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My 92-year-old mother's AL requires a 90 day notice. She has to pay 3 months rent at the same time that she turns in her notice. This amounts to almost $23,000 and seems excessive. My mother has less than $50,000 in her account.

Back story: Mom had been living in an apartment that was attached to my brother's house (previously owned by my mother. She had a stroke in 2022. We were told that she needed 24 hour supervision by the initial rehab facility. The second rehab place recommended in-home therapy and assistance until she achieved her independence. Three of us siblings provided 24/7 assistance. Mom's OT and PT therapists said she was able to take care of herself. We gradually reduced the hours we stayed with her. Mom did great.
One year later, she ended up in the hospital and rehab, this time for three different infections. At first, her memory was slightly impaired and then it improved, but they said that she should be in an AL. Rehab extended her stay several days, while my sister and I looked for an AL place. Mom wanted to return to her apartment, but my brother said no. My sister and I chose this place because she had her own bathroom and it was on one floor-no elevators. Mom hates using elevators. She is one of 16 residents.
We ended up feeling mislead by the owner. Mom doesn't have dementia, but all of the other residents have dementia. Mom hates living where she currently resides because she cannot relate to the residents with dementia. In addition she finds the activities boring and juvenile. She is so unhappy and sits in her room except for meals. She cannot live with my sister and I because our showers are on the second floor in our homes.
I confirmed with the AL Manager that Mom would have to pay them 3 months rent (almost $23,000). In addition, the AL will keep $4500 from the $5000 community fee. So the AL will be getting almost $28000). The AL Manager thinks that Mom can remain in her apartment during those final three months.
My poor sister is looking into having one of those stair lifts installed in her home, so that Mom can move in with her. I feel our best option is to let her live at this AL until her money runs out. I'll take Mom for extended weekend stays at my sister's house.
The bottom line is that we signed the contract because we had to quickly find a place for Mom to live. She always refused to tour ALs, even following her hospitalizations because she wanted to die in her own home. Even though she doesn't want to live at the current AL, she refuses to look at other ALs. She wants to move in with my sister since my brother won't let her move back. It just seems wrong that the AL charges such a high fee to break a lease. They admit that their place is not a good fit for her. The manager said that they charge that much in order to market the room.
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Reply to LilCh279
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1 month notice is the norm.
Look at your contract to see what your own elder signed on for.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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The two AL’s I dealt with , rent was month to month . 30 days notice required when leave.

However , both LO’s died in AL. They did not hold us to the 30 days . One died the third week of the month . We had to vacate by the end of the month to not be charged for the next month .

The other died 6th of the month . We moved out by the end of the next week . They prorated and refunded the second half of the month .
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Reply to waytomisery
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I would never sign a lease for assisted living care. Health conditions can change very quickly. I always did to month rent for my mother. The facility where my mother was required 30 days although she died on the 7th of the month and they only required me to have her room vacated by the 30th.
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Reply to RLWG54
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LilCh279, welcome to the forum. Please fill out the Profile page so we can get a better understanding of your situation.


Curious as to why your Mother wants to break her Lease? Does she plan to move to another Assisted Living, or plan to move in with you? What are her health issues? Does she have memory problems?


As to a required notice to break a Lease, each facility and company has their own rules.
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Reply to freqflyer
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