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By Katrina Margolis
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Independence is something everyone wants from the time they are two years old. Making decisions in our own life that determine how we move forward is our ultimate goal. However, as we get older, it can become seemingly more and more difficult to make these decisions as we realize we have less control over our surroundings, as well as possibly less control due to physical limitations.
Cassi Braithwaite, a representative from Two Sisters, a certified senior advisor group, gave a presentation at the Westwood Council on Aging that focused on redefining independence and how to take back control with just a little help.
When Braithwaite mentioned the term “assisted living,” one man raised his hand and asked: “What exactly does that mean?”
Braithwaite gave a little smile in response, and replied: “Exactly.”
One of the reasons it is so hard for seniors to get information about their living situations is that the information is scattered across a number of platforms, as well as sometimes only available online - not exactly the best way to reach a demographic that is often less than comfortable with technology. This is where Two Sisters steps in.
“The two sisters are originally from Massachusetts, but life happened, and they ended up out West. They were working out there in various senior living communities,” Braithwaite explained. “when they were out West, they realized that no one ever went out to look for senior living options alone. They always had someone with them, someone helping them, and no one really did it alone.”
The two women had grown up with a father who was an administrator in nursing homes, so they were somewhat familiar already with senior living options. “Their dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and so they decided to move back to Massachusetts, so that way when he was needing help and their mom was going to need support they were already here for them,” Braithwaite continued. “When they came back here, they realized that people guiding seniors through this search didn’t exist out here. And most of it was online companies, which is fine if it’s the adult child looking, but what if it’s someone who doesn’t know how to access that?” From there, the company was born. “We want to make sure we stay free to the client, because that’s just one more thing you have to worry about, another fee. So we were able to come up with a structure so that we are free to our client and still able to give the best service and allow them to make their own decisions in the best possible way,” Braithwaite said.
One of the main things Two Sisters does is just explain the different options available to seniors. Assisted Living can mean a wide range of things - everything from absolute care to centers that don’t accept residents in wheelchairs. Two Sisters offers a unique and, remarkably, free resource to seniors who may need help, no matter at what level.
