Are any LTC facilities giving reductions on monthly bills due to everything being shut down?

While things have changed and some of the Entertainment or Socialization is not available for the time being residents are still receiving the care they need.  The facility still needs to pay staff and pay for meals provided.  With meals needing to be delivered to rooms instead of residents going to the DR there is added labor expenses.  Added cost for PPE to meet new requirements.  The cleaning staff now taking extra precautions made more difficult because the residents are confined to their rooms so they have to clean around them instead of cleaning the room while they are out to an activity.  With family not able to visit the staff having to attempt to keep residents occupied during those hours,  Fielding additional phone calls and assisting with "window visits" if possible.  The strain for the staff being "essential employees" having to go out to work regular and extra shifts, worried about bringing sickness of any kind home to their families. Others get to work from home or are collecting unemployment in excess of regular wages.  It eats away at you after a while still putting in the same work as before yet hearing others constantly complain about being "stuck" at home.  I don't think expecting them to care for our family at a discount rate is the right answer.  Maybe they deserve a bonus for sticking it out during these difficult times.

Staff in every facility, every level, all around the country, are low-income, low education, living in crowded conditions, taking public transportation and car-pooling, taking their children and grandchildren to and from care at other people's homes. Their spouses and other members of their households work in hospitals and care centers, drive buses and cabs, work in factories, grocery stores, construction. No religious services? They go to prayer meetings in someone's living room. No salon? They get their hair and nails done in someone's kitchen. No bar? They go to drink in someone's basement speakeasy. No casino? They're gambling in that same basement. Day off? They take the family to the park or the beach or the boardwalk. Just like everyone else, there are some facility staff who believe various conspiracy theories about the virus. Some think they will be protected if they pray to their saint candle or drink herbal tea. Some figure these old people had pretty good lives, way better than their own parents and grandparents in their home country, and if they get sick, it's just God's will, so they will take over-the-counter fever reducers and cough suppressants and continue to come to work. If all they need to walk into the building is a mask, a temperature check, and a negative virus test from 6 weeks ago--why can't family members visit if the family member also has a mask, a temperature check, and a negative virus test from 6 weeks ago?

At my FIL's indy living, we are expecting a rent increase before the end of the summer.

why would there be a price discount? do you shop? everything has gone up, there are fewer caregivers and those who are are RIGHT to demand a premium. be grateful

Just curious--is the place quite "luxurious" or are you in an area where everything is very expensive? $14K/month is over twice what my mother paid in SW Ohio for long-term nursing care in her facility.

I am grateful (as always) to the caring staff, but angry at the facility for these unyielding, one-size-fits-all policies for the Covid virus. My mom is 91 and in a memory unit. She had symptoms, was tested for the virus (positive) and immediately placed on Z-PAC treatment (ezythrimiacin, zinc, hydrochloroquin). Symptoms disappeared and she later tested negative. Still we are not allowed to pick her up at the door to take her out for a visit.

Everyday, we wave to mom thru the closed window...she no longer knows how to use the phone so we can't talk to her. We are not allowed to have the window open. Mom is confined to her room, alone, bored, loosing her mind and body.

Before the lockdown in March: Mom could walk on her own (though we discouraged it). Mom called us and picked up the phone when called. She loved meal times in the dining room where they played Mitch Miller and everyone sang along as they ate. Mom loved the music and Bingo in the common room. All of that is gone as everyone is confined to their rooms just like in a hospital but w/o visitors.

Today my mom can't operate a phone. She cannot even stand up as she is so weak. Her teeth are missing (probably thrown out in the trash w/ paper plates the meals are served on), and she is down to 97 lbs on her 5'5 frame. She sailed thru the virus but the isolation is killing her. The staff tells me all of the Memory unit residents have stopped eating since lockdown.

Why are we locking down people who are losing their minds. The isolation is speeding up the process. I think loved ones of these inmates are OK with them dying but dying alone is heartbreaking for all. In July the facility will review their policies. Will anything change? Will Mom recognize us or even live long enough till we can touch her and talk to her once more. They let out convicts for their health but keep our elderly locked up & dying from the isolation. I am ANGRY and telling me that we all must sacrifice at this time does not help. We are not equally "all in this together". I don't know if the CDC is pushing this, the Government regs, the facility, malpractice lawyers or what. But it is wrong and sinful to isolate these dying souls in the memory units.

My mom is in assisted living since 2017. They just informed us that her monthly cost is increasing $800 bcuz she needs more assistance. Well yes bcuz she is isolated and depressed. Has dementia but lucid just about every other day.....

I understand your frustration. Group situations make it hard to control exposure to diseases, especially airborne diseases like COVID-19. Since staff have been educated and rigorously screened, they care for the residents as essential workers. The facility has no control over "visitors" - wearing an N95 face mask, maintaining social distance, keeping their social contacts outside of work limited... - which makes visitors a huge liability. Any visitor can come in and have the virus without showing any signs or symptoms. It only takes a touch to a loved one who will than transfer the virus to their face or other mucus membranes. With all the increased measures for hygiene, distancing,.. the facilities tasks have increased. Do not expect any reduction in his payment.

For now, you will not be able to see your father in person. Be creative in finding ways to communicate your love. Try "window visits" where your loved one is next to a first floor window and you talk on the phone while seeing each other. Ask the facility if they can set up online meetings so you can talk and see each other. Send letters and pictures.

When all people are either positive for the antibodies or have been vaccinated, then we will be able to see each other in person again.

No reduced rates, actually had an increase.

See my note on your other thread to this effect.

The isolation is cruel. And I agree you should be able to visit your father with screening.

They raised the daily rate for my wife from $300 to $330, said it was increased cost of PPE.

My mom's memory care hasn't reduced rent and I would not expect it. They have been so overwhelmed with this virus and as we know the LTC's were the last to get PPE. God bless all of those caregivers who hung in there to care for our families!!! I know mom gets bored and misses the entertainers that used to come in. Mom tested positive and beat covid at 96! Covid has changed everything everywhere and I'm grateful every day for what they did to keep residents as safe as possible. I am able to talk to her daily on her own cell phone and she is back to her bored complaining self. Bless those caregivers. They probably saved my life just as much as the saved hers. Oh, and the good thing about dementia, she doesn't remember if I was there today or 3 months ago. Take the blessings where you get them.