Residents of this Las Vegas senior living complex say they’re feeling ‘overlooked and abandoned’ — why so many older Americans feel they have to choose between financial and physical security

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.

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.

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).