Editor’s Picks: Harvard Sheds Light on Impact of Aging America

We made it through the colder-than-mars temperatures here in Chicago, and, as we finished all of our holiday gift wrapping, we were sure to keep our readers up to date on the latest industry happenings.

We reported on one investor that paid a shocking sum for the site of a new senior housing project, and how Harvard thinks the industry will handle the increasing aging population.

In the newsroom, we loved a story about a Brookdale resident who was able to relive her glory days as a member of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL).

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Another Activist Shareholder Urges Brookdale to Sell Off Real Estate—A group of activist shareholders urged Brookdale to unload major assets in a real estate sale. The group explained that share prices may go back up if the company sells some of its real estate.

Investor Group Makes $625,000-Per-Unit NYC Senior Housing Play—The site of a new senior housing project was acquired this week on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The $150 million building currently has 239 units and will feature luxury senior housing units once completed.

NIC: Skilled Nursing Occupancy Remains Weak—The National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC) released its latest report on skilled nursing, and the numbers are still looking bleak. The numbers were based on data from October 2011 through September 2016.

Harvard: Will Senior Housing Keep Up As Aging Population Soars?—In the next 20 years, baby boomers will make up a large percentage of older households. A report by Harvard dove into how this may affect the senior living industry and how the industry can get ahead.

Shareholders Approve $58 Billion Colony NorthStar REIT—The merger of two large real estate investment trusts (REITs) with senior housing assets was approved by shareholders. The new REIT will have $58 billion of assets under management.

Holiday reads

This Woman Got To Relive Her A League of Their Own Baseball Days—The second-oldest living player in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) is a 92-year-old resident from a Brookdale Senior Living community. She was granted her “Wish of a Lifetime” and was able to talk about all things baseball with the youngest player on Team U.S.A, Refinery29 reports.

Aging and Addicted: The Opioid Epidemic Affects Older Adults, Too—Opioid addiction is a national threat, and older adults are not safe from it. The story of a 70-year-old retired tax attorney who checked himself into a rehabilitation program to help him quit using prescription opioids may not be a fatal story, but is all too common among the aging population, NPR reports.

In the industry

Senior Community Sends Care Packages to Soldiers— Seniors at Affinity Living Group, headquartered in North Carolina, created care packages for 175 soldiers serving overseas this Christmas. Affinity has been creating care packages for the past five years, but this year, they reached an all-time high.

In each box is an assortment of snacks, candies, toiletries, magazines, books and games, which are collected by Affinity residents and staff. Each box also includes letters of appreciation and encouragement. The boxes were shipped to Iraq and Afghanistan.

Written by Alana Stramowski