Check coverage facilities offer

Dear Annie: In the past few years, I have observed three different families learn the hard, sad truth about three different upscale retirement communities that promised “continuing care” for residents. I say “caveat emptor.”

In all three cases, everything was great: designer facilities, lovely food in lush dining rooms, fabulous activities and fine attention to the residents’ needs. However, in all three cases, the family member became ill and was hospitalized and then released to the skilled nursing facility of their retirement home. Each family immediately learned that the facility didn’t offer “that degree” of skilled nursing and they would have to find another place.

Of course, the information was in the fine print of the contract but glossed over by eager marketing directors. Annie, please urge potential residents and families to ask hard questions about exactly what is included and have an attorney review the contract. If told a nursing facility covers “everything,” insist that statement be in there. – Lafayette, Ind.

Dear Lafayette: Some facilities do indeed cover every type of care, but all contracts should be read closely and scrutinized by an attorney. Thanks for warning our readers to pay close attention when they are looking at retirement communities.

Dear Annie: Your response to “Pregnant and Confused,” the married woman who slept with “Pete” and is now pregnant with twins, was good, but didn’t go far enough. She absolutely has to tell her husband so he can decide whether he wants to stay married and keep those twins if they are not his. And if he does, he should go after Pete for child support.

Pete needs to learn not to fish in another man’s pond and is responsible for any damage he causes. And I’d dump that untrustworthy wife. – Bob in Virginia