


It’s Not Just A U.S. Problem
The nursing home sector came under heavy criticism, and we might say “heavy-handed” criticism, during this pandemic, especially in the early months. Many of the naysayers, especially the media (hey New York Times, are you listening?), blamed the huge spike in deaths at nursing homes on the providers themselves and the so-called “lax” regulations, especially under the Trump administration. But in the more socialist-leaning countries of Europe, the death rate in nursing homes was not only high, but has been spiking again. This is despite the staff being better equipped than they were eight months ago during the first wave when no one really knew what was hitting them. ... Read More »
Let’s Talk About Higher Wages
To succeed this decade, seniors housing and care will have to deal with its wage structure in order to succeed. The title today, Let’s Talk About Higher Wages, was actually the title of last Sunday’s editorial in The New York Times. As many of you know by now, there is not much I agree with in The Times, because of its liberal bias in general, and its frequent attacks on nursing homes. While the editorial was more from a policy perspective, believing that higher wages will drive economic growth, I still believe labor and wages will be “the” key issue moving forward in our sector, post-pandemic, of course. I keep hearing of staffing shortages in our sector, and this at a time when... Read More »
An Interview with Hamilton Insurance
Nearly 20 years ago, the insurance industry faced a major crisis as many insurers removed themselves from the general liability market, leaving providers naked from a coverage perspective. As a result, entire portfolios were sold off due to overpriced liability coverage and its lack of availability. We sat down with Keith Parnell and Jason Zuccari of Hamilton Insurance Agency to discuss the state of the market as the pandemic looms over the country. Hamilton is a family-owned operation and one of the nation’s largest independent insurance brokerage firms that has specialized in the senior housing and long-term care space for more than 40... Read More »
Being Thankful In A Bummer Year
With a pandemic and too many other problems, it is hard to be thankful at the end of 2020. But there are reasons to be. There is no question, it has been a bummer of a year on many fronts. Without trying to be too cute, however, there are many things to be thankful for in this year of trauma. First of all, if you are reading this, you are alive, and presumably well, so that is a good start. You are not in a hospital on a ventilator at death’s door where far too many have been this year. You still have a job when so many are without. Hopefully, you have not lost a family member to COVID, or a close friend, which we can be thankful for. But I am sure many of you have lost residents and... Read More »