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 …
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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 …
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Seniors housing occupancy experienced a 110-basis-point decrease to 88.7 percent in the month of, while nursing care facility occupancy was down 220 basis points to 84.7 percent, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). The data is featured in NIC’s Intra-Quarterly Snapshot, a new monthly publication developed to keep owners and operators better informed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data, which comes from 15,000 stabilized seniors housing communities in 140 U.S. markets, was previously released on a quarterly basis. “Challenges in senior …
Survey Shows 96 Percent of Residents Agree with Social Distancing, Visitation Restrictions
by Jeff Shaw
DALLAS — A vast majority of residents in seniors housing communities — 96 percent of them — approve of the current visitation restrictions and social distancing rules to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey by Dallas-based operator Buckner Retirement Services. The survey gathered 140 responses from residents across six different Buckner communities in Texas in early May. More than 75 percent of seniors surveyed listed family visits as something they miss most. Other top activities missed within the communities include going to church (56 percent) and group dining …
Despite the economic turmoil and operational stress in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, all parts of the seniors housing — including the lenders, investors, owners and operators — appear to be taking a measured approach, according to Brian Sunday, director with AEW Capital Management. “We keep preaching patience,” said Sunday. “Occupancies are dipping, expenses are rising, but nobody’s pressing the panic button. It’s a long-term play.” The comments came on a webinar hosted by France Media Inc. and Seniors Housing Business on Wednesday, May 13. Other panelists included Rich …
DENVER — As expected, seniors housing inquiries, tours and move-ins fell significantly in April as the industry felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to marketing software provider Enquire. The Denver-based company compiled sales and marketing data from over 2,200 seniors housing communities throughout the country. Compared with April 2019, inquiries fell 33 percent for independent living, 41 percent for assisted living/memory care and 43 percent for continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs). “We have seen several surveys and opinions about the impact COVID-19 is having on senior living sales …
CHICAGO — Despite the economic devastation caused by the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, 86 percent of investors are still seeking opportunities to acquire seniors housing properties, according to a survey conducted by Heavenrich & Co. The Chicago-based seniors housing investment brokerage conducted the survey from April 15 to April 20, contacting 448 owners, operators and investors throughout the United States. Not only are investors still interested in buying, many are looking to pick up their acquisition pace. More than half of respondents expect to spend the same or …
Operators Must Show Appreciation, Increase Safety to Retain Staff During Pandemic, Says SHB Webinar Panel
by Jeff Shaw
As the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down many businesses around the world, seniors housing is in a tough spot. In charge of caring for seniors — those most vulnerable to the disease — communities must stay open, but while doing everything possible to ensure the safety of residents. The industry already faced a staffing shortage for frontline workers. Now many of those workers either can’t come into work for fear of transmitting COVID-19 to an older family member, or are resigning out of fear of contracting the disease themselves. “Early …