In Minnesota, one of the biggest complaints that senior care facilities have seen is an increase in the number of evictions that have occurred. Between March and June, there was a 30 percent increase in the rate of evictions that happened, and this was the number one complaint that the states ombudsman’s office had received.
The coronavirus pandemic has made things difficult for everyone, but the elderly have borne the brunt of it, unfortunately.
The pandemic caused a huge spike in the rate of unemployment across the country. Because of this, a lot of families had a hard time paying for the care of a loved one. The unfortunate truth is that a lot of care homes are not able or willing to provide care in such a situation. Just like you would be evicted from an apartment or lose your home if you didn’t pay your mortgage, in some cases care facilities have the right to evict residents if they are not keeping up with monthly payments. Again, vulnerable seniors are hit the hardest by this, even if it’s not necessarily their fault that payments fall behind.
Some states, like New York, have put measures in place to prevent things like this from happening. In New York, there was a statewide moratorium placed on all types of evictions to protect people that had lost income during the pandemic. However, this did create a whole other set of problems, including some nursing homes becoming hot spots for the coronavirus. In other instances, people have fallen behind in rent payments and have no little hope for how those back payments will be covered once the rent becomes due in full. While a reprieve has been found for many, it is far from a perfect solution.
How can we help you and your family during this time? Have you struggled finding good senior care during this time? If so, we can help you. We offer a free consultation service with no strings attached. Give us a call and we can help you and your family figure out what the best approach for care is, now and moving into the future. We have a team of caregivers ready to help.
Finally, it’s important to remember that you and your family have rights, even if you have fallen behind when it comes to payments due to an assisted living facility or nursing home. If you have been warned of eviction and feel that it is an unjust or dangerous move, I strongly advise you to speak with an elder care attorney. They’re familiar with the law and can help protect your family. If you cannot afford an attorney, a lot of communities offer free legal resources. You have rights, and senior care homes have an obligation to keep their residents safe. An attorney in your area that is familiar with elder law can help you figure out whether or not you have a case, and then can advise on the best steps to protect the ones that you love.
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