N. Texas Company Makes Senior Living Search Easier

Recognizing that it is time for a parent to move into a nursing home can be overwhelming and stressful for families. But there is a new service in North Texas that can help with the process - and it's free.

Paul Markowitz of Dallas was 26-years-old when he started noticing changes in his mother's memory. "We started seeing decline in my mom; short-term memory loss. She was starting to lose things," he explained.

His 59-year-old mother, Betty was diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease. It was a complete shock for Markowitz. Now, he had to find her a place to live where she would be happy. "Nobody really realizes how much stress and how much time it takes to do all this," Markowitz said.

During his search Markowitz saw that there was a need for a specialized service to help families in similar circumstances. "Why not try to create a free service to help individuals, here in Dallas, identify the best senior community but with a personal touch," he questioned.

Taking on the task, Markowitz started a new company called Senior Living Specialists. He meets with each client and their family, reviews their needs, researches facilities that meet those needs and gives the families options.

"I work with a packing services company, an estate sale company, I can recommend a mover, financial advisors, even elder car law attorneys because there are a lot of questions that people have when going through this," he said of the services offered by Senior Living Specialists.

After falling in his home, Dan Wilkins and his daughter Amy Gilcrest knew things would need to change. Wilkins told CBS 11 News, "I didn't want to leave my home, but I had to."

Gilchrest talked about the process of beginning to find her father a new place to live. "I was overwhelmed, I started calling around and making appointments and it was a daunting task," she said.

Markowitz began working with the family and focused on Wilkins' medical, financial, and personal needs and narrowed the list down to a few options. Last month, Wilkins moved in to Veranda Preston Hollow and he says things are good. "Sure, I miss my home but the staff here has done everything they possibly could to make me feel at home here."

Markowitz's mother, Betty, is also happy in her new home. And she says she knows her son is never very far away. "He's my baby. He's my baby. He is always there for me. He's going to be making other people have a better life and I'm just so proud of that."