Finding senior living can be very costly, but a bill to help seniors financially is taking steps toward becoming law.
As we have reported, some residents of one Valley facility still can't get their money, even years after moving.
Barbara Taylor told ABC15 about her struggles trying to help her friend, Forrest Buck, get a refund from Sierra Winds Senior Living in Peoria.
Forrest expected a return of about $102,000 when he moved out.
"He thought he'd get something in about a year," Barbara explained.
Forrest moved out in 2018 and five years later, still no refund.
Janet Farnsworth told us she had the same issue with Sierra Winds.
"I thought within a year, I would get a check for my 90% back," she said.
Janet also put down a large entrance fee. She says when her husband died, she moved and expected a $193,000 refund.
Janet says three years later, she still couldn't get it.
When questioned, Sierra Winds pointed to their contract, which says: "No refunds given until the unit is sold and occupied."
It's something Barbara says Forrest thought was unfair.
"He would say, 'Barbara, I just don't think it's right they can use my money and I don't even know if they're really trying to sell my apartment unit or not,'" she said.
In Arizona, there is no law requiring a deadline for these refunds.
ABC15 took Forrest and Janet's concerns to state representative Matt Gress. Gress introduced House Bill 2370.
The bill addresses life care contracts, establishes a refund process, and gives more clarity to existing rules about escrow accounts used for facility entrance fees.
At the age of 98 and more than five years after moving from Sierra Winds, Forrest died, still waiting for that refund.
With ABC15's help, Janet ended up getting her money back more than three years after moving out of Sierra Winds.
While HB 2370 has passed the Senate Finance Committee, it's not a sure thing yet.
Let your legislators know how you feel about HB 2370. Click hereto find your representative and their contact information.
