Senior Living News Wire

According to a new poll by the National Council on Aging (NCOA), most seniors are confused and unaware to important aspects of health reform, or the Affordable Care Act, including its impact on their own Medicare coverage, the growth of Medicare, and the budget deficit.  The survey asked adults 65 and older a series of twelve questions about the new law and the results reveal that only 17% of seniors knew the correct answers to more than half the factual questions posed about these key aspects of new law and only 9% knew the correct answers to at least two-thirds of the questions. None of the 636 older adults interviewed for the poll knew the correct answers to all twelve of the factual questions.  The highest number of correct answers came on questions relating to expansion of coverage for uninsured Americans (43% said yes) and that the law would gradually close the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap (“donut hole”) with 42% answering correctly.

Some of the highlights from the survey include:

• only 22% of seniors understood that the new law would not cut their basic Medicare benefits
• almost twice as many seniors (42%) held the incorrect view that the law would cut their basic Medicare benefits
• 37% said they did not know
• Only 14% of seniors knew that the law does not cut Medicare payments to doctors; 45% answered incorrectly and 41% said they did not know.
• Only 24% of seniors knew that it is projected to extend the solvency of the Medicare Trust Fund.
• Only 28% knew that the law improves the availability of long-term care at home for seniors with disabilities.
• 22% knew about improvements in chronic care.
• 33% knew about the new, free yearly wellness visit Medicare will now provide.
• Two out of three seniors either did not know (43%) or gave the wrong answer about the future growth of Medicare spending. Only 34% knew that it will continue to grow under the new law, just more slowly.

"The health reform debate was long and complicated and often dominated by political spin that confused seniors," said James Firman, president and CEO of NCOA. "NCOA is committed to helping seniors get the key facts and information they need to make smart, informed decisions about their own health care. The fact that this poll revealed that so many people are misinformed or don’t know much about the new law means we have our work cut out for us with the "Straight Talk for Seniors on Health Reform" campaign."

Five Star Quality Care, Inc. (NYSE Amex: FVE) announced its financial results this week for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2010 that showed total revenues for the second quarter of 2010 increased 5.7% to $311.9 million from $295.0 million for the same period last year.  FVE’s net income for Q2 2010 was $8.1 million compared to $8.5 million for Q2 2009. 

Operating highlights for the communities include:

• Senior living occupancy for the second quarter of 2010 was 86.2% compared to 86.5% for the same period last year and 86.2% for the first quarter of 2010.

• Senior living average daily rate for the second quarter of 2010 increased by 1.7% to $148.67 from $146.13 in the same period last year.
• The percentage of senior living revenue derived from private and sources other than Medicare and Medicaid for the second quarter of 2010 increased to 70.1% from 69.1% for the same period last year.
• For those senior living communities that we have operated continuously since April 1, 2009 (comparable communities), occupancy for the second quarter of 2010 was 86.1% compared to 86.5% for the same period last year.
• The average daily rate at comparable communities for the second quarter of 2010 increased by 1.9% to $148.87 from $146.13 in the same period last year.

For the full details, visit the 8-K.

End of July is already here…how the summer flies.  See this week’s high flyers on Movers and Shakers…let us know about the VIP’s on your staff, community and world.  Send us the details at movers-shakers@seniorhousingnews.com

Amica CEO Nominated for E&Y Entrepenuer of the Year

Samir Manji, Chairman, President and CEO of Amica Mature Lifestyles Inc. (ACC:TSX) has been named a finalist in the 2010 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year^® Awards.  The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year^® Awards honor outstanding Canadians who have turned their unique business vision into successful reality. Presented in over 50 countries, and now in its 17th year in Canada, Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs.

Marla Gilson Appointed president and CEO of the Association of Jewish Aging Services

The Association of Jewish Aging Services of North America (AJAS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Marla Gilson as president and chief executive officer.   As of June 21st, Ms. Gilson assumed the leadership of AJAS. An expert with over 30 years of expertise in legislative lobbying and public advocacy, her experience includes working on Capitol Hill and leadership roles with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, and as Washington director for National Hadassah. Ms. Gilson also has an extensive background in the political arena, including several democratic presidential campaigns, and she served on numerous boards and other charitable organizations.  

Senior Living Communities Names Saunders as New President

Senior Living Communities, an owner and operator of 11 luxury retirement communities located throughout the Southeast, has selected Wallace M. Saunders to be the company’s new president.  Mr. Saunders joined Senior Living Communities as chief financial officer following a career in investment banking with Wachovia Securities and Edgeview Partners.  He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and earned his Master’s in Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

The Amsterdam at Harborside Names Executive Director

The Amsterdam at Harborside recently announced that it has named Margaret Minichini as its new Executive Director.  Minichini is returning to The Amsterdam after previously holding the positions of Marketing Director and Director of Community Relations. She has been involved with life care communities since 2001, and worked overseas prior to that as an economic development consultant in emerging economies. Minichini earned a master’s of business administration from the University of North Carolina, in Chapel Hill, N.C. She also holds a bachelor of arts degree in Russian Studies from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J. 

Immersion Active Announces Staffing Changes

Caroline Nash, an Immersion Active employee since January 2008 has been promoted to Email Marketing Manager. Working in conjunction with Immersion Active’s Strategy, Analytics and Creative teams, Caroline drives email initiatives by providing strategy, execution, testing and tracking. With a background in SaaS, training and project management, Caroline offers experience with a variety of enterprise email platforms. Caroline has a Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of Mississippi.

Ross Hollebon joins Immersion Active as a Senior Web Producer/Solutions Architect. Ross’s responsibilities include transforming campaign strategies into tangible projects. In shaping those projects, he defines the information architecture and other documentation, such as site maps and requirements documents. Prior to joining Immersion Active, Ross worked as an account strategist at Digitaria Interactive in San Diego, CA. A graduate of McDaniel College with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Ross also spent 12 years with the National Football League doing digital video and new media marketing.

On July 28, 2010, the seventh Joseph and Eleanor Wolff Excellence in
Care Giving Award was presented at Village Shalom to Nunu Segni Legesse,
certified nursing assistant (CNA) in Shalom Suites 2/3. Legesse joined
the Village Shalom staff in October 2005. Her responsibilities include
working as a restorative aide. In that capacity, she assists residents
with daily activities, exercises and personal-care routines such as
bathing.

Referrals are the best source of business and nursing homes are no different.  The 2009 National Survey of Consumer and Workforce Satisfaction in Nursing Homes, recently released by My Innerview, shows a majority (85%) of consumers (residents and their families) report their willingness to recommend their facility as either “excellent” or “good.” Sixty-eight percent (68%) of employees recommend their facility as a place to work as either “excellent” or “good.” The recommendation of nursing homes shows incremental improvements every year since My InnerView began conducting research on these trends in 2005.  The report shows an increase in employees willing to recommend the facility as a place to work and satisfaction among nurses and nursing assistants remains lower than the satisfaction of employees in other job categories.

“This is by far the largest database ever collected about the willingness to recommend a facility by residents, families and employees in America’s nursing homes,” said Neil Gulsvig, president, My InnerView. “This report is useful to consumers — who want more information when choosing a nursing home — as well as providers and policymakers — who are warranted to demonstrate value to these consumers and taxpayers. The data allow nursing home leaders and public policymakers to more precisely target quality issues and workforce retention efforts.”

Download the 2009 National Report (PDF)

The Center for Technology and Aging recently announced that five organizations will receive grants for remote patient monitoring (RPM) technology projects that will demonstrate how RPM improves the quality and efficiency of chronic disease management and post-acute care of older adults.  The Center’s RPM initiative goals are to demonstrate that the technologies involved can reduce costs, burdens on caregivers and the use of emergency rooms and hospitals by older adults. 

The grantees for the projects are:

• Sharp HealthCare Foundation – Working with senior and home health agencies, this project will monitor patients who have five or more chronic conditions – which may include CHF, peripheral artery disease, COPD, atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease – with the goal of reducing unplanned hospital readmission rates.
• New England Healthcare Institute – Using the Electronic House Call System (ExpressMD Solutions) and in collaboration with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, Atrius Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, this Massachusetts-based project seeks to demonstrate clinical and financial benefits from the use of RPM technologies as evidenced by reducing hospital readmissions.
• Centura Health At Home  – In collaboration with an internal physician group, telehealth video technologies (inLife and Life View, made by American TeleCare) will be used to enhance 24/7/365 call center response for Centura Health at Home patients in Denver, Colorado. The goal is to reduce re-hospitalizations and to improve quality of life for patients who have diabetes, COPD, or CHF.
• AltaMed Health Services and Stamford Hospital – This project will expand use of RPM technology (HoneyWell’s HomMed device) with low-income seniors in East Los Angeles, California and Stamford, Connecticut who have CHF, diabetes, COPD, or hypertension. The goal is to promote better self-management habits and healthy behaviors while also establishing a new healthcare para-professional position, the “Telehealth Technician,” through community college training programs.
• California Association for Health Services at Home Foundation – In collaboration with several home care agencies, this project will use Intel’s Health Guide to monitor patients with chronic disease conditions or those needing  post-acute care follow-up. The goal is to reduce avoidable 30-day readmissions, hospitalizations, and emergency department visits for Medi-Cal patients; and to inform public policy concerning RPM technology and Medi-Cal programs operating under federal waivers.

“RPM technologies make a huge difference in the quality of life for those living with chronic conditions,” said David Lindeman, PhD, director of the Center for Technology and Aging. “These projects will underscore the need to reform reimbursement policies and make possible wider adoption  of these technologies in public programs – Medicare and Medicaid – as well as among private insurers and health care systems.”

For more details on the projects, visit Center for Technology and Aging.

Sun Healthcare Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: SUNH) announced its operating results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010 that showed an increase in revenues of 1.3% compared to the same period in 2009.  The company posted second quarter net income of $9.97 million or $0.22 per share, compared to $10.1 million or $0.23 per share in the prior year period.  Sun’s results showed an improvement in reimbursement rates and revenue growth in hospice and rehabilitation.  The company’s medial staffing services business saw a decline in revenues for reflecting the economic slowdown and its impact to the temporary medical staffing industry.  During the quarter, Sun expensed the implementation of a new billing system for $900,000 and took a $2.2 million charge for transaction costs associated with the separation of its operating and real estate assets.

"We have navigated through a particularly tough time in our sector with only a slight reduction in normalized adjusted EBITDAR and EBITDA. As we get closer to the Oct. 1 effective date for changes in Medicare reimbursement, which include the implementation of RUGs IV, restrictions on concurrent therapy and elimination of the lookback period, we are bullish on the growth opportunities that these changes provide. We still anticipate top line softness and no growth in Medicaid rates in 2011, given the continued budget pressures that exist in many states in which we operate. However, we expect Medicare growth in both pricing and acuity, a decided improvement over what we have experienced in 2010 coming off the Medicare rate reduction in October 2009. The previously announced separation of our operating assets and our real estate assets and the creation of the REIT are proceeding as planned," said Richard K. Matros, Sun’s chairman and chief executive officer.

See the full 8-K for Q2 2010

New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that rental vacancy rates in the US remained nearly the same in the second quarter as compared to the same time period in 2009 at 10.6 percent.  As a further sign of the continuing shift in housing market, the homeownership rate of 66.9 percent was 0.5 percentage points lower than the second quarter 2009 rate (67.4 percent) and 0.2 percentage points lower than the rate last quarter (67.1 percent).  The number of vacant homes for sale remained steady at 2.5 percent compared to the second quarter of 2009 but remains elevated when compared to historical levels.  In 1996, the homeowner vacancy rate was at 1.6%.

According to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index of 20 metropolitan areas for May 2010, prices of previously owned single-family homes rose 1.3% in May over April and 4.6% over May 2009.  The increase represents the second straight month of price increases but with the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit, future trends for prices remain uncertain as some homes subject to the tax credit will take until September to close. 

CB Richard Ellis Senior Housing Services announced two senior housing transactions in June and July totaling $16 million that were sold by affiliated entities of Sunwest Management, Inc.  During the past two years, CBRE Senior Housing Services has represented Sunwest Management affiliates in the sale of 57 facilities. 

Canyon Crest, a 132-unit senior housing community located in Tucson, Arizona, featured assisted living and Alzheimer’s care options.  Seattle-based Columbia Pacific Advisors purchased the community in June for $9.48 million and will have the community managed by Emeritus, one of the largest assisted living providers in the United States. Originally built in 1997, the community was 37 percent occupied at the time of sale.

Chancellor Place is a 76-unit senior housing community in Chino Hills, California that provides assisted living. San Diego-based Pacifica Corp. purchased the property in July for $6.55 million. At the time of sale, the community was 64 percent occupied and was built in 2001. 

The team of David Rothschild, Matthew Whitlock and Mary Christian procured the buyers and represented the seller in both transactions.

Think senior living is big in the United States?  Expand your horizons.  Senior housing is a world wide phenomenon and the Asia-Pacific rim has the largest concentration of the global aging population.  Retirement Communities World Asia is hosting a retirement property development and investment forum that brings together developers, healthcare operators,

investors and industry specialists to discuss the unique strategies and business models for senior housing communities in the region.  The conference, scheduled for October 11-13, 2010 in Singapore, will have international experts sharing development trends and innovations on housing and community care to guide Asian policy makers.  The senior level forum will provide insight into policies and frameworks to expand senior living and healthcare options in the Asian marketplace.  For more information, visit

Retirement Communities World Asia 2010

Last month, local community leaders in Minnesota celebrated the start of construction on the The Waters Senior Living of Minnehaha.  The new development is targeted for the underserved senior population of South Minneapolis that includes 77 assisted living and memory-care residential apartments and care suites.

The $15-million, four story facility is being developed by The Waters Senior Living, a partnership founded in 1999 by the principals of Shelter Corporation and Tealwood Care Centers and will include 63 studio, one and two bedroom assisted living residences in addition to seven memory care and seven private care suites.

In accordance with the City’s participation in this Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, 20% of the 77 residential units will be marketed to seniors with incomes at or below 50% of the area’s average medium income (AMI).   The Waters will be located adjacent to the 218-bed Providence Place nursing home and will provide a range of senior housing options for the area.  Financing for the Waters is provided through a $12-million HUD-Ginnie Mae first mortgage, TIF and a loan from the City of Minneapolis Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The project was designed by ESG Architects of Minneapolis and the general contractor is Hopkins-based Frana Companies.

Rates are rising by 1.7% for nursing home payment rates according to a recent announcement by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that will increase Medicare payments to nursing homes by an estimated $542 million during fiscal 2011. 

The updates reflect the use of a market basket index reflecting changes in the prices of goods and services used to furnish covered care in nursing homes and the adjustments yield a positive increase of 1.7% for 2011.

“CMS is committed to ensuring that beneficiaries in skilled nursing facilities continue to receive high quality care while paying those facilities appropriately for that care,” said Jonathan Blum CMS deputy administrator and director of the Center for Medicare.  “The payment rates for the coming year that we are announcing today reflect that goal.”

Senior Living Investment Brokerage recently announced the sale of two senior living facilities in Florida and in Washington state. The Tides, a former luxury hotel  located in Florida, was sold as an REO asset for the Private Bank for $4.5 million to a partnership between Senior Management Advisors  and ValStone Partners.  The partnership intends to convert the hotel into an assisted living facility and plans to spend $1.75 million to convert the property that includes conversion of 50 studios into 25 one-bedroom units (for a total of 100 units), landscaping, and elevator upgrades. 

The second sale was for Three Rivers, a facility with 40 one bedroom independent living units, for $1.8 million to American Baptist Homes of the West.  The facility is located on a long-term ground lease from Richland Housing Authority who owns the land.  The Richland Housing Authority is the in process of dissolving and it is anticipated that they will eventually sign over the rights to the land to the Buyer. Bradley Clousing and George Pappas of Senior Living Investment Brokerage, Inc. handled the Three Rivers transaction and Clousing represented the seller on the Tides transaction.

Sunrise Senior Living, Inc. (NYSE: SRZ) announced last week that it has reached a settlement agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") relating to the SEC’s investigation.  The complaint and investigation, previously disclosed by Sunrise, includes allegations with respect to the financial reporting from 2003 through 2005 relating to certain accrual and reserve accounts.  As part of the terms of the settlement subject to court approval, Sunrise consented, without admitting or denying the allegations in the SEC’s complaint, to the entry of a judgment permanently enjoining the Company from violating the reporting, books and records and internal control provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 

As part of the settlement, The SEC is not seeking civil penalties against Sunrise and the settlement will reflect the cooperation provided by Sunrise during the investigation.  Two former officers of the Sunrise, Larry E. Hulse and Kenneth J. Abod, also reached settlements with the SEC without admitting or denying the allegations against them in the complaint. 

"We are very pleased to put this matter behind us," said Mark Ordan, Sunrise’s chief executive officer. "This is another very positive step in rebuilding the organization."

For the full details visit the 8-K.

Interested in sharing some local senior housing and retirement community news with the world?  Many communities have requested and submitted information and press releases they wish to share about their communities, activities and residents that are outside the scope of traditional news that is covered on SHN.  As part of the continued requests, we have created a new section on Senior Housing News (SHN) entitled “Community News” that discusses events, resident activities or other important information about being part of a local senior housing or senior living community.

Local News Submission Policy:

• SHN reserves the unequivocal, unconditional right to reject any press releases, submissions
• SHN reserves the right to edit copy or rewrite copy suitable for publication on SHN
• No linking to websites, email addresses or phone numbers will be provided / displayed
• If photos or images are submitted, they MUST include information for crediting purposes or they will not be used
• Community News stories are a minimum of 200 words with a maximum of 500 words
• All submissions must include a contact name, email and phone number within the local community to verify events
• No Birthdays, death notices or resident specific announcements
• Announcements are not part of SHN daily or weekly email distributions

Some examples of community news include:

• AgeSong Earns Certified Green Restaurant Mark
• Querencia at Barton Creek Celebrates 3 Year Anniversary
• Latest Clinical Report Card from CRL Senior Living Communities Shows Continued Success in Driving Quality Resident Care
• Epworth Manor Celebrates 90 Years of Caring for the Community

email us at communitynews@seniorhousingnews.com