Les Ostermeier, Co-owner of 1st CHOICE Advisory: “Our goal is to remain impartial and provide families with options that meet their criteria. We endeavor to contract with all providers in the same manner, ensuring our recommendations are unbiased and solely focused on the needs of the senior.”

In an industry where trust and compassion are paramount, 1st CHOICE Advisory stands out from the rest for the guidance and support to their clients. With an impressive 31-year legacy, this senior housing and care referral service has been a pillar for older adults and their families, helping them navigate the intricate maze of senior living options. Co-founded by industry visionaries Les Ostermeier and Clint Slater, 1st CHOICE Advisory has grown from two staff members to now thirty-two staff members serving residents in Washington and Oregon state.

A Vision Born from Experience

The seeds of 1st CHOICE Advisory were sown from the unique experiences and backgrounds of its founders.

Les Ostermeier brought a wealth of knowledge from his tenure in sales departments of hotels in Seattle, where he worked closely with the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In Seattle, the hotels all collaborated with the Bureau, assigning salespeople to fully understand and meet the needs of convention planners. This approach not only benefited the hotels but the entire city by attracting more groups,” Ostermeier recalls.

This collaborative, service-oriented approach sparked an idea in Les. He saw an opportunity to apply similar principles to the senior housing and care industry. At the time, he was working in the sales and admissions department of an independent senior living community. “My role was to keep the apartments full, but 90% of the people who came to tour needed something different. Without the internet and with the yellow pages being the only source of information, people would spend weeks trying to find a suitable match,” he explains.

Enter Clint Slater, a technology expert whose skills were instrumental in creating systems to categorize and define the various options families might need to consider. Together, their complementary skills laid the foundation for what would become a revolutionary service in the senior care industry.

Building a Comprehensive Service

The senior housing market in areas like Greater Seattle/Tacoma and the Portland Metro area is vast and complex, with nearly 4,000 and 2,500 options respectively. 1st CHOICE Advisory also serves Salem, Oregon, with over 200 options, and Spokane, Washington, with just over 500 providers. Navigating these options can be overwhelming for families and seniors alike.

Recognizing this challenge, 1st CHOICE Advisory has built a robust, compassionate service model. When a senior or their family contacts the agency, they are assigned a dedicated advisor. This advisor spends time understanding the specifics of the required care, the available financial resources, and the personality and preferences of the older adult. This personalized approach ensures that the options presented are a good fit, both in terms of care needs and personal preferences.

High Tech Meets High Touch

In an age where technology often replaces personal interaction, 1st CHOICE Advisory strikes a balance between high tech and high touch. By combining technology with personalized service, advisors can effectively outline the specific providers a family will want to consider.

A Win-Win Model

One of the most significant advantages of working with 1st CHOICE Advisory is that their support comes at no cost to seniors and their families. Instead, the agency charges a referral fee to the senior living providers. This model benefits all parties involved. Providers save on advertising and marketing costs, channeling these resources into offering better services, while families receive supportive guidance without financial strain.

“Our goal is to remain impartial and provide families with the options that meet their criteria. We endeavor to contract with providers in the same manner, ensuring our recommendations are unbiased and solely focused on the needs of the senior,” says Ostermeier.

Sustained Success and Continued Support

Over the past three decades, 1st CHOICE Advisory has helped tens of thousands of families find the right senior living solutions. The company’s success lies in its unwavering commitment to ongoing support. The service doesn’t end once a senior moves into a new home. 1st CHOICE continues to offer support, ensuring that the transition is smooth.

This dedication to comprehensive, ongoing care sets 1st CHOICE apart in an industry where the journey doesn’t end with a move-in but continues as families and seniors adapt to their new environments.

Eligibility and Access

To qualify for 1st CHOICE’s free services, an older adult must have the financial means to pay privately for at least one to six months. This criterion ensures that the agency can maintain the high quality of its services and provide the necessary resources and support to each family.

Path Ahead

As the senior housing and care industry continues to grow, driven by an aging population and increasing demand for quality care options, 1st CHOICE Advisory is well-positioned to maintain its leadership role. The company’s blend of personalized service, advanced technology, and connections within the industry will continue to benefit families across Washington and Oregon.

For Les Ostermeier and Clint Slater, the journey has been one of innovation, compassion, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of seniors. “Our mission has always been to make a complex and often stressful process easier for families. By providing caring support, we intend to continue making a positive impact for many years to come,” Ostermeier concludes.

In an industry where making an informed decision is paramount, 1st CHOICE Advisory remains a trusted partner for seniors and their families, guiding them to the exact options they will want to consider.

“In an age where technology often replaces personal interaction, 1st CHOICE Advisory strikes a balance between high tech and high touch.”