Support Calif. legislation to protect seniors from skyrocketing rents in assisted living, ensure emergency preparations.
Protect Seniors, Stop Price-Gouging!
Support Calif. legislation to protect seniors from skyrocketing rents in assisted living, ensure emergency preparations.
New York Legislators Introduce "Atria Bill" to Protect Elderly New Yorkers from Unfair Rent Hikes
New York State elected officials, family members of elderly residents at Atria Senior Living centers and advocates for seniors announced legislation to protect assisted living tenants from unfair rent increases at a rally outside Atria West Side, the company’s flagship facility in Manhattan.
Residents’ families and workers have cited a number of wide-ranging concerns at Atria’s 24 facilities across New York, such as poor patient care, poverty wages, and skyrocketing rent increases. Some residents at the Manhattan facility have reported paying rents up to $8,000 a month, with huge increases from year to year.
In response, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal drafted legislation to force assisted living providers like Atria to disclose past rent increases and to notify current residents of the rationale for increases. Other elected officials who spoke, or were represented, at the event included Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, Senator Eric Schneiderman, and Council Member Gale Brewer.
Rather than taking the elected officials’ message to heart, Atria responded by suspending one of Atria West Side’s pro-union employees who advocated on behalf of residents and workers. An unfair labor practice charge has been filed with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that Atria suspended the employee for his union activities.
Sacramento and Davis Legislators Hear Resolutions in Support of Another "Atria Bill" to Regulate Rent at Elderly Care Facilities
California seniors continued their push against price-gouging as part of two hearings held by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors and Davis City Council. Seniors asked that both bodies consider endorsing statewide legislation which would allow local governments to regulate rent increases for elderly residents of assisted living facilities.
"Even though I prepared for my retirement with long term insurance, investments and even selling my property, the rates at Atria El Camino Gardens are rising so fast that I’m running out of money already and won’t be able to stay much longer," said Constance Hagen, a resident of Atria El Camino Gardens who testified at the hearing in Sacramento.
News Release »
Protesters Challenge Lazard Execs at Annual Shareholder Meeting
Protesters traveled to Bermuda for Lazard Ltd.’s annual shareholder meeting, demanding that Lazard use its influence to get better pay for workers and better quality care at Atria, one of the country’s largest senior living providers owned by a Lazard-affiliated private equity buyout fund.
They questioned CEO Bruce Wasserstein and members of Lazard’s Board about the company’s widely-criticized executive compensation practices, including a new compensation plan. Under the new plan, CEO Bruce Wasserstein is able to make up to $89.6 million for 2008, despite the company’s losing over 30% of its stock value since May 2007. On the day of the shareholder meeting, Lazard announced that its first-quarter earnings dropped 71%.
News Release »
News Coverage »
The Royal Gazette (Bermuda), "Union plans protest at Lazard shareholder meeting today"
Financial Times, "Lazard’s Profits Take Surprise Hit from Crunch"
The Royal Gazette (Bermuda), "Protesters question Lazard Ltd. bosses about senior care homes"
Forbes, "Lazard Loses, But Wasserstein Wins"
Workers, Activists Deliver Petition to Lazard Boss Bruce Wasserstein, Demanding Atria Improve Treatment of Its Workers on International Workers Rights Day
Underpaid workers from local Atria Senior Living facilities protested outside the home of Bruce Wasserstein, CEO of Lazard, Ltd. One hundred and fifty workers signed and delivered a petition, demanding better pay and treatment at the hundreds of Atria facilities around the country. Workers also condemned Wasserstein for taking a $100+ million payday last year while knowing about poor conditions at some Atria facilities and poverty wages for the company’s employees.
News Release »
Atria Residents and Advocates Testify in Support of the "Atria Bill" at the Human Services Committee Hearing
California seniors who feel price-gouged by providers like Atria Senior Living teamed up with advocates and elected leaders to speak out against exorbitant cost increases. Legislation introduced by Assm. Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) got strong support from Atria residents and advocates who testified yesterday at the bill’s hearing before the Human Services Committee. ""Seniors are not just money-making machines," said Joan Lee, President of the Gray Panthers, during testimony at the hearing. "They are vulnerable persons in the last stage of their lives."
Atria Renovations Come at Residents’ Expense
Although the recent renovations of Atria Guilderland (Slingerlands, NY) were praised on local television, viewers weren’t told that the facility’s residents were placed at risk. Atria illegally began construction without seeking approval from the state and failed to implement even the most basic safeguards. State inspectors concluded that elderly residents “likely would have been harmed” in the event of an emergency evacuation because:
- The facility’s main entrance, and 2 of 4 exit doors from the dining room, were blocked, preventing residents from being able to evacuate in an emergency;
- Atria had stored lumber in the dining room, and other materials (copper sheeting, bricks, can of gasoline, etc.) within access for residents;
- The facility removed fire sprinkler heads, leaving the building more susceptible to fire.
To learn more, read the Department of Health’s inspection report.
Workers, Residents’ Family Members Confront Lazard Execs Over Concerns at Atria Senior Living, Protest Outside NY Investor Meeting
Workers and family members of elderly residents at Atria Senior Living centers confronted private equity owner Lazard’s executives outside their annual meeting of buyout fund investors today, demanding better care and wages at hundreds of facilities across the country.
Atria—the third-largest assisted living provider in the United States and largest provider in New York—has come under fire recently for skyrocketing rent increases, reprimands from government agencies for poor health and labor practices, and a series of troubling incidents at facilities across the country. The protesters blamed Atria’s bad performance on Lazard’s greed—putting multi-million-dollar profits ahead of the needs of elderly residents and workers who have been under-trained and over-worked.
Watch the video: "Nickel and Dimed at Atria Senior Living"
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"Atria Bills" Get Support as Activists Rally Behind California Legislation Protecting State's Elderly from Price Gouging, Ensure Safety in Emergencies
California seniors who feel price-gouged by providers like Atria Senior Living have teamed up with advocates and elected leaders to fight back against exorbitant cost increases, and to address serious problems with emergency preparedness. Legislation introduced by Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles)-AB 2370-got strong support from Atria residents and family that travelled far and wide to the state Capitol today.
"This legislation will move a step closer in developing a consistent standard of operation to eliminate questionable increases that have been reported at the range of 8 to 12 percent at some long term care facilities. This is an alarming practice when we know that the national average is 4 to 5 percent. We cannot allow these facilities to take advantage of this vulnerable community. It's imperative that we have safe, quality long-term care facilities in our state," said Majority Leader Bass.
See our video of the event »
See video from the Calif. Assembly Report »
News release »
News coverage »
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Protesters Blast Lazard's Billionaire Boss for $100+ Million Payday at Lazard New York City Headquarters
"I live in a basement apartment in Queens and couldn't afford health care when I was working at Atria. I brought home $300 a week after 10 years at Atria, and this Wasserstein guy is making over $100 million? If he invested just a little of that in Atria facilities, they could increase staffing for residents, offer affordable healthcare and a living wage to hardworking employees," said Radika Munna, former employee of Atria Lynbrook on Long Island.
With one protester dressed as a "Fat Cat CEO", protesters handed out fliers and fake money to the crowd. Participants also played "Billionaire CEO Bruce Wasserstein or Underpaid Atria Worker?," highlighting the glaring differences between Lazard CEO Wasserstein and the average Atria worker in New York City. Protesters then attempted to deliver bags of fake money to Wasserstein's 30-Rockefeller Center offices. |
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Live or Work in an SHP Senior Living Community?
SHP Senior Living manages four Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) in Florida. The company says they provide top tier service, and they certainly charge top dollar. But in reality, are they providing all the care and support their marketing materials are selling? We want to hear from you.
Sign the petition to call on Lazard and Atria to Respect Workers' Rights and Obey the Law