Private Equity and Hospital Assets

According to a recent JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) research letter private equity firms invested $505 billion in healthcare acquisitions from 2018 to 2023. These financial infusions can enhance resources for care. However, these firms have occasionally sold the land and buildings of acquired hospitals, using the proceeds to repay investors and leaving … Read more

Geriatrician Shortage = Cause for Concern

As of the latest demographic data from Pew Research, 62 million people in the U.S. are age 65 or older Number of people 100 and older is growing in US and around the world | Pew Research Center  Presently, there are approximately 7,500 licensed geriatricians in the U.S., or 1 per every 8,267 seniors.  Despite … Read more

Management Can Prevent Turnover

According to a recent Gallup study, 42% of employees who left their jobs believe management could have prevented their departure. The study also found that as of May, over half of U.S. workers, 51%, are actively looking for new employment opportunities. Gallup highlighted the substantial cost of employee turnover, noting that the expense of replacing … Read more

Senior Housing and Care M&A at Record Level

Mergers and acquisitions activity in the seniors housing and care sector set a new quarterly record with 183 publicly announced transactions in the second quarter of 2024, as reported by LevinPro LTC. This represents a 21% increase over the 151 transactions from the first quarter of 2024, and a 49% rise compared to the 123 … Read more

Senior Living Occupancy Up: Challenges Remain

According to data released by NIC (National Investment Center) last week, senior living occupancies ticked up in the first quarter. This is a trend that has continued since the pandemic occupancy “crash”.  Other economic data, however, suggest that challenges remain for continued growth, especially within the CCRC/Life Plan sector. The NIC data is here: 2Q24-NIC-MAP-Market-Fundamentals … Read more

Altarum Report: Healthcare Spending Accelerates Between May 23 and May 24

From May 2023 to May 2024, the overall healthcare costs accelerated (increased) by 3.4%, marking the most rapid increase since December 2007, as reported in Altarum’s monthly Health Sector Economic Indicators brief, released yesterday. The report is available here: Altarum-June-2024-HSEI-Combined Expenditures on nursing home care increased by 4.8% year-over-year, while home healthcare spending saw a … Read more

Wednesday Feature: Fitch Reinforces Deteriorating Outlook for CCRCs

Happy Hump Day! Yesterday, I wrote a post regarding the economy and elements that correlate to CCRC performance. In that post, I referenced Fitch Ratings and their “deteriorating” outlook for the sector. Interesting enough, on the same day, Fitch issued a comment that reinforces a deteriorating outlook for CCRCs.  The quick comment from Fitch is … Read more

The Economy and CCRC Performance – Update

Recently (June 12), the Federal Reserve held its latest FOMC (Federal Open Markets Committee) meeting and decided to maintain the current Fed Funds rate within the range of 5.25% to 5.50%.  The reasoning remains the current position of the economy, inflation therein, signals that inflation is a bit more persistent, and that without more definitive … Read more

Senior Living Rate Increases are Slowing: Revenue Diversification Offers Opportunities

As inflation has cooled, senior living rate increases are slowing. Growing occupancy has been a function of incentives, particularly rate concessions and discounts.  The greatest use of discounting is in independent living, particularly Life Plan organizations/CCRCs. And, while rate increases shift lower, revenue does as well.  Unfortunately, operating cost increases are not subsiding, especially with … Read more

Sr. Living Capital Access Still Challenged

Last week, a report from NIC (National Investment Conference) dropped covering the fourth quarter (2023) lending activity in senior living. As in prior quarters, capital access remains challenged. Data for the report came from 17 lenders, including banks, commercial real estate services, financial services companies, government sources, investment management firms, and real estate investment trusts. … Read more