FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Contact: Virginia Rodino, 202-465-0918
Barbara Creme at 213-503-0168
Money for Senior Care, Not for Atria Profit!
Davis, Carmichael, and Walnut Creek Seniors Protest Atria Rate Hikes
Davis, CA. Protesting thousands of dollars in rent hikes, residents of three regional facilities picketed outside of the Atria Covell Gardens facility in Davis on Friday, December 21, 2007. Representatives of the three facilities met with legislators at the State Capitol on Tuesday afternoon, before dozens of Atria Covell Gardens residents spoke out at the Davis City Council meeting that evening.
Area California residents are voicing their concerns over a rate hike that affects thousands of Atria residents in 140 other Atria facilities nationwide. They and their families are angered and worried about these impending hikes in January 2008.
This holiday season, Atria Senior Living residents, already paying thousands of dollars per month for residency, costs that are compounded by additional fees for basic care like medication management, bathing, and help with dressing, are facing another round of massive rate hikes.
Residents report that this is the second consecutive year of 8% increases.
Earlier this year, the Campaign to Improve Assisted Living launched an effort to warn Atria residents of upcoming rate hikes. Atria is owned by an investment fund affiliated with Lazard, a large Wall Street firm that manages more that $140 billion globally. Atria residents assert the company may be more concerned with profits than with the care it provides.
Atria residents have been taking matters into their own hands. They were recently featured in a CBS news story on how Atria residents in the Sacramento area are fighting back. Residents and their family members across the country have since called the Campaign by the hundreds, requesting advice on how they can effectively stop the hikes.
Atria residents from El Camino Gardens in Carmichael and Valley View in Walnut Creek are also joining the protest. Already, residents of the three facilities have signed petitions and sent personal letters to Atria Corporate Headquarters protesting the rent increases.
Friday, they continued their demand to stop the exorbitant hikes.
WHAT: Residents, family members, senior advocates, political officials and others to protest Atria's rent hikes at local facilities WHERE: Atria Covell Gardens, 1111 Alvarado, Davis
WHEN: Friday, December 21, 11:00 - 11:30 a.m.
WHO: Senior Residents and family members of Atria Covell Gardens, joined by residents from Atria El Camino Gardens and Atria Valley View
Rich Zeiger, Chief of Staff, State Senator Tom Torlakson
Lamar Heystek, Davis City Council Member
Mariko Yamada, Yolo County Supervisor
Joan Lee, Legislative Liaison, California Gray Panthers
Sandra Hamameh, Sacramento Affordable Housing Alliance
Michelle Reardon, Geriatric social worker, Davis Social Service Commission Clergy
The Campaign to Improve Assisted Living is an SEIU Healthcare campaign uniting assisted living caregivers with residents, family members, and senior advocates to stand for quality services for seniors and a voice on the job for caregivers. The Campaign supports the efforts of the residents who are protesting these hikes.