Resident Assistance Program

Eligibility standards for applicants

The Willamette View Foundation was established in 1967 to assist residents who incur unanticipated expenses that deplete their resources.  Over the years, donations from residents of Willamette View to the Willamette View Foundation have grown to over $20 million, the majority being restricted for direct financial support to qualified residents.

Each application for assistance is reviewed by the Willamette View Foundation’s Board of Directors for approval.  Applications presented to the Willamette View Foundation Board for review are intentionally prepared so as not to reveal the identity of the applicant to provide and protect privacy.  Assistance will be approved on a case-by-case basis after an evaluation of the specific circumstances of the resident.

In determining whether a resident is eligible to receive assistance, the Willamette View Foundation is guided by, but not limited to or restricted by, the following standards.  Willamette View Foundation is a separate entity, independent of Willamette View, Inc., with a separate Board of Directors.  These standards are the Willamette View Foundation’s standards and not those of Willamette View, Inc.

While Living at Willamette View

Willamette View Foundation can assist those residents who, for reasons beyond their control, incur certain types of unanticipated expenses that deplete their income and assets at a faster rate than projected when the resident applied for and was accepted for residency at Willamette View.    Normally, this would be due to longer than actuarially estimated life, need for a higher level of care sooner than projected, or unusually high basic medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance.  However, there may be other reasonable causes for depletion of assets that are beyond the resident’s control.  We consider how a resident has used their resources since coming to Willamette View.

As you enjoy retirement living, please keep the following standards in mind:

I. Prudent Asset Management

Residents are expected to preserve and manage their assets prudently.  Residents should consider acceptable investment risks and apply their resources to the costs of residency at Willamette View along with the costs of their basic health care and related insurance.  Prudent management of assets includes maintaining health insurance.

II. Spending Decisions 

The focus of spending decisions should be determined by individual circumstances.  Residents must use their resources for reasonable recreational and personal expenses, including reasonable charitable contributions and gifts to friends and family.  Spending decisions have no hard rule and depend on each resident’s specific situation.  If you have questions anytime on this topic, please call us and we will provide individual guidance.

III. Extravagant Spending

Resident’s resources should be used for residency and health care costs, and practical discretionary expenses.  Assistance may be limited or denied if, after entrance to Willamette View, a resident has lived extravagantly relative to the level of his or her assets or has otherwise disposed of substantial resources. An extravagant lifestyle for this purpose might include, but is not limited to, costly apartment upgrades or remodeling, expensive vacations, large gifts to others, and other personal expenditures that are imprudent given the resident’s level of resources.

IV. Appropriate Levels of Care

Residents are expected to make use of the appropriate continuing levels of care offered at Willamette View. Residents are also expected to obtain necessary care through economical means based on individual circumstances. The Willamette View Foundation may impose conditions on approval, limit, or deny financial assistance to a resident who uses private-duty caregivers on a permanent full-time basis rather than moving to the next level of care offered.  Part-time or temporary use of private-duty caregivers is an acceptable use of resources. However, if a resident’s private duty care costs combined with their rent costs are higher than the cost of services provided at the next level of care, the resident will jeopardize their eligibility for financial assistance by not moving to that next level of care when space is available.

V. Couples Combined Resources

Couples are expected to use their combined resources to benefit both individuals for the remainder of both their lives unless each was approved separately for admittance to Willamette View based on separate financial resources.  If each resident was not approved for admittance separately and there is a prenuptial, postnuptial, domestic partner agreement or other similar agreement that provides for one resident’s assets to pass to someone other than the surviving partner at death, or in any way bars the use of one resident’s assets to support the other, Willamette View Foundation may not approve assistance.

Conditions when receiving assistance

I. Downsizing

Residents will not be required to downsize if there is no cost savings achieved by doing so.

II.Income Guarantees

If residency at Willamette View was approved based on a guarantee of income provided by others, such as family members, that income stream must continue unless the guarantor, for good cause, becomes unable to continue the support.

III. Assignment of Refundable Entrance Fee

Residents entering Willamette View under a refundable entrance fee plan will be required to assign enough of the refund to Willamette View Foundation to equal the amount of financial assistance that was provided.

Overview

I.   All Residents at Willamette View are eligible for financial assistance. 

II.  Residents can contact the Willamette View Foundation at any time regarding financial assistance.  Pre-planning can help to ease your mind.  Please contact us before your resources are fully depleted.  

III. Resident financial support will begin once a resident has used all available resources and will supplement monthly income received.  The Willamette View Foundation can provide this assistance because our donors wanted to help the Willamette View community.  Our program is not designed to reserve a resident’s estate for heirs.

IV. Residents of Willamette View who must be moved from the Willamette View campus because of their special circumstances will be eligible for assistance from the Willamette View Foundation if other program eligibility requirements are met.  If approved, all Resident Assistance Program policies and procedures will apply.  Special circumstances requiring life care away from the Willamette View campus are limited to situations where Willamette View, Inc. is unable to meet the care plan needs of the resident.  For example, a resident who displays behavior that poses a threat or has psychiatric issues beyond the scope of care offered at Williamette View would still be eligible for assistance at another location.  

V.  The Willamette View Foundation’s Board of Directors reserves the right to make decisions on a case-by-case basis taking into consideration the good of the entire community.  In deciding whether a resident is eligible to receive assistance, the Willamette View Foundation Board shall be guided by, but not limited to or restricted by, these standards.

The Willamette View Foundation provides financial support to eligible residents who have exhausted their resources through no fault of their own.  We provide aid, which helps the entire community, by paying any portion of the full rate of residency cost that the resident’s income does not cover, and in special circumstances, we also pay a portion of the resident’s basic health care costs.

The Willamette View Foundation is a charity specifically created to help Willamette View residents and our Resident Assistance Program is well funded and available to provide aid.  We are happy to work with residents and/or their families when finances become concerning.  We understand that each situation is unique and that these standards may not have addressed every possible circumstance.  Remember, our funds are restricted for the care and comfort of Willamette View residents.  We welcome your calls and are eager to help you.