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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.

Best of luck.
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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.
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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”.
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Daphne131 Jan 2023
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.
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You may need to protest with your feet, just like quitting a job. Start looking around and move him.
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Move
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What does the contract say?
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Daphne131 Dec 2022
Not all aspects are in a contract. Some are covered by law.
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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.
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Daphne131 Dec 2022
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.
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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.
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Daphne131 Jan 2023
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.
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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!
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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 .
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Only $2400 a month? That can’t be right, that’s unbelievably cheap
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Have an Elder Law Attorney review the contract.
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Daphne131 Jan 2023
Most cannot afford such expertise or they would not need to ask in this forum if they could afford a lawyer.
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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.
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Genworth long term healthcare raised rates and wound up in a class action lawsuit. They settled.
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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.'
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Right now the had economy under Democrats resulted in sky high inflation and prices for everything including elder care. So this historic increase in prices including food and energy needed by AL facilities, the highest i creases in prices in 40 years, then AL places use this site economy as a legit defense increasing their rent or leases and add in costs of needing assistance. Yet they must cap their increases in rent either by contact, that usually doesn’t list a price increase cap, or by law in your State.

Social security payments also go up, but not to same percentage increase as under Democrats’ bad economy since taking office and right now, especially when you add the historic increase in interest rates in people’s credit cards and mortgages and car purchases is hurting seniors in AL and long term care the most.

Family may have to pitch in or look for IRIS benefits or Pace benefits. Under Pace your Senioe moves into facility and portion of rent is paid by Pace if they need AL because of a disability. The cast is you must take Senior off their medical insurance and place into Pace medical insurance.

if run out of money go onto Medicaid. Then Govt has clause to get reimbursement for money they spent for Senior on Medicaid out of any life insurance or other assets upon deceasing. The law permits this as Democrats added this confiscation of beneficiaries assets from parents.
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MACinCT Jan 2023
Try to keep politics off the table. The sad thing the OP needs suggestions and not a rant of wouda, could, shoulda
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The only way to reduce AL costs meaningfully is to move them yo a poorer area or State. CA AL prices are highest in State given its a Dem State. So to have real reduction for care of seniors, you must move senior to AL in poverty States like Idaho, North Dakota, and the like because CA, NY, will bankrupt you. It’s the hard provable truth.

I reside in CA the highest taxes State in nation with extreme inflation.y dear Mum would have to move to AZ for example a less affluent, Republican State for affordable AL.
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20% seems well beyond COLA. File complaint with your county and States’ Elder Abuse unit, Health Services, and Consumer Affairs Investigations like in CA. They all have sworn law enforcement when investigate in all three of these agencies to protect seniors. It’s price gauging if true.
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RST888 Jan 2023
We have had the same problem and it's prevalent throughout all AL....The problem is that they can pick a number out of the sky and charge whatever they feel like. They are in business, they don't care about the elderly, they're only there to make profits. I spoke to a lawyer at CANHER and he said that the public needs to keep complaining about this issue. That public awareness and complaints need to keep coming in, that it's the only way to see change. He said that he's been receiving multiple calls daily regarding this problem. It's horrible that our government doesn't help the elderly by having more protective laws and regulations against these facilities. I've written emails to all of my local state reps, etc. and will keep doing so. You should do the same. Nothing will change unless the public tries to fight it. Regarding their not delivering what was in the contract~There is a licensing board for each area and you can email them with your grievances and they can fine the facility for not delivering what was promised. Aegis Living in Laguna Niguel, California lost to a class action suit against them and the people won a few years ago. It's a violation to break the contract agreements, especially when it comes to the health and well-being of the elderly.
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The inflation rate isn't what the government says. consumer price inflation rate is not 7.5 percent. It’s 15.63 percent at the minimum...more likely 25% for the real world metrics in hotspots
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I feel your pain. First they started charging for services that were included in the original contract, then they have psychiatrists (that we get charged for)visits without consent. Then, they order extremely expensive medication before the fill date. I hope to find a new place for loved one.
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Not to mention that services are pretty much nothing. Bed is never made, they forget bath time, medication...etc...
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