A 96-year-old woman faces eviction from her senior living home within three days unless she can pay a sum of $110,000.
Jean Jacques, a resident of the property for 22 years, moved into the unit in Pacific Grove in 2002 under a lifetime contract with California-Nevada Methodist Homes.
Jacques claims she paid a $250,000 down payment when she first moved in and continued to pay $5,000 in rent until her savings were depleted.
Following a change in ownership, Jacques has now been instructed to pay a substantial amount of money.
A few years back, the homes were sold to Pacific Grove Senior, and Jacques had believed that the lifetime contracts agreed upon with the previous owners would remain valid.
However, Pacifica Senior Living has now issued Jacques an eviction notice, demanding $110,000 or face eviction.
It appears that the lifetime contracts—such as the one Jacques had—are now recognized only under California-Nevada Methodist Homes.
“I was shocked,” she told KSBW.
“The reason I moved into Forest Hill Manor was to be taken care of for the rest of my life.
“I’m not going. They’ll have to bury me because I have no place to go.
“They have all my money.”
Bob Sadler, president of Pacific Grove Senior Living’s residents’ association, commented: “She’s devoted all of her savings and money into this place. What would you do… see her out on the sidewalk? I don’t think so, that’s insane to me.
“I don’t care what the legal ramifications are here. This is morally unthinkable.”
Adding complexity to the situation, Elizabeth Campos of Alliance for Aging, who are assisting Jacques in contesting the notice, has stated that the eviction has not received approval from the Community Care Licensing Division.
“You know, it’s frustrating. You do get angry knowing that it’s an elderly person that was just told you need to leave the home you’ve been living in for 20 years,” said Campos.
“Where is this person going to go?”
Reports also indicate that the eviction letter did not provide Jacques with instructions on how to appeal the notice.
Advocates for Jacques are urging Pacific Grove Senior Living to honor the initial agreement and allow Jacques to stay in her home of 22 years.