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It is going to be dependent on what was in the AL contract. Also there may have been a residents meeting where this was discussed…. issue with this is that some residents not cognitive enough to realize what’s being discussed or do not go at all. Or increase info done via notice left in residents room.
contesting it, well, that likely not going anywhere. You might try asking a month dispensation under the excuse that he didn’t tell you. Otherwise He pays it or he moves out. BUT I’m more concerned about y’all’s financial future. If hubs is in AL and whatever health issue he has are increasing, I bet he’s going to be on add-on increased care costs. I’d suggest that you get proactive and start looking to see if: - where he is now has AL Medicaid beds? and where he would be on the wait list? - if this AL has a sister NH or MC that does take LTC Medicaid? This so he could segueway to it when he runs out of $ and is medically “at need” for NH or MC. (On MC not all states LTC Medicaid programs extend coverage for MC, they keep LTC only for SNF aka a NH) AND - meet with a CELA level of elder law attorney. As you are a couple that is 1 needing a facility and you as the CS aka a community spouse, the rules for Medicaid eligibility are quite different than for a widow or widower. For them it’s pretty straightforward: under whatever the State sets for mo income max (& this goes almost 100% to the facility as a copay) and a max of 2K on nonexempt assets; it’s a buttrash of paperwork but do-able for kids to do for their parents. However that is not y’all’s situation; Your income and assets will need to be segregated and should YOU as a CS need some of his income to enable YOU to live in your community, YOU seek a waiver of some of his income. It’s really not imho ever a DIY. Medicaid does not need for the CS to become impoverished, its only the in-a-facility spouse who needs to be impoverished. But how to do this is not straightforward.
if yiur worried about increased costs of 8% at a AL, and this will hurt your budget, imo you are not prepared for the horrendous cost of care. Please try to do a New Year’s resolution to find a CELA attorney and start looking about for other facilities and get an assessment done to see where he is on his medical “at need”.
Not all aspects of a lease or rent are covered in a contract. Some are mentioned in law. So re-.reading a contract is not helpful with items like rent caps, price gauging.
Can you elaborate for us a bit? Were these changes due to the need for more care? For instance, did your loved one move into another level of care where more is required of the facility in providing safe care? Was there an explanation of these raises? Did you inquire and what were you told? And most importantly, as RealyReal says, did you look at your care contract? When my brother entered ALF his contract stipulated that raises yearly on the anniversary date would be expected and would average 3% to 5% yearly; that notification would be provided by mail, that any higher raises would be accompanied by explanations of higher costs or special circumstances. Then Covid hit!!!!!!! There are many factors now: Covid. Inflation. Fewer workers and especially fewer workers applying for difficult jobs such as caregiving when other jobs are available. Higher costs in food and deliver costs and supplies. And etc. It is a tremendous burden; that is understood. I hope you will ask the institution for explanations. Best to you in the new year.
Herein we take people at face value. This is not a formal investigation nor a court of law requiring others to write a legal description. Take it at face value.
Yes, read your contract. Then see what the law is in your State covering rent increases because this is a residence like renting an apt in a complex. 8% is a lot but 20% is outrageous. The State does oversee ALs so see if your State Ombudsman can help.
I forgot to say, I would think its a law that an increase has to be in writing. To me, living in an AL is like living in an apt. You have a lease for a year and no increases can be made within that year. If there is going to be an increase in ur rent, notice has to be given 30/60 days in advance. You have to be given the opportunity to move out. Its been 6 yrs since Mom was in an AL but I am sure her contract said "yearly increases". I also live in a state that has rent increase laws.
You are correct. Except some do month to month. That is actually better for the elder, bc if one passes away or needs higher level of care an AL charges you for the remainder of the lease in which the senior was not present but agreed to be there for.
Check the contract you signed when the resident entered the ALF, as to whether advance notice was required or not for rate increases. The rate that's being paid is extremely LOW, so it's not surprising there's been an increase! Perhaps this is a new facility and the initial rate was the introductory one while the facility was getting underway or something like that. Because it's literally unheard of to pay $1850, $2000 or even $2400 for Assisted Living rates anywhere in the USA today, even in a small town in GA.
When my folks first moved into AL in 2014, they were paying nearly $7K per month for both of them, or, $4,500 for one resident, and that was almost 9 years ago. When mom moved out of her AL apartment in 2019 which was a studio unit, she was paying $4100 a month!
The 'recourse' is to move the resident out and into a different facility that's less expensive, unless this ALF is in direct violation of the signed contract. Then you can argue with the administration that they are in the wrong and you'd like the rates to go back to what they were when the resident first moved in.
Boston Just Increased Our electricity Bills and Gas Bills 60 % . Maybe that has something to do with it ? Everyone is claiming Inflation . My electric Bill in winter was $90 Now Its $300 .
While we're facing rate increases and inflationary rises in most every aspect of our lives, when it comes to housing and facilities for the Aged, there are protections in place that by most state laws, allow for incremental increases and those require pre-approval by state agencies.
Do some internet research on these increase and, as others have said, read the contract.
My mom is in an MC unit and her care costs increase with every 3 month assessment, often regardless of any increase in the level of care required and received. All increases have to be state-approved. The annual cost increases are similarly incremental and require state agency approval before going into effect.
Although not desirable, a move to another facility may be the sole option.
James8686: Perhaps you should check the contract that you signed for the assisted living to see if those rate increases have a timeframe, i.e. something along the lines of 'notification of rate increases must be given to the resident in writing XX number of days before increase is applied.'
What State do you live in? I'm in CA and they raised the every resident's monthly rent rate between 20%-28%!!! Claiming inflation from Covid times and the cost of living. It's what I've been calling "greed-flation." Everyone uses the Covid as an excuse and I'm not buying it. Our government does not control the Senior Assisted Living Facilities unlike the 10% maximum for regular rents in our State. We've reached out to everyone possible in addition to the Ombudsman with no help at all!! It's a form of Elder Abuse and many of the ppl at my Mother's AL place want to file a Class Action Lawsuit. Her contract never mentioned anything about how much they would increase the yearly rates which was obviously done to allow them free reign to increase the rents to whatever they want!! Many of the residents have moved out, which appears to be what they wanted, because now they can re-rent the same unit for $2,500 more than what the previous tenant was paying. I've witnessed this while there when they were giving a tour to someone. It's criminal in my opinion. Everyone that lives there has been so scared that they'd have to move elsewhere and don't know where to go. The anguish this has caused is beyond normal and it's all they ever talk about. My Mother mentions it daily and is so worried about it. It's trickled down to us family members and has caused us so my grief as well! We looked into other facilities and they are all within the new price range because ALL AL Facilities have also increased their prices. The government and licensing board need to step in and stop this STEALING from the Elderly that are on a fixed income! Everyone needs to stand up to make a difference and change this current trend!
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
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APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
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If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
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This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
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You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
contesting it, well, that likely not going anywhere. You might try asking a month dispensation under the excuse that he didn’t tell you. Otherwise He pays it or he moves out.
BUT
I’m more concerned about y’all’s financial future. If hubs is in AL and whatever health issue he has are increasing, I bet he’s going to be on add-on increased care costs. I’d suggest that you get proactive and start looking to see if:
- where he is now has AL Medicaid beds? and where he would be on the wait list?
- if this AL has a sister NH or MC that does take LTC Medicaid? This so he could segueway to it when he runs out of $ and is medically “at need” for NH or MC. (On MC not all states LTC Medicaid programs extend coverage for MC, they keep LTC only for SNF aka a NH)
AND
- meet with a CELA level of elder law attorney. As you are a couple that is 1 needing a facility and you as the CS aka a community spouse, the rules for Medicaid eligibility are quite different than for a widow or widower. For them it’s pretty straightforward: under whatever the State sets for mo income max (& this goes almost 100% to the facility as a copay) and a max of 2K on nonexempt assets; it’s a buttrash of paperwork but do-able for kids to do for their parents. However that is not y’all’s situation; Your income and assets will need to be segregated and should YOU as a CS need some of his income to enable YOU to live in your community, YOU seek a waiver of some of his income. It’s really not imho ever a DIY. Medicaid does not need for the CS to become impoverished, its only the in-a-facility spouse who needs to be impoverished. But how to do this is not straightforward.
if yiur worried about increased costs of 8% at a AL, and this will hurt your budget, imo you are not prepared for the horrendous cost of care. Please try to do a New Year’s resolution to find a CELA attorney and start looking about for other facilities and get an assessment done to see where he is on his medical “at need”.
Were these changes due to the need for more care?
For instance, did your loved one move into another level of care where more is required of the facility in providing safe care?
Was there an explanation of these raises?
Did you inquire and what were you told?
And most importantly, as RealyReal says, did you look at your care contract? When my brother entered ALF his contract stipulated that raises yearly on the anniversary date would be expected and would average 3% to 5% yearly; that notification would be provided by mail, that any higher raises would be accompanied by explanations of higher costs or special circumstances. Then Covid hit!!!!!!!
There are many factors now: Covid. Inflation. Fewer workers and especially fewer workers applying for difficult jobs such as caregiving when other jobs are available. Higher costs in food and deliver costs and supplies. And etc.
It is a tremendous burden; that is understood. I hope you will ask the institution for explanations. Best to you in the new year.
When my folks first moved into AL in 2014, they were paying nearly $7K per month for both of them, or, $4,500 for one resident, and that was almost 9 years ago. When mom moved out of her AL apartment in 2019 which was a studio unit, she was paying $4100 a month!
The 'recourse' is to move the resident out and into a different facility that's less expensive, unless this ALF is in direct violation of the signed contract. Then you can argue with the administration that they are in the wrong and you'd like the rates to go back to what they were when the resident first moved in.
Best of luck.
Do some internet research on these increase and, as others have said, read the contract.
My mom is in an MC unit and her care costs increase with every 3 month assessment, often regardless of any increase in the level of care required and received. All increases have to be state-approved. The annual cost increases are similarly incremental and require state agency approval before going into effect.
Although not desirable, a move to another facility may be the sole option.
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