Is Connecticut The Future For Wage Hikes?
In order to avert a strike by unionized nursing home workers, a deal is being struck with the state that will send hourly rates soaring. In order to avoid a union strike at dozens of Connecticut nursing facilities, the Governor stepped in to help the two sides reach a deal. And what a deal for employees. Most hourly workers will have a pay raise set at a minimum of $20 per hour. CNAs will be increased from a $12 to $15 range to $20 per hour, while LPNs will have a minimum of $30 per hour. There are also increases in pension contributions and health and wellness programs. Most of the money will come from the state, with an extra $47.3 million in 2021 and $121.1 million in 2022, all going... Read More »
Celebrating 30 Years
The American Seniors Housing Association has been supporting the senior living industry for 30 years now, with David Schless at the helm throughout. I fondly remember going to my first annual meeting of the American Seniors Housing Association, back when it was part of the National Multifamily Housing Council. Let’s just say it was quite smaller than it is today, and I have to say, a bit more intimate. If you attended one of those early meetings, you may remember my question to Murry Gunty of Lazard Freres, when in the 1990s he was in the middle of patching together a company that seemed very disorganized, as I outlined his various, unconnected acquisitions. I asked, “So Murry, what’s the... Read More »
Good Vaccination News
Connecticut takes the lead in vaccination rates, but senior care staffers need to get on board. I just heard that my home state, Connecticut, is number one in the country with more than 50% of those eligible, 16 and over, having been vaccinated. In my town, we are now well over 70%, and I suspect will hit 80% or more by the end of May. This is what we need. I have been fully vaccinated for over a month now, and it is quite a liberating feeling. Not that I was fearful about going anywhere pre-vaccination, but it does make you feel a little more empowered. And, I will be going to my first conference in late May. Can’t wait, although I could do without the plane ride. So, obnoxious as I can... Read More »
Waiting To Sell, Or Buy, Or Lend
If census has indeed bottomed in the senior care industry, investors may still want to wait for several months of sustained growth before buying again. Although “consensus” on anything is dangerous to rely on, it does seem that either we have hit that bottom of the occupancy plunge, and if not, we are very close to it. After a year of turmoil and uncertainty, a rising national occupancy level for seniors housing will be quite a relief. What we are hearing is that some lenders want to see at least three months of consistent, increasing census for their new loans, and we suspect some buyers will want to see that as well. I guess you could say they want to see it before they will believe it.... Read More »
Is Home Care The Answer?
The move toward more home health is upon us, and it is time for providers to engage. If President Biden’s $2.1 trillion “stimulus” bill goes through, you all have heard about that $400 billion for home and community-based services. Not $400 million, but billion. When nearly 20% of a so-called stimulus package is going towards home and community-based care, well, forgive me for getting nervous. It is the progressive political/academic/union complex trying to make a major change in care for the elderly, but with borrowed federal funds. We know that Medicaid doesn’t work well for most nursing homes, and that most assisted living providers want to remain private pay. That means there is... Read More »Schedule a demo
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