• 60 Seconds with Swett: The Problem with CMS Interpretive Guidelines

    Just a day after we highlighted the potential downsides of overregulation of assisted living from the federal level, a case of regulatory overreach involving a nursing home just headed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth District in hopes of overturning a $1.8 million civil monetary penalty. Without getting into the minutiae too much, the... Read More »
  • Kayne Anderson Fund Tops Target

    The familiar refrain continues, with more capital continuing to flow into the seniors housing industry, property prices should keep rising. Kayne Anderson Real Estate, the real estate private equity arm of Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, L.P., has closed the largest opportunistic equity fund in its history, at more than 70% above its initial... Read More »
  • Well-Performing Full-Continuum Community Sells

    Blueprint announced its role in the sale of Morningstar at Golden Ridge, a seniors housing community in Peoria, Arizona (Phoenix MSA). Built in 2019, the community has 38 independent living, 65 assisted living and 35 memory care units. It is nearly fully occupied. The community is one of the newest and most well-appointed assets within a... Read More »
  • Kaplan Development Divests to Cedarwood Group

    Cedarwood Group closed its acquisition of Saranac Village at Will Rogers, a 75-unit independent living community in Saranac Lake, New York. The seller was Kaplan Development Group, which took over Will Rogers after the first year of it being open as a senior living community. The community was originally built in 1928 as a Tudor-style... Read More »
  • Omega Welcomes New CEO and CFO

    Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc.’s President, Matthew Gourmand will become the REIT’s Chief Executive Officer in conjunction with the planned retirement of Taylor Pickett, effective October 1, 2026. Pickett will also step down from the Board of Directors upon his retirement, and the Board of Directors intends to appoint Gourmand to the Board,... Read More »
60 Seconds with Swett: Criticism Mounts for Minimum Staffing Mandate

60 Seconds with Swett: Criticism Mounts for Minimum Staffing Mandate

It has been nearly two weeks since CMS released its proposed rule on Minimum Staffing Standards for SNFs, and the chorus of opposition to it continues from SNF stakeholders and also politicians. The Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee, Republican Congressman Jason Smith, said “this one-size-fits-all deal would ripple through local communities, siphoning staff away from other facilities in desperate need of personnel such as hospitals and hospice facilities, worsening already chronic staff shortages.” Across the aisle, Democrat Senator Jon Tester also commented that “This is just the latest example of Washington bureaucrats displaying how little they understand about the... Read More »
Ventas: Time For A Change?

Ventas: Time For A Change?

Ventas has been an incredible success story, both in terms of the company itself and its stock. But most of the “incredible” for the stock occurred many years ago. Ten years ago, its share price was about $70, and currently it is about $40. It has averaged close to $65 a share for much of the past 10 years. But if you bought it in March of 2020, when the senior care world was under attack, at its low of $13.35 per share, you would be considered a genius and would have pocketed a hefty return. But that would have taken brass ones. CEO Debbie Cafaro was recruited (against her better judgment at the time) nearly 25 years ago when the REIT’s only tenant, Vencor (later renamed Kindred... Read More »
Brookdale’s Occupancy Gets August Bump

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

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?

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

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 »