aGING PARENTS. bUSY lIVES. tOO MANY MOVING PARTS

Announcing Housing Placement Services!

 

When staying at home is no longer safe, practical, or desirable, deciding what comes next can feel overwhelming. The options are unfamiliar, the decisions are emotional, and families may not know where to begin.

Summit Care Advisors now offers housing placement services to help older adults and their families find the right next living environment. Whether you are considering downsizing to an independent living community or need additional support through assisted living or memory care, I will be there to guide you through the process.

 

Why I Added This Service

As a care coordinator and advisor, I have occasionally reached the point where a client needed a different housing option and I had to hand the family off to a placement specialist. While those referrals were helpful, it did not always feel right to step away during such an important transition.

After encouragement from a trusted colleague, I decided to add housing placement to Summit Care Advisors. This allows me to provide continuity of support—from identifying changing needs and evaluating options to helping an older adult find the next place they will call home.

Housing placement services are available to both current clients and families who are new to Summit Care Advisors. You do not need to be receiving care coordination services to ask for help finding independent living, assisted living, or memory care.


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About Summit Care Advisors

Mission

At Summit Care Advisors, my mission is to help older adults and their families navigate care, housing, and life transitions with greater clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

I look at the whole picture—health and safety, housing, family concerns, financial considerations, transportation, social connection, and the practical details that can easily become overwhelming. I help families understand their options, organize the next steps, connect with trusted resources, and keep important matters moving forward.

Whether the goal is to remain safely at home, manage increasing care needs, recover from a hospitalization, or move to independent living, assisted living, or memory care, I provide steady guidance and continuity of support throughout the process.

Above all, I honor each older adult’s preferences, independence, and right to be involved in decisions about their life. My role is to reduce uncertainty, help prevent crisis-driven decisions, and give families the support they need to move forward together.

Serving Snoqualmie, North Bend, Carnation, Issaquah, Bellevue, and surrounding communities in East King County, Washington.

Portrait of Kirsten Patterson

About Me

 I founded Summit Care Advisors to help families navigate the complex decisions that come with aging. My perspective is shaped not only by professional training, but also by years of personal experience supporting loved ones through serious medical challenges and end-of-life decisions.


As a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA®), I provide guidance grounded in best practices for aging well. I have also completed the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Seminar®, strengthening my ability to support families facing cognitive changes and evolving care needs.


My approach is steady and holistic — looking at health, housing, finances, social connection, and long-term planning together rather than in isolation. I believe thoughtful planning preserves options, protects dignity, and creates greater peace of mind at every stage of aging.

What Does a Senior Care Coordinator Do?

A senior care coordinator — sometimes called a geriatric care manager — helps older adults and their families navigate the medical, practical, and emotional decisions that come with aging. This includes assessing current needs, identifying risks, coordinating services, and creating a clear plan for the future.


I work with seniors and their families to evaluate health and wellness, housing and safety, transportation, financial considerations, social connection, and long-term care planning. Whether someone is living independently, experiencing memory loss or dementia, recovering from surgery, or simply planning ahead, I help bring clarity and organization to what can otherwise feel overwhelming.


My goal is to help seniors remain as independent as possible while supporting the family members who care about them. The earlier you begin planning, the more options you have — and the more control you keep over important life decisions. 

 

How I Help Families

 

  • Assess current needs, safety concerns, and gaps in support
  • Coordinate medical appointments and communication with providers
  • Develop practical care plans and help keep next steps moving forward
  • Guide housing decisions, including aging at home, independent living, assisted living, and memory care
  • Support families navigating dementia, cognitive changes, and increasing care needs
  • Coordinate hospital, rehabilitation, and home-care transitions
  • Connect clients with trusted local resources and service providers
  • Provide ongoing care coordination, follow-up, and family communication

Specialized Certifications