Four Winds Senior Care Consulting

The Four Winds Senior Care Consulting Blows into the State!

Family-owned business has long history and experience in the industry.

By Mark Berger

Jen Cardullo Burns is someone who takes immense pride in her work. For years, she has worked in the senior care realm by helping families with their senior care, managed care, Alzheimer’s/memory care and assisted living needs. Her special set of skills enables her to aid people to get the necessary attention to be functional and productive.

After years of this work, Burns decide it was time to go home again…sort of. Together with her parents, Paul and Joann Cardullo, they formed Four Winds Senior Care Consulting based in Narragansett but working virtually statewide to further support those needing direction in this arena.

Despite the newness of the company, Burns said there is a lot of work between the three principals.

“Paul has been an Executive Director for one facility based in Massachusetts for 17 years and Joann is well known as an Executive Director in Rhode Island as well as a Registered Nurse,” said Burns, who has worked as a Sales and Marketing Director at numerous senior care centers in Central RI. “Although they are retired, Paul and Joann were still looking for something to do. They have worked in this space for several decades, and in that time, gained a wealth of knowledge that is unmatched. It will be a pleasure serving our current and future clients.”

The company name comes from the spot from which Jen and her family spent their summers growing up as a child. It was her grandmother’s summer beach spot on Scarborough Beach.

While her parents were busy updating their business model, Jen was busy distributing advice from colleagues who had questions regarding their situation. From those points formed a plan for Jen, Joann and Paul to pool their experience and resources together and form this new endeavor. They will serve clients throughout the state and are certified to practice in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

What they offer is a full-service suite of services. Besides the numerous platforms previously mentioned, they can also act as an interim executive director while a search for a permanent replacement gets hired. They can oversee annual surveys of the residents and the staff to stay compliant with the state and federal guidelines. Provide initial admission assessments, re-assessments and other various nursing services. They also offer LGBT and memory/Alzheimer’s care training for those facilities.

They also work on generating placements for their clients. That means working with families on the best course of action would be for their loved ones. That can take time and effort, much of which families do not have in abundance. Burns added that having an extra set of eyes and ears can make a difference.

“Moving a loved one into a new facility can be emotional for everyone,” she said. “There are a lot of feelings about the best interests of the loved one, but it can ultimately become a smooth transition if the person in question cannot live alone anymore. The move into a facility should be for their health, safety and piece of mind for everyone involved.

“Some people don’t realize they need help because they have been in their homes for too long,” Burns noted.

They fulfill requests for independent living (“many people want to stay in their homes for as long as possible,” Jen added). In addition, resident care, determining admission assessments and what their needs and wants are all part of the initial evaluation. This is so the process can run smoothly and with little drama.

Jen has over 20 years of experience in various areas of senior longterm care. She worked as a CNA in Skilled Nursing Facilities, homecare, hospice, Assisted Living and is a licensed Assisted Living Administrator. She is affiliated with several long-term care groups and organizations and serves in various volunteer capacities.

Paul has been in the healthcare industry since 1995, serving in many positions in the assisted living community from Dining Room Manage to Executive Director. He has a natural ability to overcome obstacles, which have led to his success in turning around problem communities. Among Paul’s many accomplishments include successfully opened three assisted living communities and overseeing the rehabilitation of three assisted living communities.

Joann has over 35 years of experience in the health care management industry. Throughout her career, she has served in many positions in various levels of healthcare.

Most of her career was spent in caring for our elderly population from a geriatric nurse to Executive Director/Administrator to Senior Vice President of many successful assisted living communities.

Her knowledge, abilities and kind and caring personality have contributed to her multiple successes.

More details about the Four Winds Senior Care Consultants can be found by visiting their website at www.fourwindsscc.com.

For a free, no-obligation consultation, please call (401) 793-6257.