


Do Elections Matter?
In less than three weeks we will be having an election that could set the stage for what happens in the country for many years to come. Or not. There is always a lot of fearmongering over what one candidate will do compared with the other. Usually, change comes slowly, or not at all. As is usually the case in presidential elections, there is little talk about senior care, other than the growing costs of entitlements, with no reasonable solutions coming from either side. It is a topic that is easily avoided, and we are tired of the lip service. But in Washington State, there are several initiatives on the ballot, one of which involves taxes and LTC insurance. You will remember that... Read More »
The People’s Republic of New York At It Again
The saga of The Harborside on New York’s Long Island has been more than a decade in the making. Opened in 2010 and originally known as Amsterdam of Harborside, a not-for-profit entity, it has now filed for bankruptcy protection three times (2014, 2021 and 2023). Nothing like a little financial uncertainty to drive census, which is at about 50%. There are about 330 IL and AL units. Nearly 10 months ago, the bankruptcy court approved the sale to Iowa-based Life Care Services (LCS), partly because they agreed to keep it open, pay down the entrance fees to people who had moved or to their estates, and invest some capital. From media reports, it appears the residents wanted LCS to buy it, as... Read More »
Brookdale’s Still Lagging
After Brookdale Senior Living finally topped 80% in month-end occupancy in August, reaching 80.4%, the company reported 80.5% in month-end occupancy for September, indicating weaker momentum going into Q4 compared to prior years. We said improvements would need to be maintained through Q4 to head into the winter/flu season in a strong position. So far, the company is, unfortunately, only maintaining, with just a 10 basis point increase from August to September. Brookdale also reported a Q3 average occupancy of 78.9%. Yes, this is an 80-basis point increase quarter over quarter and a 130-basis point increase year over year, but it is typical to see senior living occupancy grow the... Read More »
Update on Retirement Unlimited Inc.
Many of you read in our online posts that the President of Retirement Unlimited Inc. (RUI), Doris-Ellie Sullivan, is out and that a lot of other changes have transpired there. But perhaps the biggest story is how Welltower and its RUI relationship went off course. Brandywine Living and Welltower sold the Brandywine management business to RUI in a transaction that closed late in 2023. Welltower owned the assets so was in the driver’s seat on what would happen in the future. Welltower had a previous relationship with the owner of RUI, Bill Fralen, who had owned a lot of SNFs but was growing his seniors housing business through RUI. It seemed like a good financial fit. But something went... Read More »