NIC Notes

Insights in Seniors Housing & Care

COVID-19  |  Regulatory Environment  |  medicaid  |  medicare  |  telehealth

Three Areas to Monitor as Public Health Emergency Approaches End

By: Ryan Brooks  |  April 19, 2023

Based on current COVID-19 trends, the Department of Health and Human Services is planning for the federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 to expire on May 11, 2023. The impacts of the public health emergency ending will vary by state, depending on specific policies and programs that were put in place during the emergency.

COVID-19  |  Market Trends  |  Skilled Nursing  |  medicaid  |  medicare  |  occupancy

October Skilled Nursing Occupancy Rate at Highest Level Since April 2020

By: Bill Kauffman  |  December 29, 2022

“The occupancy rate for skilled nursing properties increased throughout 2022. However, labor continues to be a significant challenge within the industry and some operators are unable to admit new patients due to staffing shortages.”

COVID-19  |  Ideas and Discussion  |  Senior Housing  |  Skilled Nursing  |  healthcare

Reducing Loneliness and Isolation Among Older Adults

By: Caroline Clapp  |  December 20, 2022

Loneliness and isolation were health concerns for older adults before the pandemic and have become more so in the aftermath of the worst of the pandemic period partly due to restrictions and protocols that were put in place within seniors housing communities and health care facilities. A search for publications that mentioned “loneliness” or “isolation” and “older adult(s)” or “older people” produced a result of roughly 19,000 publications in 2013. This number climbed to more than 25,000 in 2019 and spiked to more than 40,000 and 45,000 publications in 2020 and 2021, respectively. While down to roughly 32,000 thus far in 2022 (as of December 15), the level of interest and concern remains elevated.

Business Environment  |  COVID-19  |  Executive Survey Insights  |  Market Trends  |  Senior Housing  |  Skilled Nursing

Executive Survey Insights | Wave 48: November 14 to December 11, 2022

By: Ryan Brooks  |  December 15, 2022

“Organizations reporting an increase in the pace of move-ins has held steady now for several consecutive waves. When the BA.4 and BA.5 variant surge occurred in summer of 2022, the rate dropped from more than 50% of operators reporting an increase in the pace of move-ins to the current ~40%. Operators may now be combatting what is being referred to as the ‘tripledemic’ – a collision of RSV, influenza, and COVID-19 that is sickening millions – which may be tempering move-ins. Lead volumes being reported are higher now than in most previous waves, but as noted above with the pace of move-ins holding steady, the reported increase in lead volumes is not yet materializing with move-ins." --Ryan Brooks, Senior Principal, NIC

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