The share of organizations reporting an increase in occupancy from the prior month increased to its highest level since early April last week, according to data from the most recent Executive Survey results from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care.
The latest survey — Wave 8 — included responses from owners and executives across 150 senior living communities and skilled nursing facilities. Operators with nursing care units reported the biggest increase in occupancy. From May 27 to June 7, 25% of operators reported an increase in skilled nursing bed occupancy. A greater share of respondents with independent living, assisted living and memory care segment units also reported slightly higher shares of improving occupancy rates compared with a week ago.
Further, fewer organizations saw a month-over-month decrease in occupancy compared to earlier survey waves.
The pace of move-ins and move-outs also improved across all segments, resulting in a smaller share of operators reporting month-over-month and week-over-week declines in occupancy than in prior survey waves. Of those with bans on move-ins, either self-imposed or government-imposed, two of every three operators anticipate lifting restrictions on move-ins within one month, whereas approximately one in four specified no time frame, according to Lana Peck, senior principal with NIC.
Efforts to lift restrictions continue, even as 21 states report an uptick in coronavirus cases, Peck told McKnight’s Senior Living.
“Based on conversations NIC has had with seniors housing and care operators across the country, lessons have been learned during this novel pandemic and most operators are better informed and better prepared in safety and staffing protocols should a second wave of the virus occur,” she said.
This article appeared in the McKnight’s Business Daily, a joint effort of McKnight’s Senior Living and McKnight’s Long-Term Care News.
