In an industry where trust and compassion are everything, 1st CHOICE Advisory stands out for its dedicated guidance. For over 32 years, this referral service has been a pillar for older adults and their families, helping them navigate the complex “maze” of senior living.
What started as a two-person team founded by Les Ostermeier and Clint Slater has grown into a staff of 33 serving residents across Washington and Oregon.
A Vision Born from Experience
The idea for 1st CHOICE Advisory came from the founders’ unique backgrounds:
- The Hospitality Angle: While working in Seattle hotels, Les Ostermeier saw how collaboration between businesses and travel bureaus helped meet the specific needs of visitors.
- The Gap in Senior Care: Later, while working at a senior living community, Les noticed a problem. His job was to fill his specific building, but 90% of the people touring actually needed a different type of care. Back then, families had to spend weeks flipping through the Yellow Pages to find a match.
- The Tech Solution: Technology expert Clint Slater joined Les to build a system that could quickly categorize and filter care options based on what a family actually needed.
Simplifying a Complex Market
The senior housing market is massive. There are nearly 4,000 options in the Seattle/Tacoma area and 2,500 in Portland. 1st CHOICE Advisory also covers Salem (200+ providers) and Spokane (500+ providers).
To make this manageable, the agency uses a “High Tech, High Touch” model:
- Personalized Matching: Families are paired with a dedicated advisor who learns about the senior’s health needs, budget, and personality.
- Impartial Guidance: Advisors use internal technology to cross-reference these needs against thousands of providers to find the perfect fit.
A No-Cost Model for Families
The best part for families? The service is free. 1st CHOICE Advisory is funded by referral fees from the senior living providers. This creates a “win-win”:
- For Families: Professional guidance without the financial burden.
- For Providers: Lower marketing costs, allowing them to focus resources on resident care.
“Our goal is to remain impartial,” says Ostermeier. “We focus solely on the needs of the senior, ensuring our recommendations are unbiased.”
Looking Ahead
Over three decades, the agency has helped hundreds of thousands of families. Their support doesn’t end on move-in day; they stay involved to ensure a smooth transition.
To qualify for these free services, the senior must have the financial means to pay privately for at least one to six months. As the population ages, 1st CHOICE Advisory remains committed to its mission: making a stressful process easier through innovation and heart.