Transforming Assisted Living Through Education and Advocacy with Kimberly Rodriguez

01/14/25 • 45 min

In this episode of The RAL Room Assisted Living Podcast, host Charlie Cameron is joined by Kimberly Rodriguez, founder of Action Over Words Group. Kimberly brings a wealth of experience as a former state inspector for Virginia, overseeing adult care facilities for over a decade, and as the operator of 14 assisted living communities with her family. Now, she channels her passion for human services into consulting, helping new and seasoned operators navigate the complexities of residential assisted living in 13 states.

Tune in as Kimberly shares her incredible journey, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and actionable strategies for success in the growing assisted living industry.

Key Points

From Family Business to Industry Leader: Kimberly explains how growing up in a family of healthcare professionals and real estate investors sparked her passion for senior care and set the foundation for her career.

Insights from a State Inspector: She offers a unique perspective on compliance, shares the common pitfalls operators face, and explains how to advocate for yourself during inspections.

Starting Strong: Kimberly stresses the importance of due diligence when selecting properties, working with zoning and fire safety officials, and creating a strong business plan.

Effective Marketing Strategies: From hosting community events to building referral networks with social workers and placement agents, Kimberly shares her top tips for staying full and creating a positive reputation.

The Value of Relationships: Kimberly discusses why relationships matter in securing properties, attracting investors, and building trust with referral partners.

Trends in Assisted Living: She highlights the growing popularity of the 16-bed model and the increasing demand for community-centered care options.

Advice for Aspiring Operators: Kimberly urges new operators to take action, break large goals into small, actionable steps, and focus on marketing and relationship-building to succeed.
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Tune in as Kimberly shares her incredible journey, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and actionable strategies for success in the growing assisted living industry.

Key Points

Insights from a State Inspector: She offers a unique perspective on compliance, shares the common pitfalls operators face, and explains how to advocate for yourself during inspections.

Starting Strong: Kimberly stresses the importance of due diligence when selecting properties, working with zoning and fire safety officials, and creating a strong business plan.

The Value of Relationships: Kimberly discusses why relationships matter in securing properties, attracting investors, and building trust with referral partners.

Trends in Assisted Living: She highlights the growing popularity of the 16-bed model and the increasing demand for community-centered care options.

Previous Episode

Transforming Senior Care: The Journey to Nine Residential Assisted Living Homes with Lindsay Daudistel

In this episode of The RAL Room Assisted Living Podcast, host Charlie Cameron is joined by Lindsay Daudistel, a nurse-turned-entrepreneur and the founder of Optimize Senior Living. Lindsay has built an impressive portfolio of nine residential assisted living homes in Ohio, with three more under development. Starting her journey in healthcare, Lindsay transitioned into real estate and eventually discovered her passion for residential assisted living, combining her medical expertise with a desire to make a meaningful impact.

Tune in as Lindsay shares her inspiring journey, the challenges she overcame, and the innovative strategies she uses to deliver exceptional care and scale her business.

Key Points:

From Nurse to Entrepreneur: Lindsay explains her journey from surgical nursing to real estate investing, and how discovering residential assisted living checked all the boxes for her career aspirations.

Building a Thriving RAL Business: She shares how she started with one property, pivoted from building multifamily units, and grew her portfolio to nine homes with three more on the way.

Financial Strategies: Lindsay details her approach to financing her first homes, leveraging local banks, SBA loans, and creative financing for ongoing growth.

Overcoming Challenges: From navigating the early struggles of occupancy to building a trusted team, Lindsay discusses the hurdles she faced and how she overcame them with resilience and a positive mindset.

The Power of Networking: Lindsay emphasizes the importance of effective networking and shares tips on building strong referral systems and relationships within the community.

Scaling Operations: She talks about eliminating single points of failure, establishing robust systems, and building a strong company culture to support her growing team of over 100 employees.

Advice for New Operators: Lindsay encourages aspiring RAL operators to take action, focus on marketing, and build a business centered on compassionate care and operational excellence.
Connect with Lindsay Daudistel:
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Next Episode

Transforming Lives Through Residential Assisted Living with Latonia Boykins

In this episode of The RAL Room Assisted Living Podcast, host Dr. Alex Schloe welcomes Latonia Boykins, a passionate entrepreneur and owner of five residential assisted living homes in Florida. Latonia shares her incredible journey from starting with no healthcare background to becoming a leader in the industry. Inspired by her grandmother’s care and wisdom, Latonia has built a thriving business focused on compassionate, personalized care.

Tune in as Latonia discusses the challenges, triumphs, and strategies she’s implemented to scale her business, the lessons she’s learned along the way, and how residential assisted living has transformed her life and the lives of her residents.

Key Points:

From Family Caregiver to Industry Leader: Latonia’s journey started with a personal mission to honor her grandmother’s legacy, eventually scaling to five homes.
Building with Heart: She emphasizes the importance of hiring caregivers with genuine passion, often prioritizing heart over experience.
Creative First Steps: Latonia’s first deal was a leap of faith, using HELOCs and credit cards to turn a house into a thriving facility.
Scaling to Success: The challenges and opportunities that came with purchasing three homes in a single day and navigating SBA loans.
Occupancy Strategies: How Latonia uses creative marketing, relationship-building with discharge planners, and outreach to big-box facilities to keep her homes full.
Lessons Learned: The importance of starting where you are, avoiding analysis paralysis, and being open to learning from mistakes.
Passion for Teaching: Now a Florida Core Trainer, Latonia shares her knowledge with others, helping them launch successful assisted living businesses.
The Heart of RAL: Latonia reflects on how residential assisted living has changed her life and the lives of her residents, teaching lessons about resilience, health, and community.

Connect with Latonia Boykins:
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The RAL Room Assisted Living Podcast - Transforming Assisted Living Through Education and Advocacy with Kimberly Rodriguez

Transcript

Kimberly Rodriguez: I always tell my clients when we're looking for properties to purchase or money to fundraise or to, gain money, I always tell them I said, create your love letter. We see a property one, we're competing for it. Right. However, you know, we're probably the most least qualified for this property. Probably everybody else and probably have cash. I said, but what's the difference, you know, in terms of how do we get above and get seen above everybody else?