COVID-19 resulted in a sudden increase in demand for internet connectivity in seniors housing — catching some operators flat-footed. By Jeff Shaw The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on seniors housing were sudden and dramatic. We’ll likely continue to feel them for years to come. As communities closed themselves off from the outside world to protect residents, a new challenge emerged: How do we keep our residents healthy and safe without isolating them from friends, family and entertainment? The answer came in part from the web, as operators looked to …
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As developers dial back on new supply and absorption continues at a healthy pace, the vacancies begin to recede. By Bendix Anderson The phone continues to ring at the leasing office at Woodside Place of Washington in Washington, Pa., even though businesses across the U.S. have closed their doors to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. Half of the 36 units at Woodside Place were already occupied in March 2020, even though the new standalone memory care facility had only opened its doors a few weeks before in February. …
Anthem experiences huge occupancy growth as the company champions the importance of standalone memory care. By Jeff Shaw Standalone memory care has been through the wringer in recent years. Although nearly every assisted living community now includes some memory care units, properties that exclusively offer this specialized care have fallen out of favor. Lenders and investors have begun to shy away amid low occupancy rates, instead favoring properties that offer a full continuum of care (often including independent living as well). Standalone memory care occupancy rates have fluctuated between 80 …
Softening real estate fundamentals combined with facility lockdowns stymie deals. By Matt Valley The longer the COVID-19 pandemic goes, the bigger the toll will be on investment sales activity, say commercial real estate finance professionals. PGIM Real Estate early this year completed its capital raise for Senior Housing Partners VI, a closed-end fund with a total of $996 million in commitments. But Steve Blazejewski, managing director at PGIM Real Estate, says the investment firm’s acquisition pipeline is currently “on ice.” “It’s really difficult to pursue an acquisition of some size …
COVID-19 outbreak slows transactions, forces companies to take defensive posture. By Matt Valley The stabilization of the U.S. economy and its pace of recovery is inextricably linked to the speed at which the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic can be contained, say seniors housing experts. Until the health crisis is under control, they expect transaction activity to slow considerably or possibly even grind to a halt. As of April 8, the respiratory illness had claimed the lives of 13,000 Americans, a clear majority of whom were senior citizens. Sadly, that running …
Overseas buyers take an increasingly measured approach to U.S. seniors housing industry by cultivating partnerships with seasoned operators. By Jane Adler Cautious. Selective. Patient. These three words characterize today’s overseas capital sources seeking investments in U.S. seniors housing and skilled nursing properties. While foreign investment in the sector here has slowed, even in the best economic times the decision-making process is typically lengthy. The “tire-kicking” phase can last several years, potentially extended by the recent coronavirus outbreak. Overseas buyers are also still quite choosy. They’re focused on the best properties …
In the face of growing competition, assisted living owners and operators are renovating and repositioning their aging properties. By Jane Adler Over the last few years, the construction boom that delivered thousands of new senior living units to the market has produced tough competition for existing projects. New buildings open near old ones. A 20- or 30-year-old assisted living building can easily look tired, especially when compared with the state-of-the-art project down the street. Owners and operators of older properties are taking different approaches to maintain occupancy. The amount spent …
As senior living providers pursue partnerships in the healthcare industry, here are five critical points to keep foremost in mind. By Jane Adler With owners and operators of senior living properties serving an increasingly frail population of elders, Medicare Advantage programs are emerging to improve care, boost resident and family satisfaction, and increase length of stay. The use of Medicare Advantage programs in senior living is still in its infancy. The programs are complex and there is still much to be learned. But several experiments and pilot projects are already …
Seniors housing professionals seek solutions to affordability, labor shortages and more through legislative lobbying and legal means. By Jeff Shaw The challenges of owning and operating seniors housing are not news to anyone in the industry, but the solutions may be. Lawyers, lobbyists and industry experts are finding a variety of ways to try and surmount the increasingly difficult issues facing the sector — including labor shortages, affordability, increased acuity and changes to government funding. Efforts are underway at a local, state and national level. Reports from Capitol Hill are …
Insiders weigh the odds of success for this emerging product type. By Jane Adler Win or lose, investors and developers are placing big bets on the newly emerging product category of active adult rental communities. Aimed at the huge cohort of 74 million aging baby boomers, the projects are amenity-rich but lack many of the services found in traditional senior living communities, such as housekeeping, meals and assistance. The bet is that a certain segment of baby boomers will sell their homes and opt for a worry-free lifestyle that comes …