Senior Housing News has covered a broad spectrum of topics in the past 12 months—from new and innovative practices among senior living providers, to multi-million acquisitions and litigations, to mainstream focus on the industry and even the impacts of a government shutdown.
Here’s a list of Senior Housing News‘s most popular posts this past year, culminating with the single most-read article of 2013:
#10. April 14—Like Hospitals, Skilled Nursing Facilities Could Face Readmission Penalties
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, in its budget proposal to Congress for fiscal year 2014, suggested that skilled nursing facilities could soon share the same responsibilities and penalties as hospitals for having too many preventable rehospitalizations among their Medicare patients.
#9. November 18—Newcastle to Acquire 52 Holiday Retirement Properties for $1 Billion
Newcastle Investment Corp. (NYSE: NCT) announced an agreement to acquire a 52-property portfolio of senior housing properties across 24 states from affiliates of national senior living provider Holiday Retirement for $1 billion.
#8. July 24—Nursing Home Slammed with $1.1 Billion Verdict in Negligence Case
Trans Healthcare Inc. landed a $1.1 billion verdict in a negligence case filed in 2009, amid allegations of substandard care when a resident suffered multiple falls at the Florida nursing home.
#7. March 25—A Place for Mom Launches Consumer Review Component
Following similar initiatives of other senior care resource websites, A Place for Mom launched an online consumer review component that allowed visitors to submit and review customer feedback on more than 100,000 senior living communities and care services nationwide.
#6. September 29—Senior Living Sees Dining as New Driver for Occupancy Growth
Senior living providers couldn’t deny the benefits of their dining service programs as it led to occupancy boosts of more than 5% for some and better responses to marketing and increased resident satisfaction for more than 90% of other providers.
#5. July 31—Frontline Investigates Assisted Living, Profiles Emeritus
PBS Frontline and Pro Publica televised a four-part investigative report on staffing and training in the assisted living industry, profiling Seattle-based national senior living provider Emeritus.
#4. May 12—CBS Investigates Life Care Centers’ Alleged Medicare Fraud
CBS This Morning turned its lens to the senior care industry, after former employees of Cleveland-based provider Life Care Centers of America spoke out against the company, claiming it over-billed Medicare for services its patients did not need between 2006 and 2011.
#3. January 29—Verizon, NCOA Partner to Improve Health for Independent Seniors with Chronic Conditions
Telecommunication giant Verizon expanded its business lines to enter the growing senior care industry, partnering with the National Council on Aging to develop innovative technology platforms that aim to better integrate care services for patients with multiple chronic conditions.
#2. September 30—HUD Releases Government Shutdown Contingency Plan
Prior to the two-week government shutdown that occurred from October 1-16, the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a contingency plan detailing how the agency’s limited staff during the shutdown would impact closing dates for various government programs, including Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly projects.
#1. January 7—Top 10 Trends in Senior Housing for 2013
In recent years, the senior housing industry has faced a considerable number of obstacles, including government funding cuts, a weak housing market, a lack construction financing, among other barriers, however, these roadblocks have forced the industry to evolve each year in how it serves the nation’s growing aging population. Check out SHN’s list of 2013 trends and see how many you have noticed this year.
Editor’s note: The top stories list is based on traffic data received on Senior Housing News content compiled beginning on January 1, 2013.
