A screening tool that predicts short-term mortality of older adults could potentially be used to improve care for high-risk patients visiting emergency departments and other health care settings, including nursing homes. A recent study published in JAMA has highlighted the effectiveness of the Geriatric End-of-Life Screening Tool (GEST) in predicting 6-month mortality in older patients […]
The newly finalized minimum staffing standards by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have ignited a significant debate among nursing home leaders regarding the inclusion and role of licensed practical nurses (LPNs). The mandate, announced on April 22, 2024, establishes new comprehensive minimum nurse staffing requirements, aiming to enhance the quality of care […]
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has come under scrutiny for its oversight of nursing facilities, particularly regarding incidents of resident elopement – a problem that continues to impact facilities across the nation. Judging by Maine’s example, elopement is a tricky problem to tackle, and existence of tough regulation alone isn’t addressing […]
Nursing homes in states with large rural communities have long struggled to grapple with workforce issues, and for most of these rural providers there seems to be no end in sight, making fulfilling the federal government’s staffing mandate an impossibility. For such communities, registered nurses (RNs) are especially hard to recruit, and statistics paint a […]
Capital Funding Group (CFG) has successfully closed a $9.75 million Bridge-to-HUD loan to refinance a 123-bed skilled nursing facility in Massachusetts. The transaction was completed on May 1, 2024, for a nationally recognized borrower. “CFG has been a cornerstone in the healthcare financing sector for more than 30 years, and we’re proud to help yet […]
Joseph Schwartz, the former head of Skyline Healthcare, faced a major setback as a federal judge rejected his plea deal related to a $38 million tax scam. Schwartz, who once oversaw a vast network of 95 nursing facilities across 11 states, had previously pleaded guilty to charges of failing to pay employment taxes and neglecting […]
Despite the increasing need for long-term care due to an aging population, providers are facing significant challenges in recruiting and retaining workers – many of whom cite long hours and low pay as the reason for leaving the profession. “My paycheck, you know, was literally just nothing,” Culix Wibonele, a CNA, told CNHI News. “I […]
The staffing mandate will cost the industry $5.8 billion over ten years, creating the need for an additional 101,500 FTEs nationwide, with significant costs attributed to hiring nurse aides and registered nurses (RNs), according to analysis by CliftonLarsonAllen. In a recent webinar hosted by CliftonLarsonAllen, Deb Emerson, Principal at CLA, and Jennifer Boese, Director of […]
Over the past five years, long-term care facilities in Florida, including a few nursing homes but mostly assisted-living facilities, have been pressured due to a steep rise in commercial property insurance rates. According to the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration, insurance premiums in Florida rose by 125% during this period, with an average of […]
The staffing mandate could significantly reduce the number of available nursing home beds in New Hampshire, according to reporting in the Concord Monitor. The regulations are causing concern among local nursing home administrators. “The impact of the rules could be that we close more beds,” Kathryn Kindopp, administrator of Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland, told […]
Although there is a chance the federal government’s staffing mandate may be overturned, operators should still be aware of how upcoming changes could impact their operations. This is according to sector experts, who said that while the mandate is well-intentioned, it lacks a comprehensive plan to address the realities of staffing shortages and regional variations […]
A recent lawsuit filed in federal court accuses the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) of failing to adequately inspect and investigate complaints in the state’s nursing facilities, leading to significant instances of abuse and neglect. The lawsuit, representing five anonymous residents with mobility impairments and complex health needs, claims MDH’s inaction disproportionately harms residents with […]
A Congressional Review Act (CRA) to overturn the federal government’s minimum staffing rule for nursing homes was introduced on Tuesday by Representatives Michelle Fischbach (R-Minn.) and Greg Pence (R-Ind.). The legislation aims to reverse the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) staffing mandate. “The CRA represents a joint resolution (simple majority that can’t be […]
Executives for American Healthcare REIT (NYSE: AHR) said that long-term care’s operational environment has normalized, allowing the company to eliminate most of its agency staffing and labor expenses. “[Decreased agency use] is a very positive development,” Gabe Willhite, chief operating officer, said during the company’s first quarter earnings call. “And there’s nothing to suggest that […]
As operators face a difficult survey environment, collaborating with other industry leaders – and trying to work with state survey agencies – may be the key to staying in the green. “As providers, I think it’s really easy for us to concentrate solely on our company,” Kimberly Green, COO of Diakonos Group, said during a […]
Sabra Health Care REIT’s (Nasdaq: SBRA) CEO Rick Matros said Thursday that the federal government’s premature release of the minimum staffing mandate shows a lack of consideration given to the thousands of comments submitted against it, leaving the sector with no choice but to challenge it. During the California based real estate trust’s (REIT) quarterly […]
Capital Funding Group (CFG) secured a $20 million Bridge-to-HUD loan for the refinancing of a 125-bed skilled nursing facility located in Maryland. The transaction was finalized on March 29, 2024. “We’re excited to share the closing of this deal, as it rounded out a strong first quarter of executing financing on behalf of our clients […]
Executives for National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE: NHI) said Tuesday that they are starting to see more deal activity and an increased volume of new inquiries in the last several months. “We’re looking at opportunities across the continuum of senior housing and skilled nursing, and across multiple products including loan, lease, and joint venture opportunities,” […]
Challenges in securing capital in the nursing home sector have grown over the last year even as the deal pipeline has remained steady, with success heavily dependent on the right alignment of operators, real estate, and certain regional markets. Moreover, a consolidation of skilled nursing assets among primary owner-operators is currently underway, marking a shift […]
Over one-third of nurses are considering changing careers this year, signaling a potential job churn for the industry – which may prove especially concerning for operators in the wake of the final minimum staffing mandate. This is according to a recent study conducted by AMN Healthcare, which surveyed 1,155 nurses regarding their career outlook for […]
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