Man Says He's Retiring At Hotel Because It's Cheaper Than A Retirement Home

Oct 21, 2021 by apost team

Betty Friedan once said that “Aging is not 'lost youth' but a new stage of opportunity and strength.”

Today’s seniors are adopting that mindset more than ever, and they’re doing so with great ingenuity. They’re living both longer and healthier lives, and many aren’t settling for the status quo, and one Spring, Texas, man is living proof.

Terry Robison, who is in his 60s, went viral back in 2019 when he explained his unorthodox retirement plans on Facebook in a now deleted post.

Like many older Americans, Robison clearly isn’t too thrilled about the prospect of a nursing home or retirement home for what are supposed to be his golden years. After all, many long-term care and senior housing options cost more than maintaining a large family home. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of assisted living in the U.S. is $4,300 a month. A private room in a nursing home is nearly double that at an average of $8,821 a month. Of course, many of these facilities also have a terrible reputation for poor care, lackluster service, understaffing, underwhelming food and harsh regulations and rules.

For those reasons, it’s no wonder why Robison did his research to see if there were any other options available. By Robison’s estimation, which he laid out in a now-deleted Facebook post, it costs about $188 a day to stay in a nursing home.

Meanwhile, Robison explained that a room at the Holiday Inn is only $59.23 a day if you factor in the senior discount.

"That leaves $128.77 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant we want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies," he wrote, according to ABC 7 News. "Plus, they provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer-dryer, etc."

He’d even have free laundry service for linens, and the room would be restocked with complimentary toothpaste, soap, shampoos, razors and other toiletries as needed. With just a couple of dollars in tips, Robison figured that the staff would be more than willing to do a lot more, too. After paying for his stay, he’d save almost $130 over a nursing home, which he’d use to cover his other two meals, extra amenities, tips and entertainment costs.

Maintenance would also be complimentary, Robison explained.

“TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem," he wrote. "They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience."

One of the most attractive selling points for the Holiday Inn retirement idea is that you wouldn’t be indefinitely confined or obligated to stay in just one place. If you wanted to visit or move to another city, it would be as simple as checking in and out.

At the end of his Facebook post, Robison points out that you’d even have a built-in welfare check since the maid would periodically come to clean the room.

"If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, and Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life," he added.

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Even if Robison wanted to get into a nursing home, there’s often a long waiting list because demand is greater than supply, as U.S. News reports. In fact, around 30 percent of nursing homes have admissions waiting lists. On the other hand, the Holiday Inn would likely be happy to take Robison’s business immediately.

"It takes months to get into decent nursing homes," he wrote. "Holiday Inn will take your reservation today."

While it’s impossible to know whether Robison’s post is a tongue-in-cheek critique of the long-term care industry, it does speak to a real problem. Retirement in the U.S. is incredibly expensive, and many Americans can’t afford it. 

As Vox reports, most Americans haven’t prepared for retirement or long-term care—not because they don’t want to but because it’s not affordable. Consequently, many rely on Medicare, which covers medical costs but not long-term care. For long-term care, you have to pay out of pocket, or, if you have less than $2,000 in assets, then Medicaid will pay for home assistance. But even then, the average wait time for at-home Medicaid coverage is around three years.

The unfortunate reality is that people often have to leave their jobs to take care of aging relatives, which can have devastating effects on their own well-being but also the well-being of the greater economy.

That’s why although Robison’s approach to retirement may be unorthodox, it certainly makes some sense.

“When I reach that golden age, I’ll face it with a grin,” he writes at the end of his post.

What do you think? Is Robison on to the next great idea for senior living arrangements? Let us know — and be sure to pass this story on to friends and family members.