My in-laws paid their $150K move-in fee on the basis of the promises made over the course of several years that the rent and minimal fees were all inclusive. This retirement community was supposed to be economical, safe, and convenient. Meals were supposed to be discounted, with many services like a shopping shuttle and medical transportation included.
In truth, they could have lived in a bigger, more luxurious room at the Best Western down the street and eaten all their meals at a local restaurant for less money than they ended up paying.
After move-in, the free shopping shuttle and medical transport were shut down because Friendsview "couldn't find a driver to hire". This, to my knowledge, has never been subsequently addressed.
Their 500 sf apartment cost them $1200 per month, initially. They ended up cooking their own meals because meals were $12 each ($72 per day for 3 meals for 2 people).
Eventually, my FIL had to go into the Friendsview memory care program, which was supposed to be a greatly discounted program for residents of Friendsview. Thereafter, the monthly rent and fees amounted to $3000. That did not include supplies used in the memory care unit. They were charged for every item supplied, every aspirin, and every latex glove at exorbitant rates.
To add injury to insult, workers in the memory care unit mismanaged my FIL's medication. Because one of the medicines was causing him to slip into unresponsiveness , his doctor ordered it stopped. When he was found unresponsive a few days later it became apparent that he was being given the medication despite a note in his chart to stop that medication. My in-laws granddaughter is an RN, and when she questioned why the drug was still being given staff argued with her that it was doctor's orders.
The financial burden was more than my MIL could sustain long term, so when my FIL died she moved out, abandoning the $150K buy-in money.
Our experience is that these people are dishonest, uncaring, incompetent, and will squeeze every penny out of their clients that they can. Avoid this place like the plague. read more
