Referral Fee Disclosures

Our Commitment to Transparency

Sorensen Senior Advisors believes in complete transparency about our business model and how we are compensated. This page provides full disclosure of our referral fee arrangements with senior living communities.

How We Are Compensated

Referral Fees from Communities

Sorensen Senior Advisors receives referral fees from assisted living and memory care communities when families we work with choose to move into those communities. These fees are:

• Typically 70-100% of the first month's rent for the level of care selected
• Paid by the community, not by you or your family
• Based on standard industry practices
• Only paid if you actually move into a community (not paid for tours or consultations)
• Only paid if you remain in the community for a minimum period (typically 30 days)

Zero Cost to Families

You do not pay us anything. Our services are completely free to families. The monthly rent you pay the community is the same whether you work with us or find the community on your own.

Fee Variations

Referral fees may vary by community based on:

• Type of community (assisted living vs. memory care)
• Level of care required
• Negotiated agreements between us and the community
• Geographic location
• Market conditions

We do NOT recommend communities based on which one pays us the highest fee. Our recommendations are based on appropriateness of care, community quality, and fit with your needs.

Partner Community Relationships

How We Select Partner Communities

We establish referral relationships with assisted living and memory care communities based on:

• Quality of care and reputation
• Licensing and compliance history
• Staffing levels and training
• Facility cleanliness and safety
• Range of care services offered
• Responsiveness and professionalism
• Track record with our past referrals

We Do Not Work With All Communities

We intentionally limit our partnerships to 10-15 assisted living communities and 5-8 memory care communities in our service area. This allows us to:

• Know each community personally and in depth
• Maintain quality relationships
• Provide accurate, up-to-date information
• Ensure appropriate matches for your loved one

What If We Don't Have a Relationship?

If you express interest in a community we don't have a referral relationship with, we will:

• Inform you honestly about our lack of relationship with that community
• Still help you evaluate the community if you wish
• Provide guidance on questions to ask and what to look for
• Not receive compensation if you choose that community

Your best interest comes first. We will never discourage you from a community simply because we don't have a referral relationship with them.

Industry Context

Standard Practice

Referral fees are standard practice in the senior living industry. Most senior placement advisors, including national companies like A Place for Mom, Caring.com, and local advisors, operate on this same business model.

Alternative Models Don't Exist at Scale

There are very few fee-for-service senior placement consultants (where you pay the advisor directly) because most families cannot afford to pay $2,000-$5,000 out of pocket for placement services. The referral fee model allows us to provide expert guidance at no cost to families.

Communities' Perspective

Senior living communities budget for marketing expenses, including referral fees, as part of their standard operations. They pay us because we provide them with pre-screened, appropriate referrals and reduce their own marketing costs.

Potential Conflicts of Interest

We Acknowledge the Potential

We recognize that receiving compensation from communities creates a potential conflict of interest. We could theoretically be incentivized to recommend higher-cost communities or communities that pay higher referral fees.

How We Mitigate This

• Clinical matching first: We assess care needs objectively before considering community options
• Multiple options: We provide 3-5 community options so you can compare
• Full transparency: We disclose our relationships and compensation structure
• No pressure: You make the final decision; we never push you toward a specific community
• Post-placement follow-up: We check in at 30 days, which disincentivizes poor matches
• Reputation risk: Inappropriate referrals damage our reputation and future referrals

Your Rights and Options

You Always Have Choices

• You can choose to work with us or not—at no cost either way
• You can stop using our services at any time
• You can visit communities on your own and compare our recommendations
• You can ask us detailed questions about any community we recommend
• You can request communities outside our partner network
• You can hire a fee-for-service consultant if you prefer that model

Questions You Should Ask Us

We encourage you to ask questions such as:

• "What referral fee do you receive from this community?"
• "Do you have relationships with other communities that might fit our needs?"
• "Why are you recommending this community specifically?"
• "What are the pros and cons of each option?"
• "Have you placed other families with similar care needs at this community?"

Regulatory Compliance

Our referral fee arrangements comply with North Carolina law and industry regulations. We do not receive kickbacks, rebates, or payments that violate healthcare referral laws.

We maintain appropriate business agreements with all partner communities that outline the terms of our referral relationships.

Questions or Concerns

If you have questions about our referral fees, partner relationships, or business model, we encourage you to ask. We believe in open communication and will answer your questions honestly.