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My parents moved into IL last September. We live in an area that does get several snowstorms each winter. The storm we had in November, resulted in the courtyard area of their IL still have icy patches on the sidewalk a week after the storm came through. This courtyard was "sold" to us as a great benefit for residents with dogs (who pay $1200 per year in pet fees) because it allows the residents a safe, enclosed space to walk their dogs. With this current storm that hit most of us, our snow stopped on Sunday morning. The sidewalk from the building to the garages (that are not attached to the building) wasn't cleared until this (Monday) morning. The sidewalks inside the courtyard have still not been cleared and my parents were told they are going to try to get to them tomorrow morning. Am I expecting too much to assume that the drives, parking lots, sidewalks and dog-walking areas would be cleared within 24 hours of the snow stopping? We are having a LOT of issues with over-promised, under-delivered expectations at this facility. The thing is my parents are already pushing to come home. This just makes it harder. They can't walk to their car safely. They can't walk the dog safely. My mom told me on the phone that she almost asked for the shovel so she could clear the sidewalks. WHAT? That is exactly why we worked so hard to move them into IL. So they wouldn't shovel snow and fall. So they wouldn't trim tree limbs and hit their head. So they wouldn't fix something on the roof and fall off. Am I off base here expecting the facility to clear the sidewalks quickly? Point of reference, we live in central Illinois. Snow isn't a rarity here. Everyone has at least one snow shovel and most people have snow blowers. We have the tools to clear snow here.

I don't think you're off base. I do think you should complain directly to the facility.
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Reply to Rosered6
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It should be completely cleared in a reasonable amount of time . Although your parents will always look for somethlng to complain about no matter how fast the snow is cleared . You said they have already been pushing to come home . How about a compromise . Your parents go live in an apartment rather than IL . It would be less expensive than IL , even if you hired a cleaning person to come in . If your parents are still able to do all their own meals and laundry, a regular apartment complex may work . Look for one with a parking garage on the bottom level and elevators . Good Luck .
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Reply to waytomisery
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The answer to your question should be spelled out in the rental agreement, you could certainly ask for a copy.
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Stahtah Jan 26, 2026
Yeah, I am really wishing I had been a little more educated before helping my parents make this move. The agreement is terrible. It is all about what the residents can and can't do and very little about what the facility is responsible for.
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Well... here's how it is in Minneapolis suburbs where I live: many businesses and residents have seasonal contracts with individuals or companies to plow. I was late out of the gate this season to hire a plow company to do my Mom's driveway. I called the guy who does my neighbor's right across the street. Nope. He was fully booked and told me that businesses get priority for plowing. It could be *2 days* before getting to my Mom's or any residence.

Part of the problem is there is now a labor shortage of working age people and a preponderance of Boomers needing services. Sorry, but based on what I've now learned I think yours is not a realistic expectation. In the past it would have been, but not nowadays. I'm right there with ya. We have 2 driveways to shovel and we're in our late 60s.

As others have suggested review the contract. You may be able to negotiate a discount if you wind up finding someone to shovel just your parents' area -- but I'm thinking they won't allow it for the ever infamous "liability" reasons.
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ElizabethAR37 Jan 28, 2026
Yes, there is for sure a labor shortage. It takes a long time to get almost anything done. I'm a member of the fast-disappearing "Silent Generation". I don't envy the Boomers when they need services, including long-term care, which is already seriously understaffed. The current administration's war on immigrants, who often fill service jobs that American-born citizens won't do, definitely isn't helpful. It will take time to recover the workers we are losing to deportation. Their children may choose not even to attempt entry into the U.S.
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Yes, I think your expectations are too high, especially on a weekend during a major storm when everyone else would be demanding the same kind of services. Staff members would have had to wait for the roads to be cleared between their homes and your parents' IL, and would have had to clear their own homes, cars, and driveways, in order to get to your parents' place and then do another round of clearing there. If they have children that need childcare or are in school while they work, they would need for that to be available. I know it's frustrating but please show some compassion for those working to enable your parents' retirement lifestyle.
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notgoodenough Jan 27, 2026
You raise an excellent point.

20 years ago my husband would help our neighbor with his plow business. Which meant he was out of the house for much of the actual storm, and the cleanup afterwards. So I had to take point on digging out the house after, the paths and decks and stairways. The only thing he could do while he was out plowing was the driveway.

This was one of those storms that was so severe it's going to take about a week for things to get back to "normal".
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What does the contract spell out. It is a beast during major storms to accomplish clearing of snow within 24 hours even if the snow stopped. Were there travel bands in effect.

I think a grace period should be given with this storm. I live in Buffalo NY and we try our best to clear sidewalks and driveways but some times it is futile until a few days later.

Just remember that your parents are adjusting and not happy about the situation regardless of snow. Ask them today if things are better, have them take pictures of not shoveled yet to show to management.

Good luck and remember if it were sunny and 80 degrees with slight breeze they may still have complained.
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Reply to AMZebbC
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I live in Iowa. There are certainly times when businesses don't have the plowing done as soon as one thinks it should be. I understand that in a retirement home it's critical for safety. I've never seen a problem at my mother's IL residence, but then I don't visit every day. You can always complain to management. But the residents who don't have a dog can easily wait a day or even a few days to venture outside the facility, so because the snow clearing doesn't impact everyone, the facility may or may not be responsive to complaints. Owning a dog was always going to come with extra costs and limitations. Hiring a dog walker might be a good solution.
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Reply to iameli
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Another issue is when the temperature is this cold, de-icing agents aren't really effective.

Maybe a solution might be, if you are willing and able, to offer to take your parents' dog the next time a snowstorm is expected. This way, they don't have to worry about having to get out to walk the animal. Once everything is clear, the pet can be returned.
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Reply to notgoodenough
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I think your expecting too much. I live in the norteast and we got 10 in. On top of that, ice. My DH did not touch the sidewalks till today and he needed to use a straight edge shovel to break the ice.

Facilities like this usually hire outside help and its all about availability. I would compain about not having access to take the dog out. Large tarps can be put out before the storm and taken up after the storm. This storm came with ice later on. Even if parents were in their own home, they should not be going outside.
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freqflyer Jan 28, 2026
JoAnn, you made a really good point. The parents would have faced the same snow/ice problems even if they were still living at home.
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Thanks for all of your responses. I appreciate all of the different perspectives offered here. I did call and ask when the courtyard would be cleared and it was cleared yesterday. I wasn't irate. I am just frustrated with how this continues to impact keeping them there.
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notgoodenough Jan 28, 2026
It's always frustrating, to a certain degree anyway, when you have to depend on someone else to get work done, especially work that needs to be done in a timely fashion (like shoveling snow!!).

I also imagine it's justifiably doubly frustrating for you, because you are bearing the brunt of your parents' frustration, which is never easy even in ideal circumstances (which this so wasn't).

In any event, I'm glad the facility is clearing out the courtyard so your parents can safely walk their dog. And hopefully the worst of the snow season is behind us.
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As a 68 year old with dizziness issues, I don't go outside when it snows. Period. I live in an HOA community where snow removal is included in the monthly dues, including my stoop, walkway and driveway. The shovelers and trucks don't come out until the snow has stopped, and until we've gotten 2" or more. Even after they've shoveled I still don't go out until it's dry on the cement and pavement. I've taken a very bad fall on my walkway due to black ice and hit my head to where I thought my brains were laid out on the cement. I was very lucky they weren't. I was taking my dog out for a walk. Imo, elders living in cold weather climates have no business walking dogs. Even if the IL shovels immediately, black ice is invisible. Even if your parents lived at home, black ice is invisible. My husband now walks our dog and wears ice cleats on his boots when necessary. And takes her up the street to a patch of public lawn with a tree. Or let's her go on our lawn with a patch of grass shoveled off of snow.

I suggest you hire a dog walker and stop going out in bad weather, even after the area is shoveled.

Your parents will likely come up with 100 more reasons they dislike IL. It's the nature of the beast. As if their home is a utopian palace, huh? 🤣
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Reply to lealonnie1
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I did not read all the responses so I apologize if this has already been posted .

But you are not responsible for your parents happiness . If they choose to be miserable like many do that’s on them .

You didn’t make them old . It’s up to them to make the most of their time left .
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