Building a mutual referral network is my focus.   Being in Assisted Living, everyone wants access to my residents so people are always looking to partner with me but I have to emphasize the importance of mutual referrals. Who can they refer to me that might be a prospective resident?

For SMART HOME CONCIERGE, A and B go hand in hand. The older adults I assist must feel comfortable inviting me into their homes and working with me one-on-one. However, the person who finds and hires me is often an adult child, caregiver, or trusted professional.

Because I serve San Diego exclusively, referrals are my strongest source of new clients. The local aging-services community is closely connected, and people talk to one another. Since my service is specialized, a good reputation has helped me build trust and become known fairly quickly.

I’d particularly like to hear from other San Diego professionals who serve older adults and their families. What has worked best for you when building trust and local referral relationships?

I have found that allowing people to experience what you do helps them to trust you while it explains your services. I designed a program called The PATH to Retirement that leads folks through the discovery of their Purpose in this next stage of their life. Then it outlines possible Actions to take to pursue their Purpose. Purpose and Action help to guide a person through what I believe could be the biggest Transition of their life. All of these actions will lead a person to form Healthy Habits to continue through a life filled with Happiness and Harmony. I created an interactive experience to invite people to explore what that FEELS like. Take a look - ​https://north-of-now-experienc...​

This is such a rich thread to read. What stands out to me is how often A and B are the same challenge wearing two faces. You are usually building trust with the older adult AND being discovered by the family member or professional who actually makes the call. Speaking to only one of them leaves growth on the table.


And Selwyn and Lisa are pointing at the real engine of this space. It does not grow by shouting louder. It grows when the community starts speaking on your behalf. In aging services, a warm referral carries more weight than any ad ever could.


I lead marketing for the Silver Longevity Business Association (​https://slba.ca/​) and run BeeLoved Studio, (https://beelovedstudio.com/​) a fractional CMO practice focused on this sector, so I spend a lot of time on exactly this question. The businesses that win here are the ones who market with care, to everyone in the decision, and who build the kind of trust that gets passed person to person.


Would love to hear how others are nurturing those referral relationships once they exist. Getting the first one is one thing. Keeping the network warm is another. 

Mobile meals delivers free meals to homebound people in need but hard to get the word out to those needing it