10 Things Your Retirement Community Won't Tell You

[KProuty]

10 Things Retirement Communities Won't Tell You

From hidden fees to whether there's a doctor in the house, do your research

www.nextavenue.org

 

[Brett]

payments to an assisted living facility are tax deductible (subject to limitations)

 

[bogey21]

A couple of random thoughts regarding my CCRC. First, I have been here 20 years plus. My monthly fee has increased an average of 3% a year. The increase for next year is 3½%. I'm looking at 4% for 2023 because we have had to increase salaries to attract and keep employees. Because my CCRC is located 10 minutes from a number of major hospitals my CCRC has contracted with our local ambulance service whereby we get two free rides to the hospital of our choice per year. If we would have to pay out of pocket, the cost would be about $1,800 per ride part of which would be covered by Medicare....

George

 

[Brett]

#3. Look beyond the brass chandelier.

"One of the most important criteria when picking a facility? Staff stability. Turnover is high among health aides at retirement communities, as the work is hard and low-paying. But continuity of care is important for older people, especially those with dementia who can become disoriented adjusting to too many new faces. One conversational way for prospective families to get a sense of turnover is to ask every staff member they meet how long they've been there."

 

[dannybaker]

Increased sex? Did I read that correctly?

 

[pedro47]

Increased sex? Did I read that correctly?

How did I missed that one. LOL

 

[bogey21]

"One of the most important criteria when picking a facility? Staff stability. Turnover is high among health aides at retirement communities, as the work is hard and low-paying.

You are 100% correct. My CCRC has been making unscheduled salary adjustments to keep employees. We will see the impact of this with increases in next year's monthly fee but losing good employees is worse...

George

 

[Janann]

Increased sex? Did I read that correctly?

My friend's father got kicked out of a nursing home because he had too many girlfriends.

 

[Brett]

You are 100% correct. My CCRC has been making unscheduled salary adjustments to keep employees. We will see the impact of this with increases in next year's monthly fee but losing good employees is worse...

George

Employee turnover was a big problem with my mother's assisted living facility in Northern Virginia.

 

[troy12n]

Increased sex? Did I read that correctly?

I live in Florida, about an hour from "The Villages", it's the largest planned retirement community in the world. Look into it if you have never heard of it.

One of the funny things about the area, huge STD rate, they have swingers clubs, parties, boutique drug delivery service, etc. It's quite the party from what i've heard...

 

[troy12n]

You are 100% correct. My CCRC has been making unscheduled salary adjustments to keep employees. We will see the impact of this with increases in next year's monthly fee but losing good employees is worse...

George

I know several nurses, most of them got their start right out of college in nursing homes and assisted living facilities...

Why?

Because they are always hiring. Low pay, horrible working conditions, not a good job. It's a career path of one of 3 options:
1. entry level (first) job
2. job of last resort (poor work ethic, poor job performance, cant keep another nursing job because "reasons")
3. dedication to the specific field (elder care)

#1 is the most common, #3 is the least common

Also, I have had grandparents, parents and "in laws" go through facilities like this, and it's a real crap shoot, finding a good one is tough, at least around here.