Can Federal Funds Come Without Strings?
Can the seniors housing sector expect to receive federal funds during the pandemic without some strings attached, like regulations? As the health care industry tries to deal with the rising costs of the coronavirus pandemic, the funds available may get tighter and tighter. So far, it has been hospitals and nursing facilities that have received much-needed federal aid. Nursing facilities have been given direct daily rate increases to deal with the rising costs of PPE and labor. The private-pay seniors housing sector, however, has been left out, so far. It has not been without a major effort to obtain federal funds to help with the sector’s own rising costs. Testing kits for all staff and... Read More » Bashing Our Senior Care
Getting tired of the media and politicians bashing the senior care sector. Is anyone else tired like I am. I don’t know whether it is the worry about the economy, being infected with COVID-19, having no social life, wondering when the next wave will hit. I could go on. But what I am really tired of is CNN’s relentless bashing, and the politicians who are piling on, looking for someone to blame, like they always do. But what really ticked me off was the April 29 letter that Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, along with Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, sent to the leaders of a half dozen of the largest senior living providers. They had a laundry list of more than 50 questions they... Read More » Amnesty For Senior Care Providers
There has been a push for providing amnesty to senior care providers for COVID-19 lawsuits, and it makes sense . As you know, there has been a big push for states, or the federal government, to offer amnesty to senior care providers from lawsuits related to COVID-19 deaths, other than for cases of egregious neglect. Families and trial attorneys don’t want to hear anything of it. The reality is, suing hundreds of providers will accomplish very little other than lining the pockets of some lawyers and providing some financial comfort to family members. The reality is that it will not be easy to prove “neglect.” As horrible as some of the stories in skilled nursing facilities have been as... Read More » Deal Flow Stalls…For Now
Seniors housing and care acquisitions came to a standstill, waiting for any positive news. So, I can’t remember the last time we went a full week without one seniors housing and care acquisition announcement. Perhaps in the depths of The Great Recession, but that was more than 10 years ago. Last week, there was nada, zippo, and it seemed to carry over into the start of this week. If you were not approaching the finish line by the end of March, for most deals, they just never crossed. There are a lot of disappointed sellers and brokers, but we have to assume the deals have just been put on hold until some degree of normalcy returns. But it may be a new normal, and lenders and buyers may... Read More » Where Occupancy May Be By July
The coronavirus was much worse then expected, as was its impact on senior care providers. I have to admit I was wrong, but just the third time in 34 years. In late February, I referred to the coronavirus as the flu on steroids, and that the senior care industry was prepared to deal with it. I was wrong on both accounts. It was much worse than anything on steroids, and many providers were not prepared for this one. I am not sure anyone could have adequately prepared for a deadly disease that can be quickly spread by asymptomatic staff and visitors. Some people think they have escaped the worst part of the coronavirus, and they may be right. But this is not going to be a short-term problem.... Read More »