Follow
Share

Is anyone familiar with the Society of Certified Senior Advisors? What does this certification really mean?



First glance at their website seems like this is an additional certification that any professional can get and doesn't seem like it really requires much expertise or experience with seniors.



I ask because someone has suggested to me that we use a CSA to obtain referrals and pricing for assisted living facilities in California.

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
abacadacar: I'll refrain from commenting further as this is an organization which you reference and my mentioning such name goes against Aging Care rules.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

It's been my experience that none of these organizations will help you if you are placing someone initially on Medicaid. I guess the facilities that take Medicaid receive so little they don't give a commission when referred.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
Bridget66 Dec 2022
I think you're right about the certifications.
(1)
Report
I am enrolled in the Certified Senior Advisor course beginning in January. This is an extensive course requiring three weeks of education on working with seniors, understanding and navigating senior health insurance options, and ethics culminating in an accredited exam, which then bestows the credentialing. This could be an addition to a nursing degree or a CPA, as they cover financing care in retirement. A Place for Mom is a great organization and I have used them before but they are truly just a placement agency, like Apartment Finders. They receive their fee from the LTC residences. A CSA can assist with many different issues that come up with seniors and their caregivers. I think the key is to interview a CSA and then check their references! The certification does require a background check but that doesn't ensure quality.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report
LittleOrchid Dec 2022
Thanks for the good info. I was previously unaware of this certification track. It is good to know about it.
(1)
Report
The only organization that I am familiar with is Aging Life Association.
https://www.aginglifecare.org/
They provide certification for Geriatric Care Managers (GCM)

General information on GCM is found on the National Institute of Health website.

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-geriatric-care-manager

Certified Senior Advisor is a different certifucation.
https://www.csa.us/

I am not familiar with what differences there may be, only that CSA does not appear to be mention on the NIH website. You could email NIH to learn the difference.

I.suppose anyone could come up with a certification of any kind.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

There are many online help sites and local organizations that can assist. A certification is not necessarily a guarantee of quality. Does the “someone” who gave you the suggestion have any relevant experience to back up their suggestion?

Suggest you do some online research and reading such as: https://www.seniorliving.org/assisted-living/ or https://www.assistedliving.org/assisted-living-near-me/

You could also contact your Local Area Agency on Aging for recommendations, or Medicare’s website: https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/ to see ratings of nursing homes. The Medicare site will let you see if the facility is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (includes assisted living).

Even if you don’t check the Medicare site before choosing an agency to help you decide, check the ratings on the site to help you assess the quality of any facility recommended by a referral agency.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

My husband's family used it for my MIL. She was running out of money within a year. Her family was worried about placing her in a good SNF and how to go about it. She also was receiving Aid and Attendance. Family was given a few high quality SNFs that take Medicaid. They placed her on a wait list on 3 choices and she was accepted in a high quality one where she stayed for 5 more years. The advice was helpful as recommendations included early placement. When she needed Medicaid, she was automacically placed on the top of a long list as she was already a resident. It was well worth the expence as she could pay for this advice during the spendown.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Thanks. I've been considering contacting A Place for Mom. So did your mother end up in assisted living in Pasadena?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report
MJ1929 Dec 2022
No. I moved her to a MC in Yorba Linda. She'd lived in the Pasadena area for over 60 years and lived in a nursing home there for a while. None of her friends came to see her once she went in there, so I decided the location that was more convenient to me was the priority.
(3)
Report
Never heard of them.

I had excellent luck with APlaceforMom.com. They listened to what I needed for my mother, including the option of places near her home and mine (Pasadena vs. OC), and gave me several referrals. The one they said was probably the best fit really was the best, and it all worked out very well -- and was $3,000/month less than where she was before.
Helpful Answer (3)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter