Assisted Living Firm Rejects Medicaid, Evicts Elderly

by Joseph Shapiro

"To provide the best care for residents and to remain a solvent business, there are limits on the number of Medicaid residents any assisted living facility can serve."

Assisted Living Concepts statement

 

All Things Considered · A nationwide chain of assisted living facilities promised elderly residents that if money ran out, they could pay for services with Medicaid. A change in policy by the company, Assisted Living Concepts, means Medicaid is no longer accepted and those who cannot pay are being evicted.

Older people often say one of their biggest fears is to wind up in a nursing home. That is one reason the assisted living industry has boomed. It offers a comfortable alternative, where people get to live in their own private apartments and leave the cooking and cleaning to the staff. But assisted living is expensive. And when people run out of money, there are few government rules to protect them.

Evicted At Age 99

Cordelia Robertson turned 99 in May. Two days later, she got the eviction notice.

Her son, Gene Robertson, says even though his mother is confused and doesn't understand what's going on, she would be devastated if she had to leave the home outside Seattle she has lived in for nearly 10 years.

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