Man Shares His Plan to Spend ‘Golden Years’ in Holiday Inn Instead of Nursing Home

Man Shares His Plan to Spend ‘Golden Years’ in Holiday Inn Instead of Nursing Home
A general view at Holiday Inn on June 28, 2018, in Atlanta, Ga. (Marcus Ingram/Getty Images for Holiday Inn)
Janita Kan
2/25/2019
Updated:
2/25/2019

A Texas man has shared an ingenious idea to avoid paying the high prices of senior care—and the plan has gone viral.

In a social media post, Terry Robison makes an argument for why spending his “golden years” at a Holiday Inn instead of a nursing home is more economical.

“With the average cost for a nursing home care costing $188.00 per day, there is a better way when we get old and too feeble,” Robinson starts off his argument.

“I’ve already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn. For a combined long-term stay discount and senior discount, it’s $59.23 per night,” he said. It is not clear whether his calculations include taxes.

Robison added that the hotel includes breakfast, and some also have happy hours. With the savings, he said he will be left with over $120 for lunch and dinner, or room service, laundry, gratuities for hotel staff, and special TV movies.

Plus, the hotel provides complimentary toiletries and provides a spa, a swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge, and a washer-dryer.

More importantly, he said, “They treat you like a customer, not a patient.”

Robison also recommended traveling around and staying at inns in different cities.

“And you’re not stuck in one place forever—you can move from inn to inn, or even from city to city,” he said. “Want to see Hawaii? They have Holiday Inn there too.”

Meanwhile, he added that if things take the turn for the worse “They'll call an ambulance ... or the undertaker.”

“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,” Robison said.

Although Medicare would pay for the hip, Robison’s plan did not factor in the additional costs of medical care and other services provided in a senior care facility.

According to the Department of Health and Services, the 2016 national average cost for a private room in a nursing home is $253 a day or $7,698 per month. Meanwhile, care in an assisted living facility costs $119 a day or $3,628 per month.

Robison’s plan even includes visits from family. He said, “And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a few days mini-vacation. The grandkids can use the pool.”

“What more could I ask for? So, when I reach that golden age, I'll face it with a grin.”

Robison’s post has attracted the attention of thousands of people. As of Feb. 25, over 87,000 shares and 70,000 reactions.

One social media user shared in the comments that they met someone who actually embarked on such a lifestyle. She wrote, I like the way y’all think! BTW - I’ve actually met an elderly lady one time that was actually living in a Hampton Inn. She was quite content.”