About
Let’s work together to find the senior living solution that’s right for you
Today, more than ever, seniors have a wide variety of options for their next step in living arrangements. Finding the right solution goes beyond just the nuts and bolts of signing the lease for a new apartment to move your belongings to. Families want to partner with professionals familiar with the ins and outs of the myriad of options… who will take each client’s needs into account… who will ask the right questions, and listen to their concerns.
We’re here to…
- Help you evaluate your needs and budget and guide you through identifying your priorities.
- Map out a plan that will let you narrow down the options, visit facilities, ask the right questions, and determine the next steps.
- Walk you through the process step by step so you never need to worry about what happens next.
- Support you through the challenges of initial recon, further fact-finding, detail-tracking, making decisions, and tying up all loose ends.
We strive to work with everyone, regardless of their budget or location. We want to understand your needs, constraints, and timeline and then work together to find the right situation that best meets your requirements.
More about Us…
Olympic Senior Advisors started when founder Derek Esses was ready to establish a comprehensive resource for seniors preparing for their next living situation in the Seattle area. With 15+ years in healthcare and over ten years in home health business development and operations, he could see the unmet needs and had a vision in mind for a full-service agency guiding seniors and their families through the confusing and challenging process of finding the perfect fit. Quickly expanding to cover all of King County, Olympic now also helps families in Snohomish and Pierce counties find the next right residential situation for their loved ones.
Being active in our community is a core value for us: we want to know and support our neighbors, whether residents, businesses, or nonprofit organizations. We’re involved in the local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and area Senior Centers and support many local charity and fundraising events.
As members of the National Placement and Referral Alliance (NPRA), we’re dedicated to sharing our knowledge and expertise to assist families and their aging loved ones in navigating the complex process of identifying and securing senior living arrangements.
Our Team
Derek Esses, Founder
As Olympic Senior Advisors’ founder, Derek enjoys building a collaborative team that significantly contributes to his community. As well as leading the team, he focuses on marketing, business development, and engaging with clients. In addition to 15+ years in the healthcare field – with over ten years in home health business development and operations – Derek’s certifications include Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) from the National Placement & Referral Alliance and an MBA from Gonzaga University.
Outside of work, Derek thrives on outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and spending time at the lake. He loves reading or listening to historical fiction, international travel to learn about different cultures, and spending time with his family, including attending the games and performances of his two daughters. Connect with Derek on LinkedIn.
“I enjoy the fact that the work we do makes an impact on our clients, families, and providers.”
Chandra Hoover, Administrator & Senior Living Advisor
Chandra handles many tasks under the Olympic Senior Advisors umbrella, including researching facilities, organizing and accompanying clients on tours, coordinating between clients and providers, day-to-day operations, and marketing (strategizing, visiting with social workers, planning and attending events).
A University of Washington graduate, Chandra was a homecare manager and caregiver before joining Olympic Senior Advisors. Her introduction to home care came at a very young age, accompanying her mother when she helped care for an older woman a couple of evenings per week. Even then, she recognized the joy of simply being available to help.
Outside of this role she loves, Chandra enjoys swimming, reading, cooking, spending time with her husband and two children, and chauffeuring her kids around town to their activities.
“This is a job and career that fills my soul and is gratifying knowing that I am helping families when they feel stuck and overwhelmed with navigating this crazy senior care landscape.”
Sue Augustin, Senior Living Advisor
Sue brings 39+ years of nursing experience to Olympic Senior Advisors. As an advisor, she specializes in assessing individual care needs and identifying suitable housing options and recommendations that enable clients to live their best lives.
Her career experience covers a variety of healthcare settings, including acute care hospital units, long-term care facilities, and home health. Focusing on the whole person allows her to provide a richer care experience. Sue’s passion for providing quality care retains at its core the mindfulness of patient and client preferences and needs.
When not providing nursing care and thoughtful guidance to her clients, Sue loves travel, family time, outdoor activities, and quilting. Her quilting creations demonstrate her true spirit of generosity, including quilts donated to fundraising auctions to benefit deserving hospital programs supporting children, and Quilts of Valor which honor and comfort Veterans in our community.
“One of my favorite quotes is ‘Even miracles take a little time.’ I feel privileged to work in a position giving me the opportunity to create ‘miracles’ for our clients who are searching for solutions and recommendations enabling them to live their best lives.”
Lisa Ann Steward, Compliance Specialist
As the first point of contact, Lisa enjoys being the compassionate and empathetic ear when clients call, and focuses on making clients and providers alike feel listened to, understood, and cared for. With experience in retail management and large church system management, Lisa’s behind-the-scenes projects ensure all systems run smoothly and that underlying processes are efficient and effective.
When not organizing and improving the backbone systems that make Olympic Senior Advisors work so well, she loves scuba diving – especially in Belize! – enjoys yarn crafts such as knitting and crocheting, and homeschools her three children.
“Glinda the Good Witch said, ‘You’ve always had the power, my dear, you just had to learn it for yourself.’ I see our mission at Olympic as helping our clients learn about the options for themselves, giving them the power to make the best decisions for their loved one’s needs and circumstances.”
Jesse Cade, Senior Living Advisor
Jesse’s role at Olympic Senior Advisors is successfully and safely transitioning clients to community-based settings. In addition to his broad knowledge of navigating and obtaining resources in the long-term care system, he’s a clear and compassionate communicator who can help clarify the situation's complexities to help clients make better decisions.
After completing his BS in Psychology, Jesse worked in long-term care nursing homes in Portland, Oregon, and then for the Department of Social and Health Services and Home and Community Services. His experience includes serving as a Case Manager for residents of nursing facilities, adult family homes, assisted living facilities, in-home with caregiver support, and individuals who landed in the hospital. As a supervisor for the South King County Nursing Facility Unit, he oversaw case managers for nursing homes in the county.
Outside of work, Jesse enjoys spending time with his daughter, going out for a drive, traveling, and trying new restaurants. An enthusiastic fitness buff who embraces running and weightlifting, he’s also a performing musician and an Alternative Hip-Hop band member.
“Navigating aging can be complicated and confusing. I enjoy providing resources and education to our vulnerable population and their families and find it gratifying that I can streamline information and empower clients to make informed decisions.”
Mary Lang, Senior Living Advisor
Mary listens to Olympic Senior Advisors clients’ needs and connects them with our closely vetted providers. She further expands the options available to our clients by establishing new relationships with prospective providers, ensuring optimal placement for everyone involved. Mary handles the entire spectrum of cases, from a simple move into a new location to a more complex and challenging placement.
Mary’s introduction to navigating senior care came with supporting an aging relative living alone without immediate local family. Olympic’s founder, Derek, guided Mary in locating an assisted living facility that appealed to her relative’s personality, preferences, and needs. A few years later, with increased care needs, Derek assisted in placing them into a safe, nurturing adult family home.
Another venue in which Mary provides personalized and knowledgeable guidance is her part-time role as a CrossFit coach in North Seattle. In both roles, her expertise in available options and skill in careful listening allow her to help clients meet their goals on their terms.
Mary lives in Edmonds with her husband and dog and enjoys spending time with her son, who attends Western Washington University in Bellingham. She cherishes her volunteer role with the Nick of Time Foundation, which provides EKGs to student-athletes at high school events around Western Washington. She enjoys creating art at home and getting out into nature, whether working in her yard or hiking in the beautiful Washington outdoors.
“My own experience led me to appreciate the role of navigating through a potentially stressful relocation. I understand the importance of finding the best place for your loved one to call home, facilitated by a knowledgeable, compassionate guide.”
Sara Kunkel, M. Ed., Senior Living Advisor
Sara brings various experiences to Olympic Senior Advisors, including personal experience finding care for her parents and other family members. Having been through the process herself, she brings an empathetic perspective to her work with others new to the experience. As an advisor, she specializes in assessing individual care needs and identifying suitable housing options and recommendations that enable clients to live their best lives.
With over 15 years of teaching math, theology, and technology in middle and high school classrooms, Sara has the experience of helping students work through significant transitions in their lives – a time when they may encounter many unknowns, with apprehension about what is to come. Similarly, her work with Olympic Senior Advisors provides the opportunity to help families and their loved ones through another significant time of life transition – again being a guide and counselor as they navigate unknowns, anticipate challenges, and search for answers.
When not providing thoughtful guidance and helping clients navigate change, Sara enjoys spending time with her husband and two young adult children, being outdoors, and tending her urban Dahlia farm. She loves settling in for a murder mystery thriller, and as a math teacher, she especially enjoys puzzle games, card games, and Farkle.
“I’m particularly drawn to the quote, ‘If you always let yourself love others, you’ll get back more than you give’ (Kiersten White, Author). There are many ways to express love, and this work allows me to gently and lovingly guide clients and their families, bringing joy and fulfillment into my own life.”
Owen Heit, Intern
Serving as an intern at Olympic Senior Advisors, Owen is tasked with managing and updating our resource database, ensuring that all information from providers remains relevant and current. Owen is also a student at South Seattle College, where he is working towards becoming a registered nurse.
Owen is a sports enthusiast, particularly passionate about basketball. In his free time, he loves giving back to his community through active engagement in local sports programs. He runs summer sports camps and acts as a coach for the youth basketball team at his alma mater, Hope Lutheran Middle School. Connect with Owen on LinkedIn.
