Residents of a Las Vegas senior living complex are urging management to take action on what they’re calling unsafe living conditions.
“We feel overlooked and abandoned,” residents of Acapella Senior Apartments wrote in a letter to corporate property management firm Ovation. In the letter, they complain of lack of security and unsafe living conditions.
Retirement communities typically offer senior-focused amenities and security features, from emergency alarms to gated facilities. But facilities with the highest levels of security are typically more expensive.
With many seniors living on a fixed income — and about six to eight million Americans aged 65+ living in poverty — they may be forced to decide between affordability and security.
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Why Acapella residents are concerned
At Acapella Senior Apartments, residents complained that the handicap button for the front door didn’t work, creating a safety hazard for seniors in walkers, scooters and wheelchairs. They also complained about homeless people coming into the building to use the amenities.
“We’ve got issues with security. We’ve got problems in the parking lot. Cars being broken into or stolen. We’ve got homeless people who try to get in the cars and when they do, they sleep in them,” a female resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, told KLAS 8 News Now. “In fact, I had someone who tried to get in my apartment.”
According to one Ovation employee who wished to remain anonymous, “there’s an extreme amount of neglect when it comes to the elders here,” and addressing complaints was like a “revolving door.”
Following 8 News Now’s report, however, Ovation’s director of LIHTC and compliance, Phyllis Garcia, said in a statement that they’re committed to increasing their on-site staffing.
“While our building has controlled entry and is monitored by security cameras, as well as roaming security guards, we understand that procedures and systems alone are not always enough. Our residents must feel genuinely protected and cared for, and we are actively developing plans to strengthen those protections,” she said.
While retirement communities are generally less expensive than assisted living or memory care facilities, they average about $3,100 a month, according to a 2024 report by A Place for Mom, a senior living advisory service.
The costs of security measures in senior living facilities are typically incorporated into monthly fees.
“Retirement communities often include security services such as on-site security personnel, surveillance cameras and/or gated entrances as part of the monthly fee,” according to myLifeSite, an educational resource for senior living options. Some may also offer in-residence or wearable emergency alert systems.
But these types of security measures come at a cost (such as higher monthly fees), which can be challenging for seniors living on a fixed income. On the other hand, lack of security could impact their sense of safety and peace of mind.
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Challenges of living on a fixed income
Many seniors live on a fixed income that comes from Social Security, retirement savings and, in some cases, a pension. While Social Security retirement benefits do get a boost from the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), which provides an automatic increase in monthly benefits to keep up with inflation, it may still fall short.
The COLA for 2025 is 2.5%, so that means a monthly check of $2,000 would increase by $50. But food, utilities, rent and prescriptions are already consuming a large portion of retirees’ income.
With rising costs, many are feeling the squeeze. The cost of food is continuing to rise — food prices in May 2025 were 2.9% higher than in May 2024, according to the Consumer Price Index).
And Medicare is getting more expensive. The standard Medicare Part B premium increased to $185 per month in 2025, from $174.70 in 2024, while the annual deductible rose to $257 from $240).
So even a $25 to $50 increase in monthly housing costs to fund security upgrades (or other unexpected costs) could mean residents have to cut back on essentials like groceries or skip medications just to scrape by.
However, without security upgrades, they could be at physical and financial risk from vandalism, break-ins, theft and violence.
For those looking to move into a retirement community, look for facilities that abide by various safety codes and standards, including those from the International Building Code, the Facility Guidelines Institute, the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code and the Americans with Disability Act. Ask current residents about their experiences.
For those already in a retirement community and facing the prospect of rising costs, there may be ways to save money. For example, you may qualify for food assistance, as well as help with covering the costs of prescriptions, healthcare and even housing.
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) offers online tools such as Benefits CheckUp (to see if you’re eligible for benefits programs) and Job Skills CheckUp (to help older adults find jobs as a mature worker).
An analysis by the NCOA and LeadingAge LTSS Center @ UMass Boston found that 80% of older adults face financial insecurity. While seniors shouldn’t have to choose between safety and affordability, increasingly that may be the case.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
