What a senior placement service does
Quick answer: A senior placement service, also called a placement agency or senior living advisor, matches an older adult with a care home that fits their needs, budget and location. In Fresno, CalValley does this for free. The home pays us a referral fee when your family moves in, so you pay nothing.
Think of it like a good local real estate agent, but for care. We know which homes take memory care residents, which ones can handle a two person transfer, which ones work with the Medi-Cal waiver, and which ones have had problems on their state inspections.
Why local matters
A lot of senior living searches end up on a national website. Some of those are helpful. But the person on the phone may never have been inside the homes near you. Here's what a local service gets you:
- We've walked the halls. We tour homes in person, so we can tell you how a place feels, not just what the brochure says.
- Small homes, too. Some of the best options around Fresno are board and care homes with six residents or fewer. They often don't show up on big national lists.
- We know the hospitals. Discharges from Community Regional, Saint Agnes, Clovis Community, Kaiser Fresno and the VA can move fast. We know how to keep up.
- One contact. You deal with Shaun or Nick from the first call to move-in day.
- Your phone stays quiet. We only share your parent's details with homes you approve by name.
Local also means we hear things that never make it online: which homes just changed owners, which ones have a new administrator, and which ones have a room opening up next week.
Want the full side by side? See local advisor vs national referral sites vs doing it yourself.
What to expect when you work with us
- A real conversation. We talk about care needs, memory, budget, location and what your parent enjoys.
- A shortlist in about 48 hours. Usually 3 to 5 licensed homes, with real prices and notes on each home's inspection history.
- Tours together. We schedule them and come along.
- Help deciding. Honest pros and cons, including when a home isn't a good fit.
- Move-in support. Help with the doctor's form, the admission packet and a check-in after the first week.
Tell us what's going on. We'll text you licensed homes that fit, with real prices, and tour them with you.
How we get paid
Straight answer: the licensed home your family picks pays us a one time referral fee after move-in. That's how most placement services work. The fee comes from the home, not from you, and it doesn't change your monthly price. We put that in writing.
Fair question: does that mean we only show homes that pay us? No. We only recommend state licensed homes, and we check each one's inspection record first. If the best fit for your mom doesn't work with us, we'll still tell you about it.
Curious how the whole business works, and what to ask any agency? Read what does a senior placement agency do.
Types of care we help with
- Assisted living: communities with meals, activities and daily help, about $5,100 to $6,600 a month in Fresno.
- Board and care homes: small homes in regular neighborhoods, from about $3,700 a month.
- Memory care: secured, dementia trained care, often $7,000+ a month.
- Respite stays: short stays so a family caregiver can rest or travel.
Skilled nursing is a different world. That's medical care, and the hospital case manager usually sets it up. We're happy to explain how it works and help plan what comes after rehab.
When families usually call us
- A parent is in the hospital or rehab and can't safely go home alone.
- Memory loss is getting harder to manage at home.
- A spouse who has been the caregiver is worn out.
- A current care home isn't working out, and it's time for a change.
Where we help
We cover Fresno and Clovis, plus towns across the Valley: Madera, Sanger, Selma, Fowler, Kingsburg, Reedley, Dinuba, Kerman, Visalia, Tulare, Porterville, Hanford, Lemoore and up the hill to Oakhurst. If your parent lives in one town and you live in another, we can look in both.
Want to browse first? Our directory of Valley communities is a good place to start. When you're ready for a short list that's already been checked, reach out.
Updated September 2026 by Shaun and Nick, co-founders of CalValley Senior Living Advisors.