Lead volume has increased since the beginning of the year, and the pace of move-ins accelerated in the past 30 days, according to executive survey highlights published Thursday by the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.
Survey responses in Wave 29 were collected May 17 through June 13, 2021, from owners and executives of 75 senior living and skilled nursing operators of various sizes from across the United States.
Nine out of 10 of the responding organizations reported an increase in lead volume since the beginning of the year. A third of the respondents said their lead volume currently is above pre-pandemic levels.
More than half of the organizations said that the pace of move-ins accelerated in the past 30 days. Nursing home operators reported the highest move-ins, followed by assisted living and then memory care.
The single biggest challenges operators said they face as the economy starts to rebound from the pandemic is attracting staff members, followed by low occupancy rates and staff turnover, according to the survey.
Since the previous survey conducted at the end of March, most respondent organizations said they are increasing wages, offering referral bonuses, and offering hiring/sign-on bonuses to attract and retain staff members.
