This is $600.00, which in our financial circle is a very large rate increase and not a "modest" rate increase. Besides moving our mother out of the facility what options do I have? Does this seem like a large amount to others as her monthly rate by this much or am I over reacting?
I would be looking for a different facility unless moms needs have drastically increased recently and this is a reflection of the additional care required.
I do honestly think letters like this would be a great deal LESS annoying if they didn't attempt the mealy-mouthed eyewash. If the letter just said "$600 extra, like it or lump it," at least you'd know where you stood, and at least you wouldn't have the insult of being called a whinge-bag added to the injury of being given no option.
Mind you. It might, actually, be modest compared to increases being imposed by other facilities.
Can it be done?
No, I don't think you are over reacting! I don't consider that "modest" in the least. When I placed my mom in an IL/AL facility in early 2015, it was privately owned by a husband and wife. Once they retired and sold it to a small, corporate company the yearly increase was 3% (for us around a $100 more per month).
What I'm wondering is whether this has to do with the pandemic to try and make up for losses and paying for PPE and other COVID-19 related expenses. Not only that, if they lost residents(i.e. death) from the virus and were on lockdown like my mom's, no one was moving in or out. Just a thought. If it were me, I would want a breakdown of just what this increase is for. In our case, we would get letters at least one month prior to the new rate increase taking affect and a reason justifying the increase. We ended up moving my mom in May, so I have not experienced this yet at her new facility. I hope you are able to get to the bottom of this so you can make a decision in what to do with your mom.
I don't think you're 'over reacting', I just don't know that you have any recourse at all.
Do you have a contract, can they raise prices now (is this when the period is up)?
Good luck right now, I would think, in finding another facility willing to take in new residents. It happens but is not easy.
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