My 94 year mother is in an assisted living facility and I just got the bill for a shocking $700 per month increase starting May 1. This is a 19% increase. How can I argue with them? I know that they are doing more work taking temperatures and swabs of each resident daily I believe, delivering meals to each resident to prevent communal dining, but is this reasonable? Have their costs gone up 19%? Has anyone else had a similar experience? Maybe someone who works inside an assisted living facility?
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The increased rent is effective on May 1, which is 30 days, however, I have to sign the papers within 10 days.
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They know folks are stuck right now....we can't get into the facilities to handle the tasks that we once did for our family member and we can't move them anywhere. If they have increased expenses, they need to get on board with the other businesses and take advantage of some of the bail outs the government is offering.
I know my mom doesn't have an extra $700 per month. What are they going to do if your mom doesn't have an extra $700 a month....kick her out?
1) Gather records of previous bills.
2) Simply request an itemized bill for the month (s) with the increase, including how you were notified of the increase.
3) Contact your State Attorney General's Office and file a complaint for price gouging. Keep extra copies & originals of all documents. Send copies.
4) At any opportunity, find out if others received Notices of the increase & how much. Are they only charging Self-pay or those with Private Long Term Care the huge increase. Are they charging Medicare? Medicaid?
5) Inform your local State Representatives! Even a personal letter to your Governor.
-- If they are one of the few who dragged their feet on requiring rigorous protections be put in place -- then it will be harder, but you could save lives. Also then the actions they took were pragmatic & needed, but technically optional.
6) Befriend a local or major news reporter. Develope a relationship of trust. You need to file charges and allow an investigation before it comes out in the press. But if you don't hear back in a reasonable time...people are down staffed & working from home. Go public!
It sounds like the extra charge is for basic daily/monthly rate. While they may have extra costs, like PPEs, they should have been using more of them already each Flu 😷 Season. Did they charge extra if a patient was immune comprised... because they should have used extra protection to protect that patient & prevent cross contamination.
Information is gold here! Is the total bill went up for specialized individual care, like extra resperitory therapy, that is allowed. Charging extra cause meals have to be delivered to the room due to CDC or State Requirements...not allowed!
Extra cleaning costs, not allowed! Besides with dining room closed, they are not sanitizing those tables daily.
If they are being price gouged by providers of PPEs or other essential supplies. Then it is their responsibility to file charges with the State Attorney General..not charge patients.
An analogy:
If someone stole there computers, wheelchairs, transfer equipment, and expensive PT equipment, then poured paint of urine on walls & floors it would be costly immediate expense. A criminal offence. A necessity of operations to clean, sanitize & replace immediately.
It would be a crisis for them. It would not be cause for raising standard rate of care!
Also, if they are only charging Self-pay patients for expenses provided to all, talk to an ACLU or private Attorney for Elderly Services. Ask them about pros & cons of going public. Best to have info from other families in any case!
Glad you brought this to everyone's attention! I pray your LO will be safe.
Unrelated to the pandemic, has your mom started needing more care? That's something that is tracked and evaluated usually monthly.
I think you'll probably find that most of the increase was decided on several months ago. Did you receive no advance notice of it?
How long has your mother been resident there, and what does it say about rent increases in her contract?
I noticed your reply to Countrymouse: '..they only give you 10 days to sign the papers.'; '..she's been there 3 months; there is no contract; and you can take her out any time.' This may be a blessing in disguise or a hidden downfall by not having a signed lease.
Others may disagree, but if you don't sign any lease for her apartment for the price agreed to, you risk not being protected from outrageous gouging or worse, unwarranted eviction. They can still go up on care needs if those increased significantly, but only with proper notice, and in line with the signed agreement between you and them. I'd get all in writing, a lease for protection for the base rent and 'extra care charges,' with all charges and care levels outlined specifically.