Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Benchmark Senior Solutions?

Benchmark Senior Solutions is a locally owned and operated group of licensed healthcare professionals that come with an extensive senior living background and expertise for senior living options near you. We want to make sure the options you are considering make sense for you or your loved one, and their individuals needs. Our consultants have personally worked in the majority of the senior living communities, knowing them from the inside out. Our mission is to provide families with information that will empower them to make sound decisions and understand all of their healthcare options. Benchmark can assist you navigating senior living options, as well as assist you with your goals for either you or a loved one to “age in place” safely at home. All of our consultant services are offered at NO COST to families.

What sets Benchmark apart from other advisors?

• Unlike most advisors, Benchmark is locally owned and independently operated

• Benchmark is comprised of only licensed healthcare professionals who specialize in geriatric centered care

• Benchmark employees have worked in the majority of local senior living communities in Richmond/Charlottesville/Williamsburg/Hampton Roads areas for greater than a combined 65 years as healthcare employees

• Benchmark is your liaison, simplifying your search for senior living options- Let us do the work for you by quickly suggesting appropriate options for your needs, scheduling tours, guiding you on those tours, and assisting with all necessary paperwork required for a smooth move in experience!

• Benchmark tours with its clients, making sure they are well represented, and also making sure their individual needs are being met

• Benchmark has a Certified Aging in Place Specialist who can provide home assessments to decrease re-hospitalization rates

• Benchmark matches its clients with communities that will benefit their emotional, physical, and cognitive needs, while also keeping geographic and economic needs in mind.

• Benchmark continues to support and advocate for you and your loved one after they have made a transition! We pop in for visits as often as we can!

What services and additional resources can you provide?

• Benchmark Consultants can assist you in navigating 55+ Communities, Independent Living Communities, Assisted Living Communities, Memory Care Communities, Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Private Healthcare Settings, and Private Pay Residential Care Home settings

• Benchmark can offer home safety assessments if your goal is to remain at home and “age in place”

• Benchmark can offer reliable contractors to assist if renovations or adaptations are needed to remain in the home

• Recommendations for trusted Home Health Companies, Personal Care Companies, Geriatric Therapy Providers (PT,OT,SLP), Palliative and Hospice Care, Rehabilitation Facilities, hearing-assisted phones and technology, personalized dementia care training and support, and more

• Recommendations for support and assistance with packing, decluttering, unpacking, organizing, and moving

• Elder law support

• Resources that can assist with senior events, programming, and fun!

(Note: While Benchmark Senior Solutions is a NO cost service for families, some of the businesses or community partners with whom we work may charge for their services.)

Does your team work with all Senior Living Communities?

Benchmark Senior Solutions does not choose to work with all Senior Living Communities. Our mission is to promote a high standard of care. We partner with communities who meet this expectation. We visit communities on a regular basis to ensure quality measures are maintained. Benchmark works with communities who provide a range of services at various price points.

When should I consider contacting Benchmark?

If you notice a decline in your loved ones ability to complete activities of daily living (i.e., bathing, dressing, eating, and taking medications correctly), cognitive changes, or the inability to maintain their home, it would be a good idea to reach out to Benchmark to start the conversation of options and services available to help. 

Here at Benchmark, it's never too early to explore senior living options. Ideally, the best time to consider senior living is before your loved one needs it.

How do I choose the right senior placement option for my loved one?

There's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to senior living communities, so the right community for your loved one depends on their unique needs, such as current care needs, budget, location, cognition, environmental needs, holistic needs. Working with Benchmark Senior Solutions means creating a personalized plan to meet the needs of your loved one.

How much does senior placement cost?

Benchmarks advisory services are always free of charge to all seniors and their families, whether the senior moves to a senior living community or decides to “age in place.” Benchmark receives a referral fee, as an industry standard, from the facility after a move-in has taken place.

What qualifications do senior placement providers have?

Our senior advisors at Benchmark have 65+ years of clinical and operational experience in senior living around Central Virginia. In addition, our advisors are also licensed healthcare professionals. Unfortunately, there are many advisors who have little to no experience working in senior living communities. Benchmark prides itself on setting the industry standard, having all licensed healthcare providers to rely on throughout the process.

What is the Veteran’s Aid and Attendance benefit?

Millions of veterans are entitled to this pension benefit, and it will help with the costs of senior care. Veterans who served active duty for 90 consecutive days, including at least one day during a time of war, may be eligible. Service in combat zones is not a requirement, and widowed spouses who have not remarried are also eligible. Meeting basic veteran pension requirements is also required. If you are a veteran, it is worth taking the time to apply at Veteranaid.org. Applying could mean anywhere from $779-$3,072 extra monthly income for retirement living.

What is long-term care insurance?

Long-term care (LTC) insurance is designed to cover long-term personal and custodial care in various settings including your home, a community organization or a facility. It’s important to check with your agent or broker who sold your family the policy to understand what coverage you have. Many people are surprised to find out that their policy pays daily or monthly stipends to assist with senior living care.

Are assisted living communities paid by insurance or Medicare?

Typically, assisted living is paid for by private funds. Long-term care insurances, auxiliary grants, and veterans benefits can offer assistance in some cases.

If I would like someone from Benchmark Senior Solutions to come and speak to my group, who should I contact?

It would be a pleasure for our team to meet with those interested in learning more about dementia care, the continuum of care options, various senior living options in the Greater Richmond Area, Charlottesville, Williamsburg, or Hampton Roads, and several other healthcare related topics. If you would like someone from our team to come and speak to your business, church group, neighborhood association, club, etc., please don’t hesitate to reach out and send us a message about your upcoming event or group.