Life In A Senior Affordable High-Rise

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

Perfect timing, I walked by a building in my neighborhood last month. Not as large but I am interested in learning more about them. I checked them out online and it was around $800, which is a little more than I am paying for my market rate apartment. I'm still keeping my options open in case something happens.

That's wonderful that you live in an area where you can rent a market-rate apartment for around $800, if you're happy in that region. Keep your hope up. Keep looking and noticing. That's the spirit....keep your options open in case something happens. I hope something very nice will happen for you!

 

[Oldeagle66]

That's wonderful that you live in an area where you can rent a market-rate apartment for around $800, if you're happy in that region. Keep your hope up. Keep looking and noticing. That's the spirit....keep your options open in case something happens. I hope something very nice will happen for you!

Thank you

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

I meant to share that the furniture pieces always have prices on them. Here are pics of the furniture I bought.


I'm painting all of them white to reflect more light. Also, I like my colorful craft and art projects to take center stage. I find it easier to work on them on white or light surfaces. I like looking at colorful objects against a white background.



I will also be decoupaging them with delicate, black and white line artwork. I favor dragonflies, fruits, vintage images, scrollwork, etc.





You can see that I'm already using this one for my beads storage. It's perfect for that. I'm going to leave the tabletop unpainted because I like the color and it's light enough.

The other little shelf that I bought is in my pantry with tool boxes and supplies on it. It didn't need anything done to it.

*****

 

[officerripley]

View attachment 501011

I meant to share that the furniture pieces always have prices on them. Here are pics of the furniture I bought.

View attachment 501012
I'm painting all of them white to reflect more light. Also, I like my colorful craft and art projects to take center stage. I find it easier to work on them on white or light surfaces. I like looking at colorful objects against a white background.

View attachment 501015

I will also be decoupaging them with delicate, black and white line artwork. I favor dragonflies, fruits, vintage images, scrollwork, etc.

View attachment 501016

View attachment 501018

You can see that I'm already using this one for my beads storage. It's perfect for that. I'm going to leave the tabletop unpainted because I like the color and it's light enough.

The other little shelf that I bought is in my pantry with tool boxes and supplies on it. It didn't need anything done to it.

*****

Those are all gorgeous (and will be even more so after you've finished)!

 

[Kaila]

I believe they would. Don't see why they wouldn't. I am thinking about donating some of my stuff, because I intend to continue creating. I have to move my completed projects that I don't use or give as gifts.


...and quote prices.


Good idea. I would suggest it if I thought they'd welcome it. Unfortunately, it's a very small shop. I think they'd feel like there's not enough room to divide like that. Seems easier for them to just shove stuff in. Also, I think some tenants would move stuff around, either accidentally or purposely. It would be more work for those 2 ladies to try to keep stuff separated.

I thought that tables with prices, was a great idea, but you're right;
And that's funny..... picturing people moving the items, either by mistake or on purpose!

It's funny , as long as I don't need to settle the ensuing arguments.

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

Our Laundry Room

The laundry room is in the basement and has 5 regular washers, 1 front-loader and 6 dryers. We are on the coin system and there is a coin machine there. Wash is $1.25 or $1.50. It seems like public laundries are charging $3.00 now to wash.

I don't like that there is not a full rinse cycle like washers in the old days. The tub does not fill with water during rinse. Water is sprayed on the clothes and they are spun, so softener can't be added.

I don't understand why there is only 1 front-loader here and at one of the other properties where I stayed. I prefer to use them because I feel that the tumbling gets the clothes more clean. And only the front-loader has dispensers for bleach and softener.



The dryers are $25 for 15 min and they dry very well. I use the high setting and remove some clothes before it's finished. They completely dry the remaining clothes for just the 1 quarter.



There are rolling carts, hanging racks and 2 folding tables. There is also a sink, a soap dispenser and paper towels.



There are chairs and another table with magazines.



The laundry room is very spacious and is open 24/7. I use it every 2-3 wks and I go at 2-3:00 am. I like to be alone while I am there and usually go to the exercise room or the paperback library while my clothes are finishing. There are also single M/F restrooms in the basement.

It can be eerie at times when I'm there with most residents in bed, no windows, both branches of the hallways turning corners to utility and maintenance areas and the boiler making creepy noises. I've watched too many horror movies in my past. But I do try not to keep my back to any doorway for too long.

There have been times when my mind was wandering and I didn't hear the elevator bell ding, and someone slowly walked in and startled me. Despite all this, I'm glad our laundry room is in the basement and secluded.

As you know, some seniors are up into the night or all night. So occasionally, someone will come down to use the vending machines in the library while I'm in the laundry. We also have a small ice machine in the hallway and someone may come down to get ice late night/early morning. I can hear them and am reminded that I'm not alone . They rarely bother to look into the laundry, which is alright with me.

Though the laundry room is a little dingy and old, the entire building is old. I'm grateful to not have to go out to do laundry and that the prices are very reasonable.


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This diary is for those who are interested in obtaining a senior, income-based apartment and for those who are just curious.

Reminder: If you want me to un-tag you, let me know and I'll kindly comply.

@Kaila @Jules @CaliS @PeppermintPatty @Coco @squatting dog @JustBonee @Pinky @katlupe @IrishEyes @Jazzy1 @Pepper @CinnamonSugar @hollydolly @astralcat @CallMeKate @Medusa @MACKTEXAS @OneEyedDiva

 

[Kaila]

It's very interesting.

Thanks for showing us the pictures, and for telling us about your experiences, there!

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

Our Basement Community Room

This meeting room is used less than the Forest Room on the main floor. I know that Coloring & Conversation is held here on Saturdays. I think Bingo is held here too and probably Painting Class.



It could be used for more privacy for anyone wanting to get out of their apartment and maybe read, except for one thing. You never know who will be working on puzzles.

When I was being shown the property, I was told that anyone could work on the puzzles. I received this info dubiously. In the other senior tower I lived in, some residents were rude and nasty if anyone else touched or disturbed the puzzles.

I believe the puzzles usually belong to the property. I don't know if some residents work their own puzzles in this room. If I didn't want anyone to touch my puzzle, I would work it in my apartment. I won't bother with these puzzles. I did look at them one night when I was doing laundry.



Here is the 3rd piano on the property. Don't know if it's used.



I am glad that our common areas are open 24/7. It makes life so much easier living here. At some properties, amenities are closed when the office is closed, which is usually nights and weekends.

At some senior properties, where abuse is rampant (and there are many), the employee(s) close the office and leave whenever they want. This is usually at smaller properties, especially those with management/corporate offices out of state. You can rarely reach anyone in the office when you call. They will often close off the amenities from residents when they leave the office, even if the guidelines state they will be available to residents at all times. And they will leave the office on weekdays any time of day, sometimes leaving for lunch and never returning.

Sadly, the corporate offices of these abused properties seem not to care about what is happening. Residents may complain but nothing is ever done. They risk retaliation by the abusive employees if they try to get help. It's best for those who are so unfortunate as to get trapped in one of these type properties to move ASAP.

Sometimes, people don't have a choice other than to live in one of these mismanaged places. This is true especially in places where there are hardly any senior income-based housing, and for those who feel that they can't look elsewhere and relocate. Otherwise, research, check any feedback that may be available online at Google, Yelp, Birdseye, Facebook, etc. Try to make contact with any residents. Some bad feedback can be questionable but you can usually tell what is most likely true.

--------------------------------------------------------


This diary is for those who are interested in obtaining a senior, income-based apartment and for those who are just curious.

Reminder: If you want me to un-tag you, let me know and I'll kindly comply.

@Kaila @Jules @CaliS @PeppermintPatty @Coco @squatting dog @JustBonee @Pinky @katlupe @IrishEyes @Jazzy1 @Pepper @CinnamonSugar @hollydolly @astralcat @CallMeKate @Medusa @MACKTEXAS @OneEyedDiva

 

[officerripley]

In the other senior tower I lived in, some residents were rude and nasty if anyone else touched or disturbed the puzzles.

That reminds me of something that happened at the Independent Living place where my dad & stepmom lived for a while. When they moved in, the rule was that you had to be ambulatory without using a wheelchair; using a walker (rollator, zimmer frame, etc.) was okay.

Then the corporation that owned the place announced there was a new rule that the walkers could no longer be used either. (I can't remember if they were going to evict those that used them or just wouldn't let any new residents who used them move in.) Anyway, they said that the reason for the new rule was that the residents who did not use walkers complained because they were disgusted by the sight of them, especially how some walker-users would leave the walkers in the hallway outside the dining room while they were eating. People, huh?

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

That reminds me of something that happened at the Independent Living place where my dad & stepmom lived for a while. When they moved in, the rule was that you had to be ambulatory without using a wheelchair; using a walker (rollator, zimmer frame, etc.) was okay.

Then the corporation that owned the place announced there was a new rule that the walkers could no longer be used either. (I can't remember if they were going to evict those that used them or just wouldn't let any new residents who used them move in.) Anyway, they said that the reason for the new rule was that the residents who did not use walkers complained because they were disgusted by the sight of them, especially how some walker-users would leave the walkers in the hallway outside the dining room while they were eating. People, huh?

So hard for me to believe that a corporation could make such a ridiculous rule because of some unfair complaints from some residents. If anything, those who complained should have been required to move out.

 

[katlupe]

I live in one of those mismanaged buildings. Our manager and maintenance man are only here two days a week. They work in 3 other buildings in other towns on the other days. Is it a wonder they never get their work done? Re-certifications take forever. The manager has been working on mine since March. The apartment across the hall has been empty since last July. Someone is waiting for it but the maintenance man had not finished fixing it up. The lady that lived in it had been there for over 30 years. So needed some work.

The lawn needs mowing but the maintenance man is refusing to do it this year. He said he had to buy the gas for the lawn mower and they would never pay him that money back. He could not get them to buy a new vacuum cleaner so he bought his own and carries it around in his truck. He won't leave it in any of the buildings.

 

[Kaila]

That reminds me of something that happened at the Independent Living place where my dad & stepmom lived for a while. When they moved in, the rule was that you had to be ambulatory without using a wheelchair; using a walker (rollator, zimmer frame, etc.) was okay.

Then the corporation that owned the place announced there was a new rule that the walkers could no longer be used either. (I can't remember if they were going to evict those that used them or just wouldn't let any new residents who used them move in.) Anyway, they said that the reason for the new rule was that the residents who did not use walkers complained because they were disgusted by the sight of them, especially how some walker-users would leave the walkers in the hallway outside the dining room while they were eating. People, huh?

That is awful!
Yikes!!!

 

[officerripley]

So hard for me to believe that a corporation could make such a ridiculous rule because of some unfair complaints of some residents. If anything, those who complained should have been required to move out.

I know, it seems unbelievable but at that same place, some employees were treated very unfairly and consulted a labor law attorney who advised them not to pursue a case, told them that it's really hard to successfully sue a corporation over labor matters since most labor laws don't apply to corporations. (There are a lot of frightening things about corporations that a lot people don't know about.)

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

I live in one of those mismanaged buildings. Our manager and maintenance man are only here two days a week. They work in 3 other buildings in other towns on the other days. Is it a wonder they never get their work done? Re-certifications take forever. The manager has been working on mine since March. The apartment across the hall has been empty since last July. Someone is waiting for it but the maintenance man had not finished fixing it up. The lady that lived in it had been there for over 30 years. So needed some work.

The lawn needs mowing but the maintenance man is refusing to do it this year. He said he had to buy the gas for the lawn mower and they would never pay him that money back. He could not get them to buy a new vacuum cleaner so he bought his own and carries it around in his truck. He won't leave it in any of the buildings.

Your property is very small so the parent company is stretching the employees to other properties. It does seem like the company is not very concerned about revenue since they've allowed a unit to be vacant for so long. If they are not diligent about providing a budget or petty cash fund for the maintenance man or not reimbursing him, I can understand why he slacks in his work.

But he needs to find another job and leave his to someone who could find a way to get the work done. To take an indefinite amount of time to complete recertifications is annoying and unfair. It sounds like the property owners and the manager are incompetent, slovenly or both.

The mismanagement that I detailed at other properties is far worse. It involves malice towards senior residents and out-and-out abuse without any oversight from corporate owners. These are mostly newer properties that seem to be part of a large portfolio owned by various out of state companies. They swiftly build these properties (supposedly because of compassion for seniors) to get cash awards and ongoing incentives. They then dump the control of the properties onto questionable employees and seem to never look back.

These managers are often young adults who despise seniors and who often are not experienced or well-qualified to manage those properties. They are very bold and push their abuse to the limit because it doesn't seem like anyone outside cares what goes on at these places. It's shocking that such beautiful properties have the very nice amenities withheld through spite from the deserving seniors. Some of these abusive managers even have people living at the properties who do not belong.

Out of the 4 properties that I've lived in, none were like that. Because of my research and because I was able to move wherever I wanted to, I was able to avoid applying at properties like that. I was looking in many states, so I have a lot of experience evaluating these properties.

 

[DailyArtsyCrafter]

I know, it seems unbelievable but at that same place, some employees were treated very unfairly and consulted a labor law attorney who advised them not to pursue a case, told them that it's really hard to successfully sue a corporation over labor matters since most labor laws don't apply to corporations. (There are a lot of frightening things about corporations that a lot people don't know about.)

Yes, we really have to be smart about choosing our battles, especially us seniors who need to live our remaining years in peace. I know it really hurts to let an unfair matter go, but it's better than spending the rest of our lives fighting and getting sick with frustration. It may feel like we are letting the offender(s) win but we are really the ones who are winning.