Assisted Living RV Park

[mitch5252]

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http://realestate.aol.com/blog/2011/10/28/happy-end-of-the-road-for-rvers-assisted-living-on-wheels/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl5%7Csec3_lnk1%7C108173

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[carold]

Mitch, was that for any particular person or were you just letting us know of future options? carold

[dayspring39]

What a great idea for FullTimers who have health issues... thanks for sharing the article...
Kathleen

[mitch5252]

Mitch, was that for any particular person or were you just letting us know of future options? carold

Well, you know how quickly Vickie's mind is going...just sayin'.

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[AlmostThere]

That looks to be part of the Escapee's club membership.
A very nice place for former fulltimers.

[Birdie]

That is the Care Center that was established by the Escapees organization. It later broke out and is a wholly owned and operated 501c3 organization. Escapees doesn't claim them and they don't claim Escapees relationship. They are right next to each other. I worked there for about 6 weeks this past summer.

Great concept, but poorly administered. Volunteers get their site and have to pay electric for being there. Some weeks I (all volunteers) was tapped for work and on-call to work in excess of 60 hours. Not what I volunteered to do. Volunteers cook, clean, drive folks around and field the "night emergencies". It was so poorly managed that it was not uncommon for the teams to not get a day off. They simply don't know how to make schedules. I would not volunteer again under the same conditions.

There are probably about 10 people in their 90's and the rest in their 80's. The park wasn't full when I got there in July nor was it full when I left the end of August. It is really a pretty neat operation. Pearl and Bud celebrated their 70th anniversary with a open house at the Center. Was a really neat thing. Many of the residents play games during the evenings and the volunteers are included, that was fun. Really mentally sharp for the most part. All have health issues. Lots of good stories over there.

[JudyJB]

Interesting! Good concept and sounds like a great place for some elderly people with medical problems, but I would think that for others, particularly those in wheelchairs, there would be difficulties navigating in smaller RVs and even getting in and out of the doors in other RVs.

It certainly sounds cost-effective, especially for those people who already own their RV and have it paid for. Takes up little space and utilities, I would think.

Sounds like they do need some paid workers, however.

[Forestgal]

That is the Care Center that was established by the Escapees organization. It later broke out and is a wholly owned and operated 501c3 organization. Escapees doesn't claim them and they don't claim Escapees relationship. They are right next to each other. I worked there for about 6 weeks this past summer.

Great concept, but poorly administered. Volunteers get their site and have to pay electric for being there. Some weeks I (all volunteers) was tapped for work and on-call to work in excess of 60 hours. Not what I volunteered to do. Volunteers cook, clean, drive folks around and field the "night emergencies". It was so poorly managed that it was not uncommon for the teams to not get a day off. They simply don't know how to make schedules. I would not volunteer again under the same conditions.

There are probably about 10 people in their 90's and the rest in their 80's. The park wasn't full when I got there in July nor was it full when I left the end of August. It is really a pretty neat operation. Pearl and Bud celebrated their 70th anniversary with a open house at the Center. Was a really neat thing. Many of the residents play games during the evenings and the volunteers are included, that was fun. Really mentally sharp for the most part. All have health issues. Lots of good stories over there.

Thanks for the information, Birdie. It's good to know about it from someone who's been personally involved. Is there a specific corporation that manages it, or is it independently owned & operated? Sometimes that makes the difference, especially if it's run by a small group that doesn't know what it's going. But it can go the other way, too.

I might be inclined to volunteer at a place like that -- but not in the summer. Too hot & humid for this So. CA kid.

Laura

[VickieP]

Mitch, was that for any particular person or were you just letting us know of future options? carold

Well, you know how quickly Vickie's mind is going...just sayin'.

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I don't know what you're thinking, I'm headed for The Blue Marlin for my retirement!

[ali1257]

One of the member couples here at the Lone Star Corral moved their in early September. The wife as Alzeimhers and is in the last stages. He couldn't take care of her by himself any longer. They have been back to the park once for doctor appointments here in the area. He said it is a God send for him to have a place where is wife can get care and give him a break. She is in the care center from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They get 3 meals a day - he said not the best but better than some things he has had to eat. We have another couple who are guests here at the park right now and they will be volunteering there for the month of December. This will be their 4th time volunteering for a month at a time.

So sorry Birdie you did not have a good experience there. I hope you felt comfortable enough to send them a letter describing your time there. I know we have done that both with the carnival (sent a long letter and have corresponded with our previous boss a few times about the good & the bad of our time there) and with Chuck from where we sold Christmas trees last year.

[mitch5252]

I don't know what you're thinking, I'm headed for The Blue Marlin for my retirement!

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[Birdie]

Laura, the outfit is independently owned and operated by a Board of Directors who is influenced by the originator(s) and intimidated by the Director. As long as that is the modus operandi it won't change. I told both the director and the volunteer coordinator how I felt about the situation. Of the folks that I worked with 6 others (1 couple 5 solos) said they would not be back and 4 (2 couples) said they would be back.

To run the operation with 4 or 5 people is not possible. In the summer they don't get many volunteers because if you run the A/C 24/7, like this year, you are going to have a $150 - 200 electric bill. One day off every other week doesn't work for me. In the winter months, they have lots of snow birds who come in and it is a different story...they may have 14 or 15 volunteers...they run over each other. But April to November it is a different story.

I loved the residents. Thought the management sucked worse than any place I have ever worked and got paid...didn't cost me. Enough of that!

I am going to go with VickieP and we will be have parties at the Blue Marlin. Mitch will be the cook . Ronnie can be the cleaner . VickieP and I will sit around and be pretty!!

[BirdbyBird]

Birdie..the grounds are already pretty level and we can take up a collection to lay down some additional electric pods and water connections..... We can decide on Honey Wagon or laying down some sewer lines. I won't count on Ronnie though....he is probably going to keep the lake stocked and fish..... Oh, Mitch......I left you more wine at the campfire site....see you there!

[VickieP]

Oh Ronnie will be cleaning all right...cleaning his plate!

[sharon]

Can I sit around and be pretty too??? Pleeeeze (she whined) ???? I'll even help lay the sewer lines and electric posts!