Geriatric care manager offers personalized service through her own company

Like many people today, Grace Bayle recently found herself without a job. Instead of seeking another position, the 44-year-old chose to start her own business so she couldn't be laid off again. Armed with several years of experience as a geriatric care manager, she started Elite Care Management LLC to assess the needs of seniors and organize the delivery of services for them without the corporate price tag.

When did you start your company?

June of this year, but I have been in the social work field for seven years. My degree is also in social work from the University of South Florida. After being laid off from a local geriatric care company in May, I was at a crossroads. Do I go and work for another company and make them money or work for myself? I felt like I had enough experience to go ahead and give it a whirl.

What do you do?

I work with those who are helping their aging loved ones obtain services. I help ensure that the seniors live in the least restrictive environments. I'll go into the home or assisted living facility and do an assessment of the person's environmental, physical and mental needs and then make recommendations to the family to determine the best way to fulfill the needs.

What brought you to senior care?

When I was 14, I had an assignment with my church to volunteer. We picked an organization to work at for two weeks and I liked it so much I wound up staying the whole summer. I loved it. I loved helping people and it felt like a calling for me. Later, for my internship at USF, I was paired up with an agency that assisted senior citizens at their home. It was such a good fit and I found it was also my passion. My favorite thing was working with the people to make sure they were safe and that their needs were being met. Helping people and helping seniors realize they do have hope, that there are resources available and that for the most part they can stay home as they age is very rewarding.

How do your clients find you?

Networking, networking, networking! Some assisted living facilities are bringing clients to me, but for the most part it is through word of mouth that people are currently finding me.

How do you find assisted living centers?

I don't ever refer a senior to a place that I haven't been into already and met with the people face to face. I always give people choices. I don't work with just one facility either. I don't take referral fees from companies. Instead I give an honest assessment of facilities and then let the client choose where they want to go.

How much do you charge?

I charge $70 an hour. Some companies charge close to a thousand dollars just for an initial assessment. I don't have the big staff and the rent of a large building. It's just me, so you get more personalized service. When you hire Elite Care Management, you get me. It is often more cost-effective to go with a small company because you aren't getting all of the lump-sum fees that sometimes come with the larger companies.

What are the benefits of working for yourself?

I'm able to spend as much time as I need to with service providers and clients establishing relationships with people. Before, I didn't have the time. I can also work the hours I want to. That is a huge benefit to me. Working for a huge company, you may be restricted in the hours of provided service, but now I can be there for my clients when they need me. Even the marketing side, which I originally thought would be a disadvantage, has been a positive for me. It is a part of me that I have tapped into recently and have really enjoyed.

For more information on Elite Care Management LLC, call (813) 493-0560.