Seniors housing operators have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic through a variety of changed procedures, such as increased infection protocols, limited visitations and meal deliveries. Now, the next step is to make sure those procedures are sustainable for the long term, as the virus shows no signs of going away in the near future. “I think back to when we were first realizing COVID-19 was really going to affect us. If we all locked down for a few weeks, the curve would flatten and we could all go back to …
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Survey Shows Bipartisan Support for Increased COVID-19 Funding for Senior Living Industry
by Jeff Shaw
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A new national survey, conducted by McLaughlin & Associates, shows 80 percent of voters support COVID-19 relief funding for senior living communities. The strong support is consistent across party lines and shows that three-quarters of the electorate are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports increased COVID-19 relief funding for senior living providers in the 2020 elections, according to Alexandria-based seniors housing association Argentum. “These past few months, COVID-19 has significantly impacted the residents and staff of our nation’s senior living communities, with many communities …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has a higher mortality rate among seniors than other age groups, a recent survey shows that the majority of consumers still find independent living and assisted living to be an appealing option for seniors. The survey was commissioned by the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA), a D.C.-based organization serving the seniors housing industry. Research firm ProMatura Group is conducting the study, which is still ongoing and polls prospective customers from the lead lists of 115 ASHA member communities. …
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Assisted living properties experienced a 90-basis-point decline to 85.2 percent stabilized occupancy in May 2020. This compares with 86.1 percent in April and 87.8 percent in March, the first full month of the COVID-19 pandemic. The data comes from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC), based on the Annapolis-based organization’s top 31 U.S. markets. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, NIC has started reporting data monthly rather than quarterly. The impact was less severe for independent living properties, which experienced a 60-basis-point decrease …
CHICAGO — Despite the struggles of the seniors housing industry during the COVID-19 outbreak, investors in the sector expect capitalization rates on transactions to increase. The expected increase applies to all types of seniors housing, as well as all from Class A to Class C. In all cases, investors predicted cap rates higher than their recent averages, but still lower than the most recent high. The results came from an update to the JLL Spring 2020 Investor Survey, meant to reflect changes in approach following the onset of the pandemic. …
Technology Can Protect Residents, Provide Programming During Pandemic, Say SHB Webinar Panelists
by Jeff Shaw
With the COVID-19 outbreak forcing seniors housing residents to physically isolate from each other, technology may be the key to preventing both further virus spread and social isolation. “Senior living communities have for decades used a platform of pull cords, call buttons and pendants,” said David Wardlaw, vice president of business development for digital health solutions at Philips. “This technology cannot support more infection control requirements. It is not equipped to slow down the spread of COVID-19.” New technology to better stop the spread of coronavirus includes wearable bracelets that …
NYU Winthrop Physician Authors COVID-19 Safety Recommendations for Skilled Nursing Facilities
by Jeff Shaw
MINEOLA, N.Y. — Seeking to address estimates that more than a third of COVID-19 deaths nationally have occurred in nursing homes and long-term care facilities — more than 38,000 — the American Medical Directors Association published recommendations for reducing the spread of the pandemic virus among residents and staff. Among the recommendations were the creation of COVID-specific units, screenings of residents twice daily, discontinuing of drug delivery modes such as nebulizers that might spread the virus, and reviews with patients and families of do-not-intubate and do-not-hospitalize advance directives. “The scope …
DENVER — Although new resident leads dropped significantly in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of new leads spiked in May, according to customer relationship management software company Enquire Solutions. The Denver-based company compiled sales and marketing data from over 2,200 seniors housing communities throughout the country. While May 2020 still saw fewer inquiries compared to the same month in 2019, it was a 22 percent increase compared with April 2020. Move-ins also increased by 10 percent from April to May. In addition, move-outs in May 2020 were …
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Testing all residents and staff and skilled nursing facilities nationwide just once would cost $440 million, according to data compiled by the American Health Care Association (AHCA), based in Washington, D.C. The organization notes that at that rate, the CDC’s recommendation of weekly testing would cost skilled nursing operators over $1 billion per month. The AHCA describes the costs as “unsustainable” without additional funding from federal and state governments, especially since it doesn’t account for other types of senior care. “For months now, we have been advocating …
Communities Should Combine Digital, Print, Event Advertising to Keep Leads Coming During Pandemic, Say Marketing Specialists
by Jeff Shaw
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues to take a bite out of seniors housing occupancy, communities should put the pedal down on lead generation in order to survive, according to seniors housing marketing firm The Roche Associates. “There could be an occupancy time bomb waiting. You don’t feel the effect right now, but you might soon,” said Joseph Roche, president and CEO of the Wilbraham, Massachusetts-based company. “During the Great Recession, the communities that kept marketing even though they were getting clocked were the ones that came out and did the …