Rosemary McClure had an interesting piece last month (sorry, we're just catching up to it) on an unexpected ramification of the housing crisis, seniors in adult-care centers getting evicetd becasue of the financial woes of their care-givers. From her piece in the Los Angeles Times:
"California's foreclosure crisis has severely impacted some of the most vulnerable tenants in our state — seniors who live in residential-care facilities," says state Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). "These residents had no warning that they were about to lose their homes, and their families and caretakers were left in a panic to find immediate emergency housing."
The situation is all the worse because of the health issues faced by many of those evicted. "Being uprooted like that is a horrifying situation for older adults, many of whom are frail and confused," says Shelley Woolery, who has been involved in two cases in her role as ombudsman program coordinator with the Council on Aging in Orange County.
Bankruptcies, foreclosures and other financial difficulties are inflicting new worries on residents and their families who thought they had secured their futures in a retirement community or other form of senior housing, ranging from "55+" developments to nursing homes.
The problems confront older Americans at every income level.
One of the first red flags in the crisis emerged from the top end of the spectrum in 2009: bankruptcies at continuing-care retirement communities, known as CCRCs. These pricey communities, which require entrance fees averaging $250,000 (some are close to $1 million), offer upscale dining, activities, entertainment and long-term care.
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