Heroes in Business - Angela Olea, CEO Assisted Living Locators

Episode Date: June 27, 2022

Taking the confusion out of finding senior living options for a loved one. Angela Olea, CEO Assisted Living Locators is interviewed by David Cogan, host of the Heroes Show and founder of Eliances entrepreneur community. assistedlivinglocators.com eliances.com

Up in the sky, look, it's captivating, it's energizing, it's Eliance's Heroes. Eliance's is the destination for entrepreneurs, investors, CEOs, inventors, leaders, celebrities, and startups, where our heroes in business align. Now, here's your host flying in, David Kogan, founder of Eliance's. That's right. And we got another incredible full morning, just so much activity happening. And I can't thank you enough too, for the feedback that we continue to get. Also too, like when I recently interviewed the founder of Murad Cosmetics. So make sure that you go to Eliance's.com, as you probably all know now, E-L-I-A-N-C-E-S.com.

Why? Because again, it is the only, the only place where entrepreneurs align. Well, let's talk about our next hero. First of all, if you live long enough, you know somebody who's going to need her help. You may need her help eventually. And it is confusing to navigate through this whole secondary part. And I'm talking about seniors. She's provided a service to help with that welcome to the show Angela Olea CEO and RN are you ready of that for this of assisted living locators she could be reached at assistedlivinglocators.com and she was the first the first to create assisted living placement franchise in the U.S. If you don't know what that is, you're going to know after this interview and why you're going to need to use our services. So welcome to the show,

Angela. Thank you. I'm excited to be here. All right. So what you've created is absolutely amazing. People need to know about it. And I mean that. So the time comes, in fact, why don't you talk about it when people end up actually having to use your services, right? Whether it's for their parents, a loved one, or their spouse. Sure. People contact us. It's always during a time of crisis or a time of need. And it is during one of the most critical parts of their life. And typically it is a family member, adult child is who usually contacts us when something has occurred in that aging process and has gone wrong. And they reach out to us and we find out, really just take, give them peace of mind of letting them know they connected with the right person and that we can help them regardless of what their situation is.

And we listen to what created, what prompted that phone call and what are the customized solutions that need to be provided. And we take a very complex situation and break it into bite sized pieces and walk them through what are your options? How do I pay for the options? And look at how is my mom or dad going to receive the care that they need? And so Angela, talk to us about the pain point, though. Why when I just dial for dollars myself, call them all, try to figure out what to do? Why use your services? What's the benefit to me? Yeah, I would give the analogy of if you're having heart surgery for one of the most important aspects of your life, would you randomly go through what was formerly called the yellow pages, you know, but the Google search, you want word of mouth, you want recommendations, you want successes and outcomes. You know, but the Google search, you want word of mouth.

You want recommendations. You want successes and outcomes. This is one of the most important decisions. We're creating a legacy. And this is the last chapter of their loved one's lives. And so you don't want to leave it to random chance of why we choose or help you select the options that we do. This is what we do. This is our core competency. And as you mentioned, it unfortunately is in a time of crisis and the

mind doesn't think too clear when we've got crises going on. And I know what your service provides because it's the fact is, is it helps you hold the hand of the person who's not the one that's going to be placed in it, but the one who's trying to figure out navigating this whole system of assisted living places. Exactly. Yep. I mean, you know, it's, it's, it's, how did you even know they'll come up with it? I mean, you were the first to create and franchise it. Now you've got, well, first to create and franchise it. Now you've got, well, how many locations now do you have? So we have 140 locations across the U.S. Congratulations. And so talk to us though, how this came to be that you said, huh,

this is something, a service, and this needs to be franchised. Yeah, it truly, I've always been in a role of service. To back it up, my mother is a nurse, grandmother nurse, father was an entrepreneur, and I followed the nursing path. And I was a nurse working in a hospital providing patient care, direct patient care. And really frustration turned to inspiration, taking care of patients that they continued to come back through the hospital process being readmitted, because they didn't have proper, they didn't have proper options on once they were discharged. And it was really frustrating. And as I began to explore the why, why is this happening, especially in Arizona, where we're a state where a lot of winter visitors come, but their family members are a distance away. And so through that, I began questioning

what happens outside of the hospital and that turned into a snowball effect essentially, where I just kept questioning, how did they find that, how did they get match make? How are these categorized? What are the good, how did they find that? How did they get matchmake? How are these categorized? What are the good, the bad, the regulatory? And one question led to another. And I knew this was a journey that I was destined for every role, every position that I ever had up to that point led me to created the foundation for where I needed to go. And I was exactly where I

was meant to be. And the path was clear. I was meant to be a navigator for that process. Excellent. And again, we've got with us Angela Olea, founder of Assisted Living Locators, can be reached at assistedlivinglocators.com. Okay, Angela, i'm going to ask you the question that i'm sure every potential customer asks costs are skyrocketing how in the world does somebody be able to afford to pay for assisted living for their loved ones that is that is the big question because a lot of people assume that Medicare is going to pay for it. And it is frequently a sticker shock. You know, a big shock when, when they find that out. And part of our services of what we do is really exploring with them.

What are those options? And we go from A to Z exploring, whether they were a veteran, because that can pay a portion of it. Do they have a pension? What is their social security? What are the forms of payment? And we look at everything from a bridge loan to all different types of payment. And if it's a couple, we look at working with a financial advisor and attorney to look at Medicaid to help protect the assets of the partner so that their funds aren't depleted caring for their loved one. And then they don't have money to care for themselves. So we go through A to Z and connecting them with those resources and aligning with properties or options, care options that meet those needs.

Angela, any secrets or that that you could share of things that we could do now to prepare for something like that, that again, if we live long enough, we ourselves, including you, will need to be in an assisted living facility place, right? What kind of things maybe can we do now to prepare for that regarding funding or insurance or what? Are there any? Is there anything? Yeah, certainly. We love when people have long-term care insurance. And unfortunately, that is something that just purchasing pure long-term care insurance isn't something that we're seeing so much now, but with investment and connecting with an attorney or financial advisor, there's hybrids. And when people do not have that worry, then they can focus on really what are our options. But when they're really trying to fit, you know, what kind of care that we're going to, what can we pay for? So it, it looking at that

and having that financial reassurance with a long-term type of hybrid care insurance is something that we always get a big smile on our face when, when someone has that, because we know it's going to go much, much easier. Excellent. And again, you're watching, listening to me, David Kogan, host of the Alliances Hero Show. Make sure that you go to alliances.com. That's E-L-I-A-N-C-E-S.com is the only place where entrepreneurs align because we have with us Angela Olea, founder of Assisted Living Locators. She can be reached at assistedlivinglocators.com. living locator, she could be reached at assistedlivinglocators.com. Angela, you created a huge feat by even franchising this. Talk to us about some of the, well, I guess the things of why did you decide to franchise and what advice do you have for others that are looking to get into the franchise industry? And that is such a great question. Franchising was not the first option. I created

this on a local level and quickly recognized with our online presence that this was a huge need everywhere. And it was something that it was so important to maintain the standards of our four-step process and simplifying and going through each detail that we do and streamlining this, that in order to maintain those standards, I recognize that franchising was truly the only way to continue with having the same options in California that you would in Florida and working with someone from our organization. And so franchising was a path that truly was the best match for what we do. And I know for a period of time is that you were franchising, you built a very successful franchise, and at the same time,

you were a franchisee of your franchise. Yes, this is true. And it was same time, you are a franchisee of your franchise. Yes, this is true. And it was a challenge, you know, but it was it was the best to have that best of all worlds because we were able to try things out and see what worked and what didn't work. And before we rolled it out to other other locations. So it was a great opportunity to live it and breathe it. And that is kind of unique with our franchise that I've done all aspects of it from the ground up. Wow. So what's the future? What's the future of the company? What's the future? Where do you see things going both within your company franchising,

and maybe the industry itself? Yeah, it is something that with the senior population and the growth, assisted living is an $82 billion industry. It is huge. And it is growing leaps and bounds to try to accommodate the senior tsunami of people who are going to need these services. And so we've only have 100 locations. And so on one side, that's a big number. But on the other side, we could easily be at 400. And so it is growth that we want both nationally and internationally crossing into Canada and other parts of the world to provide services because

this aging population is everywhere. And so that's going to be a big part of it. And you mentioned about how do I find you? It's matching that high touch with high technology. So continuing to evolve, making sure that families aren't derailed and going on a path of smoke and mirrors with options that are not going to take them on the right path and find us. Great. And we've got time for one more question. I think this is important. I mean, you've made an impact in the industry, again, being the first to franchise for assisted living. Right. I mean, that in itself was a huge feat. What kind of advice do you have for children or for parents, though, to to help their children make their mark,

feed them how they should to be able to, again, make their mark like you have creating something that wasn't even there? mark like you have creating something that wasn't even there really recognizing that um to forge a path try to find mentors and if if they've got a certain area of uh that they would like to go to it is finding those mentors in that area and really reaching out to them that was one of the early things that i did and reaching out um i reached That was one of the early things that I did and reaching out. I reached out to MassageNB's CEO before I even launched franchising and just said, this is what I'm thinking about doing. And that helped take me on a path on my journey. And I continue to do that. So find very successful people in the line or in the general area that they want to go to and set it up question, because I find that people want to teach and share that entrepreneurship

and be that leader and share best practices and encourage that. Well, Angela, you have helped people who are in the time of need of a crisis by creating and becoming the founder, CEO of Assisted Living Locators. Again, creating what wasn't even in existence, a franchise, the first franchise in the USA. That's a hero. Angela Olea. You can reach her at assistedlivinglocators.com. This has been David Kogan with the Alliance's Hero Show. But you got to dance with me too, Angela.

I like that. All right. flash 60 seconds of secrets of heroes with david kogan from alliances where entrepreneurs align our heroes will provide one word short answers to the secret questions can you beat the flash we have with us angela olea ceo r of AssistedLivingLocators.com, first assisted living placement franchise in the U.S. Angela, what is the proudest moment you've had in your life? Being at the national conference and seeing all the franchisees. One wish you would make? Time would standstill. Your favorite place on earth. Beaches anywhere. One thing that helps

you sleep at night. Knowing I do the right thing. Your favorite word. Success. The best advice you ever received. Put the right person in the right seat. Would like to be this one superhero. Wonder Woman. What makes you laugh? Random songs that people send to me. Would live in this period of time if I could.

Right now. And finally, would like to give my younger self this advice. No guilt for sacrifices. Thank you for playing Flash 60 Seconds of Secrets with David Kogan from Alliances. We're entrepreneurs alike. Go to E-L-I-A-N-C-E-S to unlock more secrets.