1st CHOICE Advisory Services

When families in the Pacific Northwest need care for an older adult, they turn to a well-established and knowledgeable senior care referral agency for guidance, 1st CHOICE. Now in their 30th year of service, this agency has 28 full-time employees working in the communities where they live. This invaluable service comes at no cost to the senior or to their families.

Senior care referral agencies now exist all over the US in major metropolitan areas. 1st CHOICE was a pioneer in the industry and is the most service-oriented referral agency in Washington and Oregon. “We started out helping seniors in 1993 at a time when longevity began to increase significantly.” says Les Ostermeier, one of the founders of the agency. “With advanced age sometimes comes the need for specialized and personalized care, and that care can be expensive.” People want to be informed of their options, and they appreciate having an advocate to support them.

Rather than having to contact individual senior living providers in hopes of finding the right match, an advisor from 1st CHOICE works with each senior or their family in person or over the phone to help them find the care they need. The advisor asks in-depth questions and then offers a focused list of care providers to consider. “We don’t make the decision for people, but we do make the process easier to understand and a lot more predictable.” says Terry Fontaine, an advisor who has been with 1st CHOICE for 14 years.

1st CHOICE is contracted with over 3,500 providers in the Pacific Northwest. This means families who work with 1st CHOICE are introduced to only providers that match their needs and preferences. The agency is supported financially by the senior living providers through a referral fee once the older adult makes the actual move to the assisted living, memory care, or adult care home.

1st CHOICE serves approximately 6,000 families a year. Most clients are referred to the agency by a clinician or professional who knows an older adult needs care. Past clients also refer their friends and family to the agency.

1st CHOICE enjoys the distinction of employing only the most caring and supportive staff members. “The discharge planner from Kaiser gave me the name of 1st CHOICE when my mother couldn’t return home after being in the hospital. When we first got the news that taking her home was no longer an option, I was panicked. The advisor from 1st CHOICE held my hand through the entire process and made this a simple decision for us.” says Doreen, an adult daughter living in Gig Harbor, Washington.

The staff of 1st CHOICE has been given numerous regional awards over the past thirty years. Now they are recognized as one of our nation’s Top 10 Elder Care Service Companies in 2022.