Testimonials

Rachel and her team are the best.  My wife & I couldn’t have asked for more help.  Rachel’s been truly exceptional & beyond our expectations.  If you’re having as hard of a time as I was deciding how to proceed on behalf of your loved one, look no further.  Give them a call & they’ll answer all your concerns, provide guidance throughout the whole process, & take charge on your behalf if necessary.

While back in Boston sorting out my mother’s move to the bay area, Rachel visited several assisted living homes with my wife and found the perfect location based on our needs & independence level.  She had boundless knowledge of nursing, assisted living homes, and home health care.

My mom loves her new home and it all wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Exceptional Senior Placement Services.

We’re eternally grateful.  Thank you!

Rachel was a shining light during what was undoubtedly the most difficult time of my life. She helped me find respite-stay placement for one of my parents.

She was responsive, efficient, and she checked in with me several times during and after the placement process. She made sure that we found a great retirement home that fit our budget and transportation needs.

If I ever need placement help again in the Bay Area, I will trust only Rachel.

I cannot encourage you enough to reach out to eSenior Placement!

I had never heard of aa senior placement service but had become desperate as to what to do for my mother. In my first call with David, I realized I aaa talking to a compassionate person who truly could and wanted to help me. In a very short amount t of time, I had a solution, ultimately with the additional help of Johnell. I, who never  ever thought to place my mother in a care facility, now had a home for my mother and I could take confidence in my choice. I wish I had acted sooner. I urge anyone struggling with this very serious and personal matter to rest assured that peoole like me have had a superb experience and that this is an organization you can trust.

David helped me move my dad from assisted living to skilled nursing within 3 days.  We would have been lost without him.  He found us a perfect solution that was closer to us and provided our father with loving care for his last month of life.  I will always be grateful to David and his team.  They are simply the best and I would give them 100 stars if I could.

I am still working with David Cohen at ESP and am so grateful for his expertise and assistance in finding assisted living for my dad who has been diagnosed with Mild Dementia and Stage 4 Lymphoma and in complete denial that he needs help.  We are in the midst of dealing with this and David has helped tremendously.  Researching which facility will accept my dad, is within my budget and geographical location.  He does him homework and goes with you to tour properties.  His questions and insights are so helpful as it is OVERWHELMING to navigate on your own.  When I first attempted to do research via online – caring.com – it was a nightmare.  Dozens of providers started calling me and emailing me when all I wanted was info.  It was so intrusive and confusing.  I’m so sorry I gave them my contact info. Be wary as they will hound you like the robo callers.  Use David or Rachel at ESP.  They are simply the best!

I have spent much of the past 6 months trying to find an appropriate and desirable place for my aged father to live. Many social service workers at the hospital and rehab centers recommended boarding care for his safety, but I wanted a more engaging environment. David at Exceptional Senior Placement was recommended by a couple of different agencies, and he has been a priceless resource. David talked with me at length on the phone, tailored his recommendations to my family’s needs, then escorted me to visits at his recommended places. He was spot on in recognizing our needs and budget,  and each place he took me was impressive. We found an option that perfectly met my Dad’s requirements, and nobody else were spoke with even knew this option existed. My family is thrilled with the personal and excellent service provided by David and Exceptional Senior Placement!

I used Exceptional Placement Services at a very difficult time in my life. I had had a stroke two months earlier and had to find an assisted living facility in the peninsula, on very short notice. David provided extraordinary service under very difficult circumstances. I ended up in a wonderful assisted living facility, thanks to his help. David was very thorough in assessing my needs and matching them with different facilities. He made every step of the process easy. It is clear that his work is guided by a sense of compassion and care. I would recommend his service without reservations.

Since the initial conversation with David over 8 months ago, I knew right away it would be a great match to work with E senior placement services. David really makes the process about the individual and finding the right situation for their needs. In the process he’s responsive, SO KNOWLEGABLE and has great follow through. I don’t know how we’d manage this process without his guidance and expertise. He’s met with us over six times already and each has been valuable and helpful. We’re continuing our journey, and with his help, we’ve not dreaded the process simply as a result of David’s help and outlook.

For months I felt discouraged and overwhelmed trying to find care for my dad who has dementia. My family and I were not happy with the current assisted living facility he was in. I was advised to call Exceptional Senior Placement Services and this is the best gift given to my family and me.

David and Rachel are angels. I felt like I was alone and swimming up a creek however David took the time to listen to the needs of my dad and family and he and his wife went to work right away. I gave him a tall, almost unrealistic request and wasn’t sure if I was asking for too much. However within 48 hours, David and Rachel had facilities lined up for me to visit.

David met me at each facility and asked important questions on my behalf. He took time to debrief with me after each tour. I was so impressed by his empathy and thoughtfulness. Rachel was so patient the numerous times I called. She is thoughtful and caring. Thanks to David and Rachel my dad will be moving to his new facility where he will receive the care he needs.

I stepped into a different chapter of life which has opened my eyes to how broken our country is with regards to elder care and that you have to fend for yourself. It really is discouraging. David and Rachel, however, has brought me hope that there are good people out there who are doing amazing work and helping families in tremendous ways.

We have all seen pictures or movies of a mouse in a maze.  Hitting barriers, going no place fast, never getting to the goal.

That is what I felt like when I started thinking of finding a suitable care facility for my wife.  I called a few well known national placement services in desperation.  Initial friendly and chatty conversations quickly turned into sales pitches.  At that point I felt like I was in a 3 dimensional maze which seemed to compound my confusion.

And luckily my research uncovered Exceptional Senior Placement Services.  I left a message to speak to someone, and almost immediately received a call from Rachel.  Surprisingly she focused on how I was feeling and what I thought I needed and why.  Within a short few minutes I knew I was talking to a caring person who wanted to help both myself and my wife.  Her only agenda seemed to be to provide care and guidance.  No sales pitches.  How refreshing!

Throughout the search process, Rachel continued to refine her recommendations base on my reactions to the various care facilities she visited with me.  I felt certain I had an advocate who had my wife’s well being as her top priority since she transparently highlighted the pros and cons of the care options she unveiled.

At the end of the process, finally making a choice was less traumatic than I had feared because of Rachel’s expert guidance and collaborative approach.

The minute I talked to Rachel I felt my prayers had been answered.   I had to quickly move my mom from Houston to the Bay Area due to her home flooding.  I had days to find a suitable place for her near me in Alamo.  Within one day Rachel had sent  me a comprehensive list of assisted/independent living communities that she thought would be a good match for my mom based on the information I had quickly given her.  She had done all the legwork for me…the pros/cons, price, availability.  The next day Rachel took us to look at 3 communities and we chose the one we thought would be best.  Rachel was wonderful to work with.  She was very kind, compassionate and responsive.  Everyone we met at each of the 3 communities we visited said they really liked working with Rachel.  She’s the kind of person you can’t help but like.  I had no idea that a service such as this even existed. I’ve told all my friends about her.  Rachel, I can’t thank you enough for the help you gave us!!!

The Cohens came highly recommended to me and Rachel seemed very capable and compassionate during a phone call. Unfortunately that was the last I heard from her despite a follow up email and phone call on my part. (2 others I know of also did not hear back when they made initial inquiries.)

This agency works wonders to help place your loved one in an amazing home. It literally took one week for me to find a stellar home with great carrgivers for my mom.

I am extremely appreciative of David and Rachel.  They are kind, professional, caring, responsive, knowledgeable, and genuinely care about their clients.  Thank you both for all your care and hard work.  You are a pleasure to work with and truly make a difference in people’s lives.

Absolutely highly recommend Rachel, Johnell and David!!  They took the time to understand our senior care needs, and with their knowledge of the senior community and availability of homes, scheduled tours to help us look at the options.  The place they found for my aunts at Pacific Care is amazing — both surroundings and the caring staff– and they took the time to make other recommendations to us as well.  We were able to find a new home for my aunts within a two week period. I can’t thank them enough or recommend them more highly.

I called David Cohen at Exceptional Senior Placement in the midst of some pretty dire straits. One month after burying my mother, I learned that my father would be discharged from the skilled nursing facility he’d been in since the automobile accident that left his body broken and ultimately claimed my mother’s life. They called me on Monday. He would be discharged on Friday. I couldn’t leave him 400 miles away with no medical/ physical assistance. Furthermore he had long ago happily abdicated all fiduciary and other decisions to my mother, which meant that even if he could have cared for his physical needs, he would need lots of help with everything else. This isn’t even the full situation, but probably paints enough of a picture so you understand the frame of mind I was in when I called David: a perfect blend of massive grief and COMPLETE AND UTTER PANIC!

I’m no longer sure how many times I burst into tears on that initial phone call, and I’m quite sure that David would say he doesn’t remember me being anything other than composed. However, any composure on my part is largely down to his professionalism, his extraordinary compassion, his deep knowledge of both the elder care industry and the Bay Area, and his grace. We talked at length about my father, his needs, his personality, his preferences, and so on. When he arrived at my house the next day to take me on a tour of several possible assisted living facilities, David was warm and friendly–genuinely so, not at all solicitous–and I knew we were in good hands. I cannot lie, the entire process was overwhelming, all the more so since we had such a narrow timeframe. But with every step, David offered confident and calm guidance. He met my panic, stared it in the face, and advocated for my father and me when I was tongue-tied or trying not to dissolve into a puddle of tears. Not only did David help me find the right place for my father, he also helped me find flights and arrange a travel companion to escort my father in his wheelchair from southern to northern California. Did I also mention, he was prepared to assist with furniture? ALL IN LESS THAN A WEEK!

I cannot sing the praises of Exceptional Senior Placement loudly enough, and will be forever grateful to David and his team, who have followed up several times to make sure my father is settled in and doing well.

Thank you!!

David is the BEST!  I live in Honolulu and needed to find a memory care facility for my mother in the East Bay. I was so confused and overwhelmed but David stepped in and everything made sense. David worked with me via phone and email to help me find a great place for her.  We talked about my mom and her needs and he offered several suggestions and even made appointments for me when I was in town.  I had several rough days and David was able to offer wonderful guidance and calm my frazzled nerves.  If you are looking to place a loved one in assisted living give David a call. He will make it all so much easier for you and your family.

I worked with Rachel. She is just the loveliest and most understanding young women. She helped me to navigate the difficult world of senior placement for a person with Alzheimer’s and she was amazing.Rachel showed genuine empathy for our situation and showed me what was available for my 88 year old mother. Her help raised my knowledge levels and lessened my stress so that I could make the right decisions for my mom.
I highly recommend the service. There are many different places and they all look fairly similar, but Rachel knows the inside information and will help you negotiate the best one for your families needs.

If I could give them 10 stars, I would!

My husband and I were looking to move my mother-in-law from Virginia to an Assisted Living Facility in California. We had no clue where to even start – and then I came across Exceptional Senior Placement Services on Yelp. A true GIFT.

I called immediately and David picked up. He asked me questions to gain an understanding of the situation. He was very helpful in explaining the process of moving an elder into an AL facility specific to California. He answered all of the questions I had. We exchanged emails after that and his amazing wife, Rachel, stepped in to help get us a list of wonderful assisted living facilities in the areas we were looking.

Every time I had a question, a rambled thought, or just needed insight or advice, I would reach out to them. They are SUPER responsive and thorough. The trust was immediately built as their warmth and knowledge come across in every interaction. They scheduled site tours for facilities that were within our specifications based on what my MIL wanted and needs. I felt an instant connection with them from day one and would HIGHLY recommend their services to everyone.

We’ve had to postpone my mother-in-law’s move to California for the time being, however, as soon as we’re closer to the move date I will most definitely be reaching out to Rachel and David for their further guidance and expertise.

Words can’t express our gratitude for your help! Something as personal as this really could not be handled by a better-suited team of kind, professional, personable, knowledgeable and responsive individuals.

My Dad and I were completely overwhelmed trying to find a long term care placement for my one hundred year old grandmother. After a visit to the hospital for a fall, we worked with an onsite social worker to find her a care facility. It was a small residential care home that was a terrible fit. For three months they called us almost every day with some issue, needing us to calm my grandmother down via facetime because she was so unhappy being there. It got to the point they asked her to leave. After getting her home and realizing that she still wasn’t capable of taking care of herself, I took to researching local facilities, but there were SO many options. We were completely overwhelmed! After a particularly grueling day of taking care of my grandmother and trying to work my way through my mountain of a to-do list at the same time, I logged onto yelp in desperation. Due to a high rating, I was immediately drawn to Exceptional Senior Placement Services and decided to leave them a message. Rachel called me back a short time later, and we had a fantastic conversation. She immediately put my mind at ease! In less than twenty-four hours she sent me a list of possible placement options, with explanations why they would be a good fit for my grandmother. She walked us through the whole process, and even came with us to tour the first and only facility we needed to take a look at before deciding it was a good match.
My grandmother put up a real fight about being moved into a care home, but after moving in, she’s really happy there (which if you knew her, you would understand what a miracle that is!) and doing great! Our stress level has gone way, way down, and all of this is thanks to Rachel and Exceptional Senior Placement. I would recommend them to everybody!

These folks lived up to their company name “Exceptional Senior Placement Services”!
My husband and I live in Hawaii and we needed assistance to relocate his mother from a senior living facility in Washington State to California.

My mother-in-law had very specific requests and we had a group of 4 family members involved in helping with the relocation process.  None of us had experience in the arena.  As soon as we contacted David, he jumped right in to help coordinate our group.

One of my mother-in-laws requests was to have her moved into her new place by the end of September, which only have us about a month and a half.

David found locations that best fit my mother-in-laws requests…. at times the requested changed daily… but David was patient and accommodating.  David even helped us find people to unload and unpack her belongings.  His follow-up and response times were amazing.

I am happy to say, that we moved her into her new place in Livermore, CA this past weekend… as scheduled… the 3rd week of September.  We are all very happy with her new living facility.

I highly recommend Exceptional Senior Placement Services!!

Rachel worked tirelessly to help find an assisted living home for my elderly mom with dementia. We had many criteria, but she was always responsive and patient with us. I can’t thank you enough for your assistance.  I highly recommend their services.

I can’t say enough about Mona. Her patience, thoughfulness, understanding, and soothing manner all won the day.

My 72 year old Dad is not your average bear – an eccentric fellow with serious hippie tendencies and a life that had gone from robust and wide to small, cluttered, confused, and taken advantage of by predators. It all ended one day with a flood, and that was the catalyst for our work with Mona.

Mona arranged tours for my father at several places in the east bay and we found a great fit. Dad will be moving in in the next couple of weeks and many of the worries and midnight demons that have plagued me for the last year will be over.

THANK YOU, Mona, for treating my Dad with decency and compassion and me with patience and grace. You are a lifesaver and a star. FIVE STARS, and I’d gve more if I could.

Mona is an angel! Before I met Mona, I did’t know where to turn. I have never been in this situation before, and I didn’t know anyone who had good advice. People I knew had either handled their family planning differently, or they had never been in need of having their parent placed in a care facility. Everywhere I turned, everyone I asked, no one knew where I could go for help. My Mom had limited resources, and unfortunately my Mom and Dad did not plan properly for their senior years. Then, someone told me to write this number down. They said call Mona at Exceptional Placement. She will help you. You won’t be disappointed. Well, I had heard similar things before that turned out not so helpful. I kept Mona’s number for about two weeks before I finally decided to call. I thought what have I got to lose. I didn’t get a voicemail, or routed around in a phone tree, or left on terminal hold, I didn’t even get a secretary. Mona answered. I could tell she was very busy, most likely catching her with a family in route to a facility. I later learned, as I spent more time with her, Mona never stops. She is working constantly. She worries about every family she helps, as she tries her best to match our Mom’s and Dad’s with the appropriate facility. Mona took my information, and we had a short, but detailed conversation giving her a short summary of my Mom’s situation. Then she promised she would give me a call the next day, and reassured me that she would help my Mom. She seemed to understand everything that I told her. Mona was so hands on, and always a telephone call or a text away. She really put my mind at ease. I got a sense that I just met a living angel. And, I felt confident that she would help my Mom, not just someone telling me what I want to hear, only to put me off like so many people I had met before her. Mona walked me through the entire process. She was very professional, and explained things so that I had a complete understanding of everything that was happening. She met with me right away and got the ball rolling. I depended on her so much, but you won’t hear Mona complain. She loves what she does! Mona says, “It’s my life’s work”. She believes in her heart that this is what she is on this planet for…to help families (some are in real crisis) to find the best care facility/home that is the best fit for Mom or Dad (or family member), within the person’s means financially. Mona found the best place for my Mom. Before all this began, I worried about my Mom adjusting to such a dramatic change. But, Mona did such an outstanding job matching Mom with the right facility, Mom moved in with confidence, she is safe (most importantly), and continues to thrive. She is more active than she’s been in recent years, and she really likes the staff at the facility. Mona took the time to pay attention to every area of my Mom’s needs so that nothing was missed.
I know, what does all this special attention cost? Nothing. Mona takes no money from families. She is there to hold your hand through the entire process, and then some. I owe Mona the moon and stars for taking the care that was needed to properly place my Mom in the most appropriate facility. My family and I will be eternally grateful to Mona for her expertise, her endless resources, and her enormous heart.

Spoke with David – he was great – definitely knowledgeable and didn’t waste my time.  He understood what I was looking for and gave 2 ideas without even blinking an eye.  They get paid by the facility so their consultation is free.  STRONGLY recommend giving them a call.  He is going to send me an email with additional options – I am so glad I called!

Rachel is the best.

She came up with some great options for my mom, was super kind and responsive, and didn’t charge me a dime.  If you are seeking options for senior care,  you would do well to give her a call.

I am very grateful for David’s help and particularly grateful for the speed in which he addressed a close friend’s situation. David has excellent communication, a genuine willingness to find an appropriate safe place for the senior and the organizational skills to follow through.  I was impressed with his ability to set up next day weekend appointments at four facilities. He helped my friend tour the facilities and assisted her in asking the right questions.  He stayed on budget and truly listened to the needs of the senior seeking a placement.  David helped my friend place her husband in an board and care home faster than I have ever seen it happen.

I do not know how my family would have moved my father on such short notice without Mona’s help! I do know that Dad wouldn’t have ended up at such a wonderful place and we would have hit many more obstacles along the way without her.
Thank you Mona!

Mona is an amazing and resourceful senior placement expert.

She is responsive, knowledgeable, experienced, efficient, and helpful.

Our problem: My mom needed a care home, and quickly. Due to a stroke, she needed 24-7 care (mostly for memory related problems).

The solution: I e-mailed Mona the details of what I was looking for, and after a brief call, I had appointments at different care homes the very next day. I really liked one of them, and she helped arrange for Mom to stay there.

The BIG test: When I brought my mom to the care home, I was nervous at how Mom would react. But my mom really liked the home, the caregivers, and the other people in the home. I knew we were in good hands when while I was doing paperwork with the administrator, I peeked into the kitchen and saw my mom talking with one of the other pleasant residents, and later saw her seated at the table happily eating a delicious dinner. Both of us were relieved and very thankful that Mona helped us find such a great place.

How we found Mona:
She came highly recommended by someone I knew at the Elder Care Services Program at UC Berkeley.

Our prior experience with Mona: I first consulted with Mona a number of years ago. She was patient, and coordinated showings of multiple large care facilities in the Bay Area. At the time, we did not end up signing up for a facility due to my mom’s young age, and preference to try to stay at home for as long as she could. But, we were thankful for the time she spent to show us around and educate us on our options, without any pressure. She impressed us with her organization, knowledge, and expertise. When circumstances changed, and we needed to find a new place for mom, we contacted her for help again.

The bottom line: Mona saved us time, helped us quickly, and shared her years of experience in senior placement so we could make the best informed choice we could for a place for Mom. We are grateful. Thanks Mona!

David helped us at a very difficult time.  My mother in law was “kicked out” of Saint Paul’s Tower because she “outgrew” their ability to care for her.  David found us a great option for her that we never even considered after she was rejected by Atria of Lafayette as well.  He is diligent, caring, very professional, resourceful and knowledgeable.  He called us and followed up with us several times a day.  We were treated like we were his only clients.  He is a joy to work with.  I wish I can give 10 stars! Do not hesitate to call David.  He will have options you did not know existed and the service is free to you, he is paid by the facility.

Mona was an angel from heaven during a stressful and trying time.  She was referred by a friend and magically swooped in and took care of everything.  Literally, we went from having no place for my parents to go after being released from the hospital to having a beautiful place secured for us.  We didn’t have to do anything — Mona took care of everything.  It’s stressful enough dealing with the health of ones parents, let alone finding a place to take care of them.  This was all new territory for me — I knew nothing about assisted living, costs, locations, amenities etc. so was a bit like a deer caught in a headlight.  Mona lifted the burden — I can’t say enough good things.  She’s well connected and it really helps to have someone with their fingers on the pulse of the elder care community because she makes magic happen.

Mona has been awesome! When my dad first moved here 3 years ago, she really helped me find a place that we could afford and wasn’t a pit! Had a nice ambiance, good range of activities and would be able to increase level of care for him. Recently the place he is in wanted to raise his rates and I again called Mona. She again quickly and compassionately helped me look at places that fit the bill. Super kind and very knowledgeable. Kept me from going around and around in circles.

During a very difficult time, Mona was able to provide a high level of service to find last minute senior placement for my aunt and uncle. Because of my uncle’s frail condition she searched and found availability when we thought we had no other options. Her expertise, gentle manner, and compassion made the move possible. I appreciate all of her support and warmth.

Mona was truly one of the most helpful people that I met while trying to find new housing for my grandmother. She is patient and responsive and cares about all involved. Thank you Mona!

I would give Mona ten stars if I could. She helped us find a room and board place for my mom when we felt truly helpless. She will talk with you and understand your unique situation, coming back with a few options that will be in your range for you to consider. I recommend her to anyone in the Bay Area needing help for memory care options for their loved one.

Mona Lalchandani was a complete lifesaver for our family.  Our mother who had been in assisted living for 4 years was not getting the care she needed with her advanced disability of Congestive Heart Failure and shorty term memory issues.  During a stay at Piedmont Gardens nursing facility Mona was highly recommended by their staff.  We did not know where to turn.  Mona to the rescue!  Everything she said she would do, she did immediately.  She had a phone interview with me for over an hour.  She lined up two amazing places for us to tour.  The first place we went was perfect and our mother  has been living there for two months now and is getting the best care ever.  Mona knows her stuff.    She’s open and caring and just seems to know immediately what situation will work for your senior.  I cannot believe the peace of mind I have now and how happy my mom is every time I see her.

We could not have done this without her.  It’s been said in other reviews and it’s true, Mona is a Godsend.

I could not ask for a more caring and understanding angel.  I have not placed my sister yet but she began working with the family immediately and keeps in contact daily.  She is indeed a blessing.

Mona has assisted me twice with placing my mother. Both times she found the best option available to suit our budget and unique care needs. She has a fantastic relationship with senior care providers and she is able to help negotiate and advocate on her client’s behalf. I don’t know what I would have done without Mona’s support. Now that my mom has passed away, I can rest assured knowing that we found her the best care options to support her needs. Thank you, Mona!

Making big decisions on behalf of a parent dealing with Alzheimer’s is one of the hardest situations that a child can face. You can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the many decisions and options to consider, particularly if you are part of the “sandwich generation” trying to juggle work and personal life on top of supporting a parent. I found myself in this situation and I had to make some fast decisions around finding a place for my mother to live, in the face of completing the sale of her house in less than 30 days. I had no idea which options to consider, particularly with our limited financial resources.

Thankfully, I came across Mona’s information on Yelp and reached out not really knowing what to expect. Here’s how I would describe the experience:

1) Comforting and reassuring. While she clearly has the years of experience and she may have seen many similar circumstances, she understands that this is personal to you and your loved one. She conveys a high level of empathy which just makes you feel like there is hope.

2) Resourceful and efficient. Once she understands what’s most important to your loved one, including budget, she can immediately cut through the clutter and find the best options for you to consider- which saves you SO much time and bandwidth. She also has a lightening fast turnaround time

3) Agnostic Advocate. What makes her so effective is that you can see that she’s on the side of the client. She can carefully select the best option for your loved one and also negotiate directly with the home to get the best value for investment. She helps to navigate through the process to make it seamless when it’s time to set everything in motion

As I told her directly, I am BEYOND happy with the way things have turned out. This is definitely a terrific fit for my mom and within our budget. I cannot thank her enough for everything that she did to make this a smooth transition. One phone call literally made the difference.

Trying to find a placement for my elderly mother in April, I turned to Mona. She arranged for 6 facilities to tour. Normally, she only schedules three tours. After I decided and Mona concurred, I moved my mother into the most expensive. After all, Mother had specific needs of increased supervision than in regular assisted living. After Mother had lived there a week, I emailed and called staff about my concerns of their not meeting her needs. Mona said she called the facility staff and was told everything was fine. She didn’t call her client, me, to ask. She said she eventually contacted the corporate office on my behalf. This period of time was very stressful for me and my mother because she wasn’t transitioning as well as we had hoped. It got to the point that I considered moving Mother again and mentioned that in an email to Mona. She ‘schooled’ me that moving Mother again would be even more traumatic for her. That’s the last I heard from Mona. She never contacted me again. I ended up moving my mother less than three months later with the assistance of a care manager, who was paid by me, not by the facility. The Executive Director of the facility lamented that Mona received 100% of the first month’s rent as her commission. Other placement services receive 50%. Lesson learned and passed on to others who have this need.

I have had such positive experiences with Mona that I recently referred a good friend of mine.  She personally recommended and toured facilities with him so that he could make the best decision not only for the short term, but the long term as well.  I would recommend Mona for her knowledge, expertise, and negotiation strengths which are greatly needed within the aging population.  You can’t go wrong with Mona.

Mona was my ANGEL!!! Father needed immediate assisted care in a home and after searching sites I found the process overwhelming, stressful and emotional. Mona took all that away by steering me in the right direction, making phone calls, etc.

She is truly amazing at what she does!!! Followed up with me every single day!!
Caring, supportive, calming and focused on getting what my father needed.

Never met her but I feel as if I have known her for years! Blessings to this wonderful woman…

My brother and I went to Kerrrie Moon at Exceptional Senior Placement Services to help us find an assisted living place for my dad.  He needed more care than what was available at his retirement apartment.  She made all the difference.  Most of the places were clean and cheerful.  However, Kerrie knew the subtle differences – differences that weren’t obvious.  She knew which places had high staff turnover.  She knew which places had lots of exits making it unsafe for someone like my dad who might wander.  She knew which ones had great wellness management and which ones didn’t.   She knew which places gently redirected someone like my forgetful dad and which ones would be quick to pull the trigger and put him in memory care which he didn’t need.  In the end we chose Sunrise Senior living.  My dad’s only been there a few days.  We’ll know more as time passes.  However, it is thumbs up from our family so far.  The staff is kind.  They interact with the residents.  They remind my dad of important things like meals, and activities.  The common areas are heavily used.  My dad doesn’t want to sit alone in his room any more.  He used to do that a lot at the old place.  We are very happy.  Really glad we had Kerrie to help make the right choice.

Not long ago I went through the process of selecting a place for my 87 year old mother to live when she suddenly lost her memory. It was a daunting process. Today I met Mona who introduced my friend to three memory care facilities she thought would be appropriate for my friend’s mother. I wish I had known Mona when i could have used such help. She is a warm, wise and wondrous woman. With more than two decades in the field of senior placement, she knows all of the care facilities and she learns each client’s needs so that she can recommend an appropriate selection of senior communities to select from. I am so glad to have met Mona so I can refer her to friends should the need arise. She is a tremendous resource.

I have recently been dealt the task of trying to figure out where my schizophrenic mother who has dementia can live & be taken care of properly…this task is daunting.  I have been working with several social workers and elder care planning groups since December of 2015-it is now April and only after being put in contact with Mona do I have a solution to my problem.  Let me start of by saying that I was overwhelmed with the information, rules, regulations, lists of placements, doctors etc… that I had to talk to, fill out and figure out and while working on this for months along with “seasoned professionals” nothing was accomplished, I felt more confused then when we began….enter Mona.  I received a call from Mona-who was encouraged to reach out to my by my mother’s social worker and I’m so glad that she did.  Within 2 to 2.5 weeks she found a wonderful placement for my mother where she can be safe and have her physical & mental needs met without me running constant interference.  Mona is a God send, she truly cares about the people she works with. Other agencies have left me with “well I don’t know what to tell you.” Whereas Mona has worked so hard to connect me with the right sort of facilities for my mother’s unique needs.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Mona for your hard work and perseverance.  I don’t know where we would be without you.

I am so grateful that I found Mona at Exceptional Senior Placement Services. She single-handedly helped us research, identify and move into a senior residence that is a great fit for my mother on a very short time-frame.

My mother experienced an unexpected health crisis that indicated she needed more support than she could get living home alone. I had no knowledge of local senior housing/assistance options and had my hands more than full with being out of town to care for my mom and taking care of a newborn. From the first phone call I had with Mona, I could tell I was in excellent hands. She was responsive, proactive, resourceful and extremely knowledgable of senior housing facilities (and their staff, services, pricing, etc.) in the East Bay. She quickly understood my mother’s tastes and preferences and clarified the subtle distinctions between the different options. Mona regularly checked in with us, shared her opinions when we solicited them, and, throughout all of it, communicated genuine care and interest in getting the right fit for my mother. Mona made a very difficult situation manageable and successful. I would recommend her in a heartbeat.

Mona’s service, caring, expertise and results deserve much, much more than 5 stars. My Father, at age 90, did not want to move out of his home and into Assisted Living. It was a really difficult time of adjustment and loss for him. I was touched by the loving way that Mona related to him and helped to make a seemingly impossible transition go smoothly, ending with my Father relocated to a wonderful new home which fits perfectly for him now. Mona was knowledgeable and effective on the business side, helping us to look at good options, ask the right questions, and ultimately create a new life setting for my Dad that really works. Combining her deep caring and compassion for people with her strong business and advocacy skills makes her an exceptional support person for elder transitions. Her business is named perfectly.

Mona is a Lifesaver!

Anyone facing the “facility” placement of a family member MUST use Mona.  She knows the ins and outs of the local facilities, and is a trusted specialist with the various facilities.  I have had to move a family member 3 times, and each time, Mona is right on the job to screen the issues and have a variety of choices.  She works very hard, is open and honest, is a good listener and genuinely cares about her “clients.”  Mona takes a lot of the worry off of you and is truly a kind and caring individual.  She definately provides “exceptional” services, but you also feel like she is watching out for you personally.  She is a true Saint.  I am very grateful for her patience, understanding, listening and help.

If I could give ten stars, I would.  Mona help us place my mother in a wonderful facility that (financially speaking) would have normally been beyond her reach. As a result, my mother’s last years will be such high quality.  That’s priceless. Mona is knowledgeable, connected, savvy, and, most importantly, the consummate professional. In a word—she’s awesome!

Five stars!  Working with Mona was much better than calling various facilities directly, or using one of those referral websites.  Mona knows the facilities, the prices, and the people, and can quickly help you narrow your search to the best choices for your situation — instead of you having to place cold calls to, and sort through, hundreds of possibilities. We had a tricky situation — we needed someplace in a rush, and a place that would take a large dog.  Mona came through for us and we are very pleased with my mom’s new residence.

Not even remotely surprising to see that Mona has a unanimous 5-star rating on Yelp. Mona knows her stuff and provides exceptional service. We were on a tight timeline due to treatment schedules, and Mona jumped in to help. She continued to follow up despite being on vacation out of the country.

Each review you read about Mona and Exceptional Senior Placement Services says she is the best, that’s because it’s true. When you have a parent who needs care, you’re overwhelmed. Mona understands that. She believes that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and as a result, she will only provide you with places and people who will treat your family members with loving care. Mona is kind and knowledgeable, wise and supportive, all the things a family needs to make the transition from independent living to assisted living. I know our family could’t have done this without her!

A lot has changed since my last review for Mona Lalchandani even though it was only last May. My dad has since passed away and shortly there after my mom suffered a major stroke. My mom was transferred to a horrible skilled nursing facility for recovery and stayed about two months until her insurance ran it’s course. Again, I found myself in a pinch to find another facility for my mom that could provide the care needed for someone recovering from a stroke. So of course I called Mona. She was on it and we were looking at places only a few days later. We finally settled on a place and I am very happy with the facility so far.  Mona will be your advocate and friend throughout this process. She truly cares about her clients and goes the extra mile. She was even texting me while she was out of the country on vacation checking up on me to see how things were going. She also has a great rapport with management at a lot of these facilities which is a tremendous help.  She does most of the talking, asking all the right questions for the type of care needed, costs (which she will also help negotiate if she can), move in time frames, etc.  This really takes the burden off you as the client. I can’t say enough of Mona, she really has been my rock through all of this. I highly recommend her services!

If I could give Mona ten stars I would. My dad is 80 and ended up in the hospital after a fall that turned into pancreatitis. As you can imagine, it wasn’t the first time he had fallen and along with other issues, it was the final straw as to what we would do next. My mom is also 80 and could not care for him especially since her mobility has declined as well.  He was in the skilled nursing facility for two weeks so I had very little time to figure out what to do. My mom was panicking and I had approached the idea of them moving to a senior living community in the past but was always shot down. They were against it for money reasons and didn’t want to leave their home of 40 years. This is where Mona came in. I contacted her via email and she set up a phone appointment the next day. She asked me all about my parents, health history, finances, etc. By the next day, she had a plan. I convinced my mom to go on a couple of tours with Mona and myself. She calmed my mom’s nerves, worked out numbers and calmly convinced my mom that this would be the right decision. She guided us through the tours and asked all the pertinent questions. We decided on a community and they accommodated us last minute with Mona’s help. They moved in, love it and and they are getting the care they need. We couldn’t have done it without her, she was so reassuring and genuinely cares about her clients. Thank you Mona!!!

I worked with Sandra when we were looking at moving both of my parents into an assisted living facility.  Sandra did a wonderful job communicating with both myself and my parents and was able to find a facility that served both my parents considerable needs.

Mona came to my rescue.  My brother had had a stroke and was mentally confused and had difficulty walking.  I was beside myself trying to find a place for him to live where he would be safe and receive excellent care.  He was bring released from the hospital and I didnot know where to start, so I was frantic.  Luckily I heard about Mona and called her.  She immediately started working on finding a place for my brother and within days he was placed in an assisted living facility that I am very happy with.  What an absolute relief.  I can sleep at night knowing my brother is safe and taken care of due to Mona’s help.  Mona and I spoke on the phone many times within a short time period and I got the impression that she really knew about the best places in the Bay Area and that she would not recommend a place she was not comfortable with.  She knows her stuff inside out, and I trust her completely.  If my brother needs a different kind of care/placement in the future, Mona will be the first person I call.