Anyone ever heard of an assisted living "move in" fee?

I appreciate all the comments.

The prices really do vary. Gouging really. I almost said in response to the move-in fee....And they let you get away with that?

My father was charged an evaluation fee instead of a move in fee. I was told it was to evaluate the level of care he needed, and there were either 4 or 5 different fee levels reflecting their evaluation.

Yes, in the 2 AL facilities that I have recently toured, there is a 2,000 fee, which was explained to me that is used in the documents set up, getting in touch with his Drs, Pharmacies, and other health organizations, setting them into place, so that they can be in direct contact with them should the needs arise, in addition to his Advance Directive, his banking, and the medical evaluation which is also done by the in house Dr. Plus any personel information, and whom to notify in case they need to and that it takes time and effort by the facility Director, the DON, and administrative staff to compile these documents, plus the usual damage and cleaning deposits and such, and I'm sure there are many other things involved getting him established as well, but Yes, it's pricey. I guess it is all part of building a file on the patient, but is standard from what I've gathered.

There needs to be more new Assisted Living complexes to be built to make it more competitive.   Right now there are waiting lists a year long.

When my Dad moved into Independent Living, he was looking the last week in December.   The place had an apartment that would be ready in two week if he could wait.   Dad wasn't sure.   Then the complex gave him a discount on his rent plus one month free.   Dad smiles and said "yes'.   I guess no one on the waiting list wanted to move in January :)

The way the world is going is making me so sad.

Mom's memory care had a $6,500 move-in fee and since she was in the new expansion she was the first occupant in the room

It has been one year since she moved in and the place is full so they can pretty much charge what they like and her monthly rate just increased by $450 for a shared room

I'm just wondering if there is any other way corporations can find to gouge old folks. I would never pay it for myself. Cleaning up and painting when a resident moves out is all part of apartment maintenance. It often seems like places are trying to drain the estates of people before they die. It's a sad way the world is going, but no one seems to be interested in stopping it.

Windytown's explaination is the same I got and Mom paid over $2000

Yep, common in my area!

We had a $4000 move in fee --- standard in my area. We used 3 different facilities and it was all the same.

My mother didn't have a move-in fee, but we had to pay a month in advance. I guess that is about the same thing?

My mother has been in two different AL's, one in 2011 and the current one she lives in now since 2013. Both had a $2,000, non-refundable move-in fee.

Basically, it's an expensive way to pay for carpet cleaning and some painting from what the last resident did during their time there. It's a racket that's pretty much unavoidable.

In my area the "move in" fees are common.   It is similar to a rental security deposit, except you don't get the deposit back.  This money is used to do repairs and replacements after a resident leaves.   My Dad paid $2,500 move-in fee.

I did the same as Lisa, above.   I hired a moving company to move the furniture and items that my Dad was moving to Independent Living.   Later down the road when Dad needed to move to Assisted Living, the maintenance workers moved the furniture Dad was taking, which was only a few things.   The small stuff, his caregiver and I moved, like all 200 books :P   What was left, I called a hauling group that also did donations.

Usually with Independent Living and with Assisted Living there are options to choose from which would bring up the monthly rent.... or the price is set with everything included.

Some Independent Living places offer only one meal, the rest you do in your own kitchen in your apartment.... other IL will offer 3 meals a day.   Some will offer linen service as part of the rent, others will charge extra.   Some will give free transportation to stores and doctor appointments, other place might charge a fee.

My mom didn't have a move in fee when she moved into her AL. The families do the moving, unpacking , setting up the room. When she got moved up to NH floor I moved her things. Furniture was donated and was picked up.