By Shari Ross,
When I think about why I wrote Senior Living Made Simple: A Real World Guide for Navigating Senior Care for Your Loved One I always come back to two things: my family and my career.
My first introduction to dementia was in the 1990’s with my grandmother, who had
Alzheimer’s disease. Like so many families, we were completely unprepared. We didn’t
know what was “normal,” what resources were available, or even how to begin the
tough conversations. We stumbled through the process feeling isolated and
overwhelmed – like trying to put together a 1,000-piece puzzle without the picture on the box. That early experience stayed with me and shaped how I viewed dementia care for the rest of my life.
Years later, I worked as a pharmaceutical representative and sold Namenda, one of the
medications used for Alzheimer’s. I spent my days talking with physicians, nurses, and
caregivers. What struck me wasn’t just the need for the medication, but the desperate
need for guidance, support, and clarity. Families were clinging to every bit of information they could get, but no one was helping them navigate the larger picture of what came next.
Eventually, I moved into the world of senior living, spending more than a decade as a
sales specialist, including time with a community exclusively dedicated to memory care. That role changed everything. I was now face-to-face with adult children walking in with panic in their eyes, exhausted and unsure what to do. Almost every family thought their situation was uniquely complicated. In reality, they were all asking the same questions: Is it time? How do we talk to Mom? What if she refuses? Where do we even start?
And they weren’t wrong to feel overwhelmed. Why would anyone know how to navigate
senior living? Most people drive past these communities daily without giving them a
second thought. Then suddenly, after a fall or health crisis, they’re expected to become
experts overnight.
That’s why I created the S.I.M.P.L.E.™ Method: Support, Information, Matching,
Preparation, Letting Go, and Engagement. These were the six stages I saw families
experience again and again. By breaking them down into clear steps, I wanted to make
the process less frightening and more manageable.
The book blends practical advice, like what questions to ask when touring communities or how to prepare financially and legally, with the emotional realities of guilt, sibling conflict, fear, and grief. I wove in real stories because I wanted readers to know they weren’t alone. Time after time, families would whisper to me, “Is this normal?” And the answer, almost always, was yes.
Most importantly, I wanted to show that memory care isn’t the end of the road. In the right environment, I’ve seen people with dementia flourish: eating better, socializing more, and rediscovering small joys. Families often rediscover themselves, too – children get to be children again, and spouses get to be partners instead of nurses.
Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E. is my way of giving families the roadmap I wish mine had. Dementia will never be easy, but with preparation, clarity, and even a little
lightness, it doesn’t have to be faced in fear or isolation.
Purchase Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E.
About the Author
Shari Ross is the author of Senior Living Made S.I.M.P.L.E. and its companion workbook, resources designed to guide families through the overwhelming process of senior living and memory care decisions.
After more than a decade as a senior living sales specialist, she now runs a private consulting practice and is a sought-after speaker on podcasts and at events, helping families and professionals approach aging transitions with clarity and confidence.
A graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts and part of the sandwich generation herself, Shari understands both the professional and personal sides of caregiving. She lives in Southern California with her husband and is the proud mom of two young adult children.
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About the Podcast
AlzAuthors is the global community of authors writing about Alzheimer’s and dementia from personal experience to light the way for others.
Our podcast introduces you to our authors who share their stories and insights to provide knowledge, comfort, and support. Please subscribe so you don’t miss a word. If our authors’ stories move you, please leave a review. And don’t forget to share our podcast with family and friends on their own dementia journeys.
Ideas and opinions expressed in this podcast belong to the speakers and not AlzAuthors. Always consult your healthcare provider and legal and financial consultants for advice on any of the topics covered here.
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