November is the perfect month to take a step back, rest, pause, and reflect. The days are
shorter, and the busy planting and harvesting seasons have come and gone. I asked the Silver Age team to reflect on 2024 and share some of their most memorable client stories and proudest moments. Here are a few of our highlights from this past year for you to enjoy.

Heather Bates

For Heather, our agent out of the Bonney Lake area, the client that impacted her the most this year was a relatively young woman who came to Silver Age after receiving a 30-day notice to vacate her adult family home. Her son and power of attorney was very stressed out due to
the situation’s complexity. This poor woman was just spiraling when she first met Heather. She had just recently been released from the hospital, was unable to sleep, and her
insomnia led to aggressive outbursts and screaming. In addition, she had limited resources and was estimated to be able to pay for about two years privately before needing to apply for Medicaid.

As Heather tells it, “To be honest, I was nervous that no adult family home would be willing to take a chance on her. We toured about five homes, and I was very transparent with the POA that they could decide they were not comfortable with the extent of her behaviors. We toured one home, and he immediately felt it was “the one.” The provider, an RN, was optimistic that she could help this client but wanted to meet her.

“After this, the RN provider got to know the client a little and spoke with the previous adult family home, and she was confident she could help her.

“In the beginning, it was tough, but they worked with the family and individual to really find out what worked for her. When I went to do my follow-up visit, I was so happy to see how calm and happy this client was. She was sleeping much better, and she told me how she loved her caregivers and had been able to make friends, which she said she was never very good at.

“I feel truly blessed to work with such brave clients and wonderful providers who make such a difference in our clients’ lives.”

Ami Reischman

Ami, our advisor out of the Sammamish area, says, “Out of all the clients I had the privilege of working with over the past year, one stands out. I had the honor of helping a 93-year-old former concentration camp survivor.

“She was in a concentration camp in Russia (kidnapped from Germany) from age 14-18 during WW2. I will not talk about the atrocities she suffered, but I can say she is an extraordinary overcome.

“Her daughters came to Silver Age because their mom was at an Assisted Living facility and fell and broke her hip. She was very delicate with pins and screws and exceeded the level of care that her current Assisted Living could provide.

“I worked with the daughters to find the perfect Adult Family Home for their mother
and we found an amazing provider. This provider would literally send me text messages thanking me for bringing her such a special client. The provider understood how special she was and worked hard to bring light and love to her every day that she lived there.“

Amy Dennis

One of our team members covering the north end, Amy says, “I had the opportunity to work with a family facing a complex situation. The parents, who had lived in their Seattle home for over 60 years, were experiencing significant health declines. The father, in particular, resisted the idea of moving to a senior living community. I knew I needed to listen well, address his concerns, and share my knowledge of senior living options in a way he could receive to earn his trust. Not an easy task!

“We found a community that could accommodate his woodworking hobby and provide the necessary care. While the father sadly passed away before the move, the pre-planning and relationship-building allowed us to move quickly and relocate his dear wife in just three days to a safe and supportive environment at the family’s top-choice community. This experience underscores the importance of proactive planning to help navigate the challenges of aging.

“I was incredibly honored to help this family.”

Susan Watters

Susan, one of our advisors covering the eastside, says, “It is difficult to identify one proudest moment in supporting a client and their family who are often in crisis. Most recently, I worked with a sister whose brother had fallen and could not return to his previous living situation. We needed to find a senior living community with a strong care model or an adult family home.

“Since the person who needed to move was young and had been living independently, the family and I thought an assisted living community would be best. We did our due diligence and toured a couple of assisted living communities and 3 AFH. My client’s sister felt the assisted living community would best fit her brother, and I agreed wholeheartedly. However we wanted to be sure that the assisted living community had the staff and skill to care for him.

“They did their nurse assessment and agreed to admit him into their community. My client moved in last week, and everyone is thrilled with the move. The transition was smooth, and the community and staff ensured the proper equipment was in place. I am happy to say it was a successful move for all involved.

“Lastly, I am grateful that the Executive Director, Head Nurse, and Director of Community Relations were all open to communicating with me and the family during this process. It helped to ensure that my client was moving to a community that could meet his needs now and communicate well as he continues to age. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to work with this family.”

Mark Ibsen

Mark, our advisor covering the north end and eastside, says, “Lets call her Maribel. I got a call of urgency that Maribel is being discharged from the hospital after partial psychiatric stabilization. She was unsafe to return home. The nephew, power of attorney, lived in Georgia, and I sprung into action with her financial advisor locally.

“The most important criterion for Maribel was being near her Church. I was able to secure and coordinate the assessment and long-distance admission paperwork for a next-day admit. Maribel moved into a lovely and experienced adult family home. She stabilized after several weeks of challenging behavior and is now happy, enjoying the other residents and engaging in activities. She is delighted to have visitors from her church and can attend services only three blocks away.”

We are honored and grateful to be part of our clients’ and their families’ journeys. During this time of reflection and gratitude, we thank you for taking the time to read these stories. This is why we do it; what a joy it is to serve families this way during their time of need.