Joan Lunden and A Place for Mom Partner to Help Families Find the Right Senior Living Facilities for Loved Ones

SEATTLE, March  21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A Place for Mom®, Inc. (APFM), the nation's largest senior living referral information service, today announced that Joan Lunden, an award-winning journalist and former host of Good Morning America, will serve as the organization's spokesperson as they help families navigate the complex process of finding appropriate senior housing for their loved ones. Ms. Lunden, an ardent health and wellness advocate and caregiver herself, brings a substantive view to her role based on the many challenges she faced when trying to find the right senior housing option for her own mother.

"In addition to her stature as a well-respected journalist and author, Joan personally experienced many of the issues our clients face at a highly sensitive time in their lives," said Sean Kell, CEO of A Place for Mom. "As a caregiver, working mother and wife, Joan brings valuable insights and a unique ability to empathize with the people she will touch through this partnership. We believe she will help to highlight A Place for Mom as a go-to resource for families facing the very complex journey of finding senior housing for their loved ones."

"A Place for Mom is giving me a platform to share my story with their clients and help Americans make the right decisions for their loved ones," said Joan Lunden. "Finding the right place for my mom was critical and living out-of-state presented significant challenges. With so many Americans dealing with the same issues, I appreciate the opportunity to help them through this process."

Ms. Lunden is featured in a newly released nationwide advertising campaign, which includes 30-, 60- and 120-second commercial spots with Joan alongside actual APFM families who successfully used the referral information service to find senior housing options. In her role as the organization's spokesperson, Ms. Lunden will speak to the nation on behalf of APFM, sharing her personal story of hardship as a caretaker for her mother while juggling a family and career.

With an aging baby boomer population, millions of Americans are facing enormous challenges when caring for their parents. APFM is a leading nationwide resource with tips, information and coping strategies on a wide range of topics, including suggestions on how to approach the topic of senior care with a loved one, how to begin exploring a myriad of care options to assess which one is best, addressing the hardships associated with Alzheimer's care, and many more. Ms. Lunden will share insights with families who are struggling with these issues directly through APFM's social media channels on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

This news follows the recent appointment of Sean Kell to APFM's CEO, who is fueling the company's continued growth while it strives to deliver best-in-class service.

Joan Lunden is the author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Family Caregivers and currently hosts "Taking Care with Joan Lunden," a show about family caregiving on RLTV.

About A Place for Mom
A Place for Mom, Inc. is the nation's largest senior living referral information service providing resources and personalized assistance in finding senior care and housing. Using its nationwide network of more than 18,000 providers of senior living services, A Place for Mom helps families find options based on a loved one's stated needs and preferences. This may include independent living, home care, residential care homes, assisted living communities, skilled nursing and specialized Alzheimer's memory care. The service is offered at no charge to families as participating communities and providers pay a fee to A Place for Mom. For more information, visit www.aplaceformom.com or call 1-877-666-3239.

SOURCE A Place for Mom