior transitions as smooth as possible. We're not just home buyers; we're partners in seniors' journeys, nurturing those transitions, one home at a time.

So, if you're looking for a partner who truly cares, who understands that every senior's story is unique, and who is committed to providing comprehensive assistance and personal care throughout their transition to senior living, Family Shepherd is here for you. We're more than a business; we're family.