What’s Included in The Monthly Rent – Honestly!

A common question individuals ask when touring senior living or assisted living is, “What’s Included in the Monthly Rent?” or “Why Is the Rent So Expensive?”  More often than not, the response is a basic answers like meals, housekeeping, transportation etc. These are surface level answers.

Here at The Retreat, we believe in being transparent, and that starts with what’s included in the monthly rental rate for our apartments. ​

Residents rent helps pay for all of the technology that the community uses in order to provide the highest level of customer service, and care. While it is not obvious to the family of residents, and the residents themselves – there are a variety of technology products the community uses in order to track care, track maintenance requests, and track meals. 

Here is a highlight of some of the technology used in the community:

• PointClickCare is used for billing, regulatory compliance, and care tasks. This system allows us to review resident care daily. It helps our staff be held accountable for completing these tasks, and ensures our residents receive the best care available.
• TELS is used to track maintenance requests. TELS is used for things like a lightbulb being burned out in a resident apartment or common area bathroom, but it is also used for bigger life safety functions. It tracks fire alarm systems, system testing, and prompts our maintenance team to review internal systems like A/C, electric systems, and more. This all makes sure our residents have a safe environment to live in.
• The Retreat uses a nurse call system, and door locking technology. These systems are regularly maintained to help keep our residents safe, and to help in situations where residents need a little extra help. They are able to simply call the staff at the push of the button. 

​These technology functions all require monthly subscription fees that add up quickly. 

Meals

​The monthly rent for our residents also helps pay to run a full service restaurant on-site. Traditionally, three meals a day are included in the monthly rent. There is so much that goes in to the three meals in order to meet state regulations, and provide a variety of choices for our residents to enjoy. A dietician reviews the weekly menus, and reviews recipes to make sure we are meeting dietary guidelines. Monthly rent helps to pay the salary of a chef, who listens to the feedback from residents/families on what they would like to have on the menu. Monthly rent also goes towards the raw food costs that it takes to make three meals a day. 

Utilities

​At The Retreat, monthly rent also pays for utilities. Utilities include gas, electric, heating, air conditioning, cable etc., but they also include internet and telephone for the community. Telephone that families members call in order to hear updates about their loved ones, and internet that allows for our care partners to track medications passed and services rendered. The community would not be able to function without key utilities.

Cleaning

The monthly rent residents pay, helps keep the community and their apartments clean. The Retreat is a beautiful community, and without the assistance of the housekeeping staff – it would be nearly impossible to keep it as fresh as it is. It pays for the products that are used to clean resident apartments on a weekly basis, and the common spaces daily. It helps pay for the vacuums and mops they use to keep the floors clean and clear of trip hazards. 

Events and Activities

​Monthly rent also covers lifestyle programming, and expenses that come with that. It helps cover the cost of daily activities, social events, happy hours, and more. The monthly rent helps cover the gas it takes to fill the bus/van to go on outings or to the doctor, and pays for the insurance of the van. It covers the boring stuff, so that the residents are able to go and have fun! 

Salaries

Our resident’s monthly rent is how we pay the salaries of approximately 30 people who work diligently on a daily basis to provide care services, security, maintenance, programming, dining and more to our residents. There is staffing in the building 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, so it requires a larger team than most realize. Resident’s monthly rent ultimately helps pay for housing, meals, and education for our team members and their families.  

In addition to the local team, resident rent is helps pay the salaries of a support team who work at the home office. These employees help with support the community in a variety of different ways that include clinical oversight, technology help, and more.

The easier answer to what is included in rent is a bulleted list of items, but in reality there is so much included in the monthly rent which is why the rent appears to be high at first glance. Once everything that is truly included is taken in to consideration – it becomes easier to understand why the monthly rent appears to be high. Yes, it is higher than a traditional apartment complex, or living at home – but there are so many services, and amenities that it helps cover with the ultimate goal of providing the best experience for the resident. 

​Here is a link to our price sheet.
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​Please take into consideration everything that is included in the monthly rent, and please give The Retreat at Sunny Vista a call to help answer any other questions.  
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