As we head into the holidays, flu season and the snowy winter, when census gains will be much harder won and as our inboxes fill with news on the omicron variant, we want to point out some really positive occupancy news from National Health Investors’ latest business update. In October, average occupancy across its 42 Bickford Senior Living properties rose by 60 basis points to 81.3%, from 80.7% in September. That is up 670 basis points from the low in March of this year. In its smaller (SLC) Senior Living Communities portfolio of nine properties, average occupancy also rose by 60 basis points to 81.5%, or a 530-basis point increase from the low of last December. The Holiday Retirement portfolio, currently changing hands to Atria Senior Living, meanwhile, did not see a change in average occupancy in October, but the portfolio continues to be a thorn in NHI’s side, with third quarter and fourth quarter rent so far not paid, contributing to just 82.7% of contractual cash rent due for November collected. A default notice has been sent, but hopefully, NHI can keep up the occupancy gains going into 2022 nonetheless.
60 Seconds with Ben Swett: Strong Census Gains Continue at NHI
