Comparing Your Options: DIY, National Firms, or Local Advisors
What Families Don’t Realize When They Start Searching for Care
Most families begin with good intentions. They search online, click “Get Pricing,” or start calling around. But without guidance, it’s easy to waste weeks, miss warning signs, or even end up under contract with the wrong provider. There are three main ways families look for senior care in Washington today — and they lead to very different experiences.
Option 1: Doing It Yourself
Why Families Try This
Many families start here because it feels neutral and cost-free. They want to research on their own, read reviews, and keep control of the process. But what begins as empowerment often turns into exhaustion and uncertainty.
What Actually Happens
Information overload replaces clarity.
Online reviews are often outdated, filtered, or influenced by advertising. Search results on Google or AI platforms can be incomplete or inconsistent.
Good options stay hidden.
Many small, high-quality homes and local communities don’t advertise publicly — meaning some of the best fits never show up in your search.
Important questions get missed.
Without a local advisor, families don’t always know which care, medical, or cultural details matter most for a successful match.
Costs are harder to compare than they appear.
Listings rarely include all fees or changes over time, so families can underestimate what’s truly affordable long term.
The hidden cost of “free” research.
Families spend weeks comparing partial information, often ending up more confused — or having to make urgent choices after a health setback or crisis.
Real Voices from Local Families
(Based on caregiver discussions across Reddit communities in the Greater Seattle area)
Option 2: Big National Referral Firms
The Frustrating Referral Roller-Coaster
Families Often Describe
“Best rated” badges or reviews often don’t match what they see in person.
The lists they receive usually include only communities that pay for referrals, not every good option nearby.
Clicking “Get Pricing” or “Check Availability” automatically shares their contact info with multiple providers, leading to a rush of calls.
Advisors often work remotely and haven’t toured local communities, so insights about care quality or culture are limited.
Some families say they felt guided toward certain places based on contracts or availability rather than fit.
The result: Families get quick responses but not the full picture — and important options can be missed.
Option 3: Working with a Local Advisor
Families often find local advisors after realizing that online searches and national referral sites can’t answer the questions that matter most: Who will actually care for Mom? What’s really included in that rate? Who can I trust to tell me the truth?
When Local Guidance Works
The right local advisor changes the entire experience.
When Local Isn’t Enough
Not all “local advisors” follow the same standards. Some newer agents work alone, with limited awareness of the hundreds of adult family homes and communities in their region. Others feel financial pressure to fill beds quickly, even if a better fit is available elsewhere. That’s why ethical standards matter just as much as local knowledge.
Ethical Standards That Protect Families
Silver Age helped establish the Code of Ethics for the Association of Senior Referral Professionals of Washington (ASRP) — a framework designed to safeguard families and providers alike.
Ethical Principle
What It Means for Families
Client-First Recommendations (Article III)
Advisors must choose communities based solely on the best interest of the client — never on higher commissions or incentives.
Transparency in Representation (Article II)
Advisors must clearly identify their agency in all communications — no hidden affiliations or misleading branding.
In-Person Engagement (Article V)
Whenever possible, advisors meet families and residents face-to-face and personally tour communities to understand real conditions.
Ongoing Advocacy (Article VI)
Advisors continue to support families and providers after move-in, helping resolve issues early.
No Double Fees (Best Practice #2)
Advisors should prevent communities from being charged twice and prioritize fairness between agencies and providers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Local Advisors
When evaluating an advisor, ask simple questions that reveal integrity:
