


Brookdale’s Occupancy Gets August Bump
Brookdale Senior Living just announced its August occupancy levels, and it has been a good summer so far. But the third quarter has always been the best quarter of the year for census increases for the entire sector, so we expected some good news. If not, that would have spelled trouble. Weighted average occupancy in August increased sequentially by 50 basis points to 77.6%, while census at the end of August increased sequentially by a larger 80 basis points to 79.3%. This is the first time that month-end occupancy has topped 79% since the recovery began. A year ago, weighted average occupancy was 76.4%, so Brookdale has not seen a big jump since then, just 120 basis points. It has... Read More »
Two Florida Not-for-Profits Affiliate
Florida Presbyterian Homes has agreed to affiliate with Westminster Communities of Florida, the largest not-for-profit senior care provider in the Sunshine State. The arrangement adds the 11th CCRC to Westminster’s portfolio while improving the financial stability of the standalone CCRC Florida Presbyterian Homes (FPH). State approval is still needed for the affiliation. Once the affiliation is complete, Westminster Communities of Florida will operate the FPH community in Lakeland and will be responsible for governance of the organization, its assets and liabilities going forward. FPH has nearly 700 residents across independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing units. Its... Read More »
60 Seconds with Monroe: Is Joe Biden That Tone Deaf?
We already reported on the new proposed staffing requirements for nursing homes, coming at a time when most everyone in senior living is still struggling with finding enough staff, and paying for them. Coincident with the release of the proposed rules, USA Today published an opinion piece by President Biden. Now, if anyone thinks he actually wrote it, I have a bridge to sell you. My guess is that he did not even read it. This was a staff piece. Perhaps from Joe’s basement? I will say one thing, he has been consistent in his criticism of private equity in the nursing home business, but he still gets his facts and names wrong. Not many “private equity” firms have been buying up nursing homes... Read More »
Ziegler Closes $118.33 Million Financing
Investment banking firm Ziegler just closed a $118.33 million bond financing for Emerald Heights, a not-for-profit CCRC in Redmond, Washington, with 333 independent living units (including apartments and cottages), 40 assisted living beds, 16 memory care units and 61 skilled nursing beds set on 38 acres. Emerald Heights was established in 1979. The proceeds will be used to finance the construction and equipping of 54 new assisted living units and a sky bridge connecting these units to the main IL building, as well as to fund the construction of 42 new IL units. The remainder of the proceeds will go toward paying off existing debt and certain costs of the bond issuance. The tax-exempt... Read More »