Empty Bed in Nursing Home

Skilled nursing occupancy numbers suffered their biggest hit since 2012 in March, as the initial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic began to set in. According to monthly data released Monday from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, SNFs suffered a 132-basis point decline from the prior month and a 53-basis point decline from year-end 2019, declining to an occupancy rate of 83.4% in March. 

NIC anticipates even larger impacts from COVID-19 on April’s occupancy number, as the pandemic was significantly more pervasive by that point. These data are slated to be released by July 1, the agency said.

Occupancy usually increases from the fourth quarter to the first quarter, given the flu season and higher admissions in the winter months. But the coronavirus changed that pattern as a result of hospital transfers associated with the illness and fewer admissions related to post-acute elective surgery care needs, according to NIC. Further, occupancy decreased year-over-year as it slipped 134 basis points from March 2019.

This article appeared in the McKnight’s Business Daily, a joint effort of McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.