Meet Michael Conover, Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) at Care Patrol of Lincoln (CarePatrol.com/lincoln).

Tell us a little about your business. – CarePatrol is a business that helps families find appropriate living spaces for their loved older adults when their current living space is inappropriate. We sit with the family and get to know the older adult and help them make the best decision for them. The best part is, this is a free service to the family. We are compensated by the thousands of quality providers in our network.

How did you get started in the business? – We had the daunting task of finding our mother an assisted-living community. Home had become unsafe for her and so we did what most busy families do. We found a community that looks wonderful and figured that would be sufficient. It turns out it was a fantastic community, but not the right community for our mother. When I found CarePatrol, I found a way to help families not make the same mistakes we made.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally? – The biggest challenge I found is explaining that the service that I provided is free to the family. A lot of families are skeptical that I am going to charge them for my services. As I’ve said before, I am a free service to the family. We are paid by the communities that we place the families in. We do not, however, work for the communities. I work as an advocate for the families, helping them make the very best decision because they have all of the information needed.

What has been your most important achievement professionally? – I love seeing the change in relationship between adult children and their loved older adult parent. I love seeing the children who have been committed caregivers transform back into the adult children, and be able to enjoy their parents instead of seeing them as an obligation. The release of guilt and fear is absolutely amazing to see, and by far my favorite part of my work.

Tell us a little about your family. – My wife and I are a blended family. She has two adult children and I have a one adult child and a precocious 12-year-old.

What do you see as one of the biggest turning points in your life? – The day I met my wife.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off? – I love to go fishing and camping.

What is the most unique or interesting thing about you that most people probably don’t know? – I absolutely love to travel. I love experiencing new things and seeing unique places.

Who inspires you? – My wife inspires me. She has an ambition that never quits.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? – Just be yourself. Don’t pretend to be something you’re not.

If you could choose only one descriptive word to be remembered as, what would it be? – Dedicated.

What local nonprofit organization are you passionate about or involved with, and are there any special reasons why? – Alzheimer’s Association of Nebraska. I am a facilitator for an Alzheimer’s caregiver support group in Fremont. We meet starting in January at the Keene Library on the first Tuesday of the month starting in January at 6:30 p.m.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so? – I am always available at (402) 983-7834. I’m also available by email at mconover@carepatrol.com. Our website is CarePatrol.com/lincoln.