During the recent Fall semester, five Bentley University undergraduate students  enrolled in the Human Relations in Healthcare Organizations class led by Natural Sciences Professor Helen Meldrum, were invited to work with Audrey Zabin & Associates and AZA Care Management (AZA), one of the largest health and home care management practices in Massachusetts, located in Boston, MA.  The students were charged with developing a plan to elevate awareness of AZA's services among local baby boomers.

As the boomer generation grows older, they face difficult decisions about how to care for their aging parents. With this in mind, the Bentley students were tasked with researching how AZA could better target those seeking care services for the elderly and increase outreach to this targeted demographic. Students conducted  market research by interviewing key healthcare and legal opinion leaders, distributed and analyzed online surveys, and studied relevant database information. Through this extensive research the students were able to help AZA learn how to cultivate care referrals by hospital administrators and eldercare lawyers. They also showed AZA how to utilize the newest social media tools to further broaden their scope of potential clients.

"I was impressed with the quality of the consultation offered by the students from Bentley and I plan to implement many of their recommendations as soon as possible," said Audrey Zabin, the firm's founder and president. Jennifer Warren, an associate with the company, added, "Thanks to the students from Professor Meldrum's class, we were able to gain key insights into new ways to connect with our clients that are more meaningful and memorable."

The project proved to be a great success in advancing AZA's brand while providing undergraduate students with invaluable hands-on consulting experience that is typically found at the graduate school level.

AZA CARE MANAGEMENT is committed to making a meaningful difference in the quality of life for their Clients. Their professional and compassionate Care Managers are experts at assessing the needs of elders, disabled adults and those suffering from mental illness. They implement comprehensive care plans that embrace the most secure and supportive environment, with respect for the dignity and independence of their clients and peace of mind for their loved-ones.