NORFOLK -- An upscale community announced Wednesday that it is reversing its dining policy that some of its residents had declared discriminatory. The decision at Harbor's Edge Retirement community was sent to residents in the form of an email.
According to the announcement, Harbor’s Edge Life Care residents residing in the assisted living and nursing care facilities will be allowed to dine in all of the dining rooms and attend all social events starting on Monday.
Some of the residents at the upscale retirement community said they were being discriminated against at meal time.
The debate was over a policy that allowed only independent living residents at Harbor's Edge to eat at all seven of its dining facilities. Assisted living and nursing care residents were allowed to eat at four other designated dining rooms unless they got a special medical screening.
Management had changed the policy last summer.
Independent living residents pay anywhere from $350,000 to over a million dollars as an entrance fee to live at Harbor's Edge.
The developer and executive director of the retirement community said the policy was changed purely for health and safety concerns, saying the restricted dining policy was necessary to give some residents the medical attention needed.
Some of the residents were threatening legal action over the issue.
