Turlock resident Mary Keaton credits the Small Business Development Center with helping her achieve her post-retirement goal — starting her own business.
Keaton decided after retiring from a local memory care facility to use her decades of experience working in senior health to start her own business helping families navigate the oftentimes frustrating experience of finding the right care for an elder loved one.
“I want to help people still. I still want to be in this industry with my skills, my experience, I’ve just got to figure out how I’m going to do it,” Keaton recalled telling her husband when she was coming up with the idea for her new business.
She worked with the SBDC to get a business plan together, a business license and help with a website and social media plan.
Keaton said she started with helping some family members in Los Angeles and a family friend in New York by going online to find different facilities and doing Zoom tours.
But then neighbor Sherilyn Jones came to Keaton for help.
“She called me and said ‘you know, I’m ready to make a change where my mom is. Can you help me?’”
Helping Jones bolstered Keaton’s determination to start her own business.
A week ago, Keaton held an official ribbon cutting for her new business — Peace of Mind Elder Care Navigators.
Keaton, along with her team — senior care consultant Barbara Arrington, licensed insurance advisor Rachel Ayers and physical therapy assistant Jill Zamaroni — provide a variety of services for families navigating the complexities of elder care including:
- Assessment and planning: Evaluating the current situation and collaboratively developing personalized care plans that could include assistance with long-term care planning, home modifications, or healthcare management;
- Resources and referrals: Providing access to a network of trusted professionals, including home care agencies, independent living, assisted living, memory care, as well as legal advisors specializing in elder law, and referrals to hospice agencies;
- Coordination of care: Acting as a central point of contact between healthcare providers, caregivers, and family members;
- Home safety inspections: Ensuring living spaces are secure and supportive by checking for trip hazards such as loose rugs or electrical cords to evaluating the functionality of handrails and lighting for optimal visibility and stability;
- Support and advocacy: Ensuring a loved one’s voice is heard and respected during medical appointments, care plan meetings, or resolving concerns with healthcare providers;
- Education and guidance: Equipping families with the information and resources they need to make informed decisions; and
- Lifestyle and wellness: Identifying opportunities for enriching experiences, engaging activities, and community involvement tailored to a loved one’s interests and abilities.
“We only partner with care agencies that we know, that we vetted, that we know their costs, we know their structure, we know how they work. We know if they have nurses or if they don’t have nurses. So we can pair the right person with the right company,” said Arrington.
For more information about Peace of Mind, visit: https://www.seniorcarenavigatorca.com/
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