Technical School Fastracks, AI, Community Relationships Top 2024 Workforce Initiatives

Nursing home operators, states and federal agencies continue to shift their strategy to meet the demands of the future work environment, as nursing shortages persist and nursing homes face possible upcoming staffing regulations. Some of these efforts have centered on easing education, training and credentialing. To that end, operators have bolstered relationships with local universities […]

Moving Forward Coalition Members Discuss Nursing Home Staffing Issues, Action Plans

As the comment period for the federal government’s staffing proposal winds down, advocates for both nursing homes and residents alike are looking at ways to reach a middle ground. Among these advocates for measured change are members of the Moving Forward Coalition – an organization formed in April 2022 following the National Academies of Sciences, […]

M&A Spending Hits 10-Year Low for Skilled Nursing, Senior Housing Sector

The third quarter of 2023 marked the lowest quarterly spend on senior housing and care acquisitions in the last decade. That’s according to newly released data from LevinPro LTC, which showed 115 total deals for the quarter, of which 41% were skilled nursing transactions. SNF deals trailed only assisted living, which accounted for 49% of […]

Regency Rebrands to Wellsential Health, Touts New Nonprofit Model; PruittHealth Acquires 3 SNFs

About one year after being acquired by Dwyer Workforce Development (DWD) in a $590 million deal, Regency Integrated Health Services has rebranded as Wellsential Health and is moving forward under a “new nonprofit model,” the company announced Thursday. The 63 skilled nursing facilities under the Wellsential banner now represent the “largest family” of non-profit SNFs […]

Shortage of Skilled Nursing Beds, Best Buy Effect, Managed Care Growth Accelerate SNF-at-Home

Like many markets across the country, the Twin Cities in Minnesota are confronting a reduction in skilled nursing beds, which is forcing patients to remain in hospitals for longer periods of time — with skilled nursing-at-home gaining momentum as a solution to these discharge pressures. “The average length-of-stay on the hospital side is eight days […]

Sabra, LTC Properties Execs: Skilled Nursing Faces ‘Slog’ in 2023, High-Acuity Care an Opportunity

The coming year will be “a bit of a slog” for skilled nursing, but operating and financial headwinds should ease over the course of 2023. That’s the viewpoint of Rick Matros, CEO of Sabra Health Care REIT (Nasdaq: SBRA), which owns 270 skilled nursing and transitional care properties, along with senior living, behavioral health and […]

How Skilled Nursing Providers are Dealing with ‘Very Heavy Burden’ of Rising Patient Acuity

Operators in the nursing home space are dealing with a crippling workforce shortage and rising costs of care – all while seeing continued higher acuity among residents. Providers and vendors in the space agree they’re seeing a larger proportion of patients with higher acuity, but the definition of acuity varies along with methods to measure […]

LTC CEO: PruittHealth JV Fits Strategic Vision for Skilled Nursing, Portfolio Performing Well in ‘Less than Stellar’ Conditions 

Leaders with LTC Properties (NYSE: LTC) on Friday expanded more on the company’s joint venture with Georgia-based nursing home operator PruittHealth, while putting recent acquisitions in context of Medicaid rate increases – potential and finalized – across multiple states. The $62 million JV with PruittHealth to purchase three nursing homes in Florida is the real […]

REITs Gain Dealmaking Edge, Will Pursue Prized Skilled Nursing Operator Relationships

Real estate investment trust (REIT) dealmaking for the rest of this year and into 2023 will largely be driven by the desire to deepen existing or secure new partnerships with skilled nursing operators that have “weathered the storm exceptionally well.” That’s according to Michael Segal, executive managing director and partner at Blueprint Healthcare Real Estate […]

LTC Properties, PruittHealth Enter Into 3 Nursing Home JV Investment for $62M 

LTC Properties (NYSE: LTC) and PruittHealth are entering into a joint venture to purchase three Florida nursing homes for $62 million. This marks the first time that the real estate investment trust (REIT) and nursing home operator are working together, both companies shared Monday. The three facilities were constructed between 2018 and 2021 with a […]

More Skilled Nursing Providers Fill Care Gaps with Palliative, Hospice Services

More than two years after Covid-19 first hit the United States, more nursing home operators are expanding services for residents, in part to address care gaps exposed by the pandemic. Palliative and hospice care in particular are two service lines operators are targeting. Murfreesboro, Tenn.-based National Healthcare Corp. (NHC) acquired outstanding stakes in Caris Healthcare […]

Why Immigration Falls Short as a Nursing Home Workforce Solution — And How to Fix It

Current immigration policies are creating unnecessary roadblocks that hinder the recovery and potential growth of the nursing home industry’s workforce by “leaps and bounds.” And the situation has only become increasingly more dire as the sector faces a labor shortage at levels not seen in the last three decades. The ability to bring over international […]

How Patient-Centered Care Plays a Big Role in Burgeoning Nursing Home, Hospital Relationships

Continued federal and state movement toward more patient-driven care has had a ripple effect across the care continuum, in a lot of ways changing relationships between health care sectors that are normally siloed. Nursing homes and hospital systems are no exception, with the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) prompting relationship building efforts on both ends. Communication […]

PruittHealth CEO: Nursing Home Operators Can’t Break Into Small Markets Without Government Support

PruittHealth continues on its track toward growth, particularly in urban markets, but its CEO Neil Pruitt says the federal government needs to put more resources toward rural markets for operators. The Norcross, Georgia-based operator has set its sights on expanding into contiguous markets while deepening its presence in certain states – Tennessee is next on […]

The Math Doesn’t Work: Nursing Home Staffing Woes Unsolvable Without Immigration Action

As nursing home operators scramble to recruit direct care workers during a historic staffing shortage, many in the sector believe there is one obvious solution that has yet to gain meaningful traction, in part due to legislative gridlock: immigration. Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has honed in on minimum staffing ratios, […]