The 'Less Stress...More Kindness' Experience

Over the past year, in both my professional and personal world I’ve been faced with several scenarios involving seniors. It’s really amazing how different people and companies react to the unique needs of this demographic. For example, some people are patient and really understand that many seniors aren’t tech savvy, some may need you to speak slower and eliminate today’s buzz words, while some are always connected, use an ipad and have in-depth business acumen.

After experiencing a few incidents of unethical and unkind behavior towards the seniors in my life, and being told others’ stories of vulture- like treatment I wanted to be sure and take special consideration of this group when they come to us needing property consults, home styling and moving logistics arranged. 

That’s why we created the ‘Less Stress…More Kindness' experience at Regroup. I tend to be extremely service driven as it is (training at the Royal York back in the day will do that to a person!) but with this group I really go the extra mile.

We try to determine what else is going on in their life: is this move an unwanted or unexpected change? Are they physically challenged, medically ill, hard of hearing or seeing, grieving, far from family, suffering early Alzheimers or dementia, in denial of a situation or …. a combination of all of these things? Then we act accordingly. Our team never talks down to the seniors we work with or over their heads. We keep communications, discussions and activities at their comfort level and involve family members whenever possible.

Just think, some of these seniors haven’t moved in 30+ years.

For many, dealing with an unfamiliar industry such as Real Estate can be intimidating.

What a shock – they don’t know how much easier it is in general these days but they also may not know where to start with this daunting undertaking to transition to a new chapter of their life. And it may not even be their choice to sell and move.
I like the idea of possibly being able to take away some stress and make a difficult experience a little easier or an anticipated event a little worry-free.

We've all heard stories of overcharging, padding an invoice, and even selling an unnecessary service to seniors. I could go on with examples of people being borderline criminal to simply taking a little "harmless" advantage of a senior in a vulnerable situation.

We are all going to be a Senior  - it’s better than the alternative - so lets keep in mind what goes around, comes around and pay the ‘Less Stress…More Kindness” experience forward.