REPORT TO ADVISORY COMMITTEE
May 2014

The Connecticut Continuing Care Residents Association (ConnCCRA) held its annual meeting at StoneRidge in Mystic, CT on Thursday, May 15, 2014. The main focus was a discussion, facilitated by Billie Alban from Seabury in Bloomfield, on the topic of residents' rights at CCRCs in Connecticut. The group is aware of the legislation passed in Massachusetts and New Jersey and envisions having similar legislation enacted in Connecticut.

Current CT statutes were originally promulgated at a time when the concept of continuing care retirement communities was coming to fruition, and thus many dealt with start-up matters and financing. However, at that time, unanticipated future developments have come to include sale of CCRCs to different providers, changes from for-profit to not-for-profit and vice versa, and bankruptcies. Also, practices vary widely among CCRCs in such things as when refunds are made to residents (or their estates) upon departure. Particularly in fiscal matters, it is felt that there should be some common requirements and standards.

The following comments were expressed by participants in the discussion.

1. A desire for greater transparency in financial matters.

2. Having residents sit on the governing board of directors or trustees.

3. "Financial fairness" issues, specifically that debt be incurred for the sole benefit of the CCRC in question, that residents participate meaningfully in budget processes involving the monthly service fee, and that monies from the monthly service fee be used exclusively for the CCRC in question. Some participants differed, such as in the case of a provider owning multiple CCRCs, perhaps even in different states.

4. Having uniform standards that apply to for-profit and not-for-profit CCRCs.

5. A stated recourse in cases of non-compliance.

6. Protection of entry fees.

7. Having refunds made to residents within a specified period of time, such as three months, or five years, rather than only upon re-sale of the vacated unit.

8. Advance notice to residents when a CCRC is facing receivership or bankruptcy.

9. Interest-free loans to residents if the CCRC and/or its owner declare bankruptcy.

10. A thirty-day written notice prior to implementation of any fee increases.

Respectfully submitted,

Georgia Erickson, President			Cecilia Malin, Secretary

Connecticut Continuing Care Residents Association
(ConnCCRA)