Sarah Hallmark-Brower. Photo: Chris Emeott
We all go through transitions throughout our lives. Some are easier than others. Most transitions are thoughtfully planned out, and others come in an instant. One of those which many of us are not prepared for is the transition into an assisted living community. The process can be time consuming and extremely confusing, not to mention, emotionally draining.
St. Paul residents Cathe and Woodie Wilson found themselves in a situation where time was of the essence to find a new forever home. The couple, married for over 40 years, were no strangers to solving problems together, but with a health crisis for Woodie in front of them, it was up to Cathe to take the next steps and find a new place to call home. Cathe was contacted directly by Sarah Hallmark-Brower, eldercare advisor and owner of Assisted Living Locators. “I wouldn’t have known where to start until I met Sarah, and then the road was right in front of me,” Cathe says.
At Assisted Living Locators, the service is free of charge to the client, nobody is turned away and the client sets the pace of the search. There is no hard sell, just gentle guidance. “Advice is given as if it were my own family,” Hallmark-Brower says. The company is focused on providing seniors with a trustworthy, knowledgeable source for residents of Woodbury and its surrounding cities.
Assisted Living Locators is usually contacted by a son or daughter who are “stressed beyond belief because they simply don’t know where to start,” Hallmark-Brower says. “Unfortunately, there comes a point that people are no longer safe in their own homes.” The most common challenge is knowing where to begin. This is the point where Hallmark-Brower and Assisted Living Locators get involved and work closely with the families to help provide a solution.
At the first meeting, Hallmark-Brower evaluates assets and budgets, plus locations, interests, care needs and values. All of which are used for optimal placement. Because she is in and out of the communities frequently, and generally on a first name basis with several of the staff, she considers herself knowledgeable of the local communities she is recommending and well versed on the happenings within the communities themselves. All of which lead to a more successful placement. She also has a deep knowledge of VA Aid and Attendance Pension benefits available to both veterans and their spouses; and memory care, assisted living and hospice are all a part of placements made on a regular basis through Assisted Living Locators.
As Hallmark-Brower helps people navigate the often-confusing system, she focuses on building relationships with the clients with whom she works. Since meeting with Hallmark-Brower, the Wilsons have found a new community that perfectly fits their needs. They are moved in with only a few boxes left to unpack. The Wilsons credit their current happiness directly to Hallmark-Brower. “We are doing great. We [attribute] that to the move, and we [attribute] that to Sarah,” Wilson says.
Assisted Living Locators
651.262.4550
