Medicare, Medicaid and VA Benefits for Seniors

Medicare, Medicaid and VA Benefits for Seniors

Diane Masson 1.7 mgThe video interview below explains the differences between Medicare, Medicaid and VA Benefits for seniors. Understand which benefits can be used for different types of senior housing and health care such as: assisted living, skilled nursing, hospice, home health and hospital stays. Learn how Medicare can pay for a short-term stay in skilled nursing with a qualifying stay in the hospital. Seniors should educate themselves, plan ahead and have a power of attorney in case they suddenly cannot speak for themselves.

Diane Masson has empowered thousands of seniors to plan ahead and gives great tips for adult children whose parents are in a health care crisis.  “Your Senior Housing Options,” is an award winning book that can answer all your questions and empower you to help any struggling senior.  More free tips at Tips2Seniors.com.

Senior Living Communities Are Open 365 Days A Year

Senior Living Communities Are Open 365 Days A Year

Diane and Mom

Mom and Diane

Here is a shout out to all the special senior living employees who are working on Christmas this year.  Every Boomer child who cares about his or her parent appreciates your dedication.

You may be cooking or serving the grand holiday buffet in an Independent Living Community, passing medications in an Assisted Living Community, calming anxiety in a Memory Care Community or providing 24-hour care in a Skilled Nursing – Thank You!

This Christmas, my mom is in Freedom Village Health Care Center.  When I visited her on Thanksgiving morning, I saw smiles and joy in the eyes of the skilled nursing staff.  Today, I am grateful that quality staff surrounds her and that she will be savoring her favorite coffee on Christmas morning.

Are you working on Christmas this year?  Share your community name and what you do!  Let’s spread some Christmas cheer!

Diane Twohy Masson is the author of “Senior Housing Marketing – How to Increase Your Occupancy and Stay Full,” available at Amazon.com with a 5-star rating.  The book is required reading at George Mason University as a part of its marketing curriculum.  Within this book, the author developed a sales & marketing method with 12 keys to help senior living providers increase their occupancy.   Masson developed this expertise as a marketing consultant, sought-after blogger for senior housing and a regional marketing director of continuing care retirement communities in several markets.  She has also been a corporate director of sales and a mystery shopper for independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled care nursing communities in multiple states.  Most recently Masson was recruited to consult for two debt-free Continuing Care Retirement Communities in Southern California – Freedom Village in Lake Forest and The Village in Hemet, California.  Interestingly, this career started when she was looking for a place for her own mom and helped her loved one transition through three levels of care.

© Marketing 2 Seniors| Diane Twohy Masson 2013 All Rights Reserved. No part of this blog post may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted, without the prior written consent of the author, unless otherwise indicated for stand-alone materials. You may share this website and or it’s content by any of the following means: 1. Using any of the share icons at the bottom of each page. 2. Providing a back-link or the URL of the content you wish to disseminate. 3. You may quote extracts from the website with attribution to Diane Masson CASP and link https://www.marketing2seniors.net For any other mode of sharing, please contact the author Diane Masson.
Misclassifying Leads Can Decrease Move Ins

Misclassifying Leads Can Decrease Move Ins

Misclassifying Senior Living SalesAfter the initial tour are you or your senior living sales people classifying the lead correctly in your database and following up with the prospective resident appropriately?

What is your retirement community’s definition of a hot lead?

Many senior housing professionals only classify a lead as HOT if:

  1. The senior says they want to move someplace right away.
  2. They tell you their home is on the market.
  3. The adult child says their mom or dad is in the hospital and can’t move back home.

Here are some more lead situations that I would classify as hot (Even if they say – “I AM NOT READY YET!”):

  1. The senior is considering putting their home on the market.
  2. Someone wondering how long they should continue living in their home.
  3. Telling you they are about a year away, but also saying it has been difficult managing in a two story home.
  4. My spouse has just been diagnosed with…

Prospects don’t jump up and down and say I am an easy sale.  Senior Living Sales is an art and it’s up to us to read between the lines.  If someone comes to see you in person, they should be a warm or hot lead until they clearly indicate they are not.  They walked into your senior living community for a reason…

Post-analyze their situation in the quiet of your office.  This can help you strategize how you can help move someone forward the next time you talk to them.  Some sales people (particularly green sales people) can benefit from strategizing with their boss to determine the next course of action with a prospective resident.

Can anyone share how they read between the lines, helped a senior solve their problem and it resulted in a move in?

Please comment to join the conversation and interact with other senior living professionals on what is currently being effective to increase occupancy on a nationwide basis.

Diane Twohy Masson is the author of Senior Housing Marketing – How to Increase Your Occupancy and Stay Full,” available for sale at Amazon.com.  Masson’s book will be required reading at George Mason University in the Fall as part of the marketing curriculum.  She is currently consulting with Seniors For Living and two debt-free Continuing Care Retirement Communities in Southern California – Freedom Village in Lake Forest and The Village in Hemet, California. Connection and partnership opportunities: Email: diane@marketing2seniors.net

A Short Fun Senior Living Sales New Year’s Poem

A Short Fun Senior Living Sales New Year’s Poem

Is it time to grow your retirement community’s census,

Or just entertain the residents and be festive?

It takes sales stamina and focus,

To accept some sales no’s with no fuss.

Give your determination a sense of finality,

To rise above “the get by” mentality.

Keep calling the database,

Don’t pause on the hot lead chase.

Because seniors just need some education,

To deter each and every objection.

Ultimately, your senior living community will win,

Because making a great sales commission is not a sin!

It’s your choice to be a senior housing hero!

Let the competition end up with a big fat zero!

Diane Twohy Masson is the author of Senior Housing Marketing – How to Increase Your Occupancy and Stay Full,” available for sale at Amazon.com.  If your curiosity is piqued to inquire on Diane’s availability to speak at a senior housing conference (CCRC, independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing or memory care) – please call: 206-853-6655 or email diane@marketing2seniors.net.  Diane is currently consulting in Southern California for Freedom Management Company, the proud debt-free owners of Freedom Village in Lake Forest and The Village in Hemet, California.  For more information: Twitter: @market2seniors Web: www.marketing2seniors.net Blog: http://marketing2seniors.net/blog/