About Benchmark Senior Solutions - Local Assisted Living Consultants
We’re here to guide you through one of life’s most difficult decisions
Maybe you’ve had a health event that is making living at home more challenging. Maybe your home has become too difficult to navigate, or you simply don’t want to deal with the maintenance. Maybe you want to plan ahead for the “what ifs,” and make your own decisions about your future instead of having someone else decide later. Benchmark is here for you, to meet you wherever you are in the process.
We’ll start by meeting with you to determine exactly what you need. Do you want a place where you can have access to 24/7 healthcare? A place with high-end, luxury-level homes? Access to skilled nursing care in a facility you can trust? Or would a few modifications to your home do the trick? There are endless variables to consider, and we’re here to help you consider all of them in your decision.
We’ll be a resource for education and recommendations. For example, we may be able to help you get the answers you need to determine if you have veterans benefits, long-term care insurance, or other financial advantages.
We’ll arrange and coordinate tours of Richmond region communities that align with your needs. We can also accompany you on these tours, serving as your advocate to help you find the ideal community.
We’ll make sure you’re happy. Even after you move into your new home, we’ll touch base to ensure that the transition was smooth.
The Benchmark Senior Solutions Team
Whitney Crawley, LPTA, CDP, Founder
Benchmark is owned and independently operated by Richmond native Whitney Crawley, LPTA. Whitney has specialized in geriatric care in a variety of settings including hospital, continuing care communities, skilled rehabilitation, independent living, assisted living, memory care, long term care, and group home settings for greater than 15 years. Whitney has practiced as both a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant and Director of Rehabilitation in the Richmond area, with medical expertise in geriatric care, dementia care, and orthopedic care. Whitney understands each community’s philosophies, advantages, and disadvantages. Her strong clinical background has proved to be fundamental in every situation she encounters with families and within communities.
To Whitney, advocating for seniors and guiding families to solutions that make sense for their unique situation is a life passion. “I knew, while in clinicals, that the senior population was my calling. I want to take care of the group of people that have given younger generations so much – wisdom, knowledge, work ethic and love. It’s my turn to give back.”
Whitney obtained her Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from Old Dominion University and an Associate in Applied Science. She is Licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine and certified by the National Board of Certification of Physical Therapy as a Physical Therapist Assistant.
In Whitney’s free time she enjoys camping with her family, being outdoors planting a vegetable garden, and raising a variety chickens!
Jennifer Perry, MS, OTR/L, CDP
Jennifer joins Benchmark Senior Solutions with a passion for assisting and advocating for older adults. She has worked with the geriatric population for nearly 20 years and brings both clinical and operational expertise to our team. As an occupational therapist, Jennifer provides a focus on function and safety in the home environment. She makes it her priority to ensure that every person will thrive in their community of choice to promote the highest quality of life. Jennifer has spent her entire career in skilled nursing centers, independent living, assisted living and memory care communities throughout Virginia. She brings with her a strong familiarity of the senior living business with experience in management at the community level as a rehab director and at the corporate level as a regional rehab director. Jennifer leads with an expectation of quality care and positive outcomes, with a keen eye for details and excellence. This combination will provide our clients with a compassionate and factual resource to provide advice in the process of selecting the best community to meet individual needs.
Jennifer obtained her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. She is Licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine and certified by the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy as an Occupational Therapist, an independent contractor and owner of OnPoint Solutions LLC, and is a Certified Geriatric Care Professional.
In Jennifer’s free time she enjoys spending time with her family and dog Remi, going on long walks, and being outdoors-especially Kerr Lake!
Jaime Smiley, MS, OTR/L, CAPS, CDP
Jaime joins Benchmark Senior Solutions with greater than 20 years of clinical and leadership experience in subacute rehab, skilled nursing, and senior living, Jaime is passionate about ensuring seniors and their families are well educated regarding their healthcare needs, available resources, and safe living options. She has dedicated her career to promoting health and independence with seniors in the community. She also works with Limitless Design and Build offering aging in place, as well as home modification assessments. She serves as an adjunct professor in VCU's Occupational Therapy Department as well as South University's Occupational Therapy Assistant program. Jaime served as an American Occupational Therapy Association Advisor on Skilled Nursing Policy, was the AOTA nominee to the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes, and named a 2021 McKnight's Veteran VIP Woman of Distinction.
Jaime obtained her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is Licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine and certified by the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy as an Occupational Therapist. Jaime is also a Certified Aging in Place Specialist® through the National Association of Home Builders, a Certified Dementia Practitioner, and an independent contractor and owner of Smiley Solutions LLC.
In her free time, Jaime enjoys spending lake time with family and friends. She also enjoys exercising, reading, and supporting her daughter's theater performances and son's water polo games.
Austin Stewart, M.Ed., CDP
Austin joins Benchmark Senior Solutions as the Director of Community Outreach after working for the Greater Richmond Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Austin helped to raise critical funds for research advancements and programmatic support services. His desire to help older adults derives from his relationship with his grandfather, who passed away from Alzheimer’s Disease, after a decade long battle of witnessing his cognitive decline. He has a genuine passion for enriching the quality of life of our senior population through a patient-first approach.
Austin has worked previously as a licensed Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and has worked within the field of development for the last 6.5 years, with experience in Higher Education and the Non-Profit Sector. He brings a relentless dedication towards building new and cultivating old community partnerships.
Austin obtained his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Sociology with a minor in Nonprofit Management & Administration and Medical Humanities from Virginia Commonwealth University. He also has a Masters of Education with a concentration in Educational Leadership from Liberty University and a Graduate Certificate in Fund Development through the University of Richmond’s School of Continuing Studies. Austin is also a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
In Austin's free time, he enjoys spending time in the outdoors camping, hiking, or exploring! If he's not embarking on his next adventure, then he is spending quality time with his family and friends. Austin has always valued his family ties and enjoys building relationships, both personally and professionally.
Heather Doré, CDP
Heather joins Benchmark Senior Solutions with greater than 15 years of clinical experience as a physical therapist in a variety of settings including: outpatient clinics, home health, acute care, skilled nursing, and long-term care. Much of her career has been dedicated to working with the senior population specifically. Her diverse background and experience in such a variety of settings have proved vital for assessing client needs and suitable settings that will best serve the individual holistically. She has worked as a physical therapist within most senior living communities in the Tidewater area, giving her valuable insight into communities and a unique advantage for her clientele. Heather is recognized for the depth she goes to understand her clients’ specific needs. She strives to ensure quality care and outcomes are achieved through her attention to detail.
Heather obtained her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from University of St. Augustine in San Marcos, CA. She is licensed by the Virginia Board of Medicine and certified by the National Board of Certification of Physical Therapy and is a Certified Dementia Practitioner.