Top 10 Senior Housing News Stories of 2017

2017 has been a wild ride for many industries—the senior living industry included. 

This year, industry news was once again dominated by Brookdale Senior Living (NYSE: BKD). There were takeover predictions, acquisition rumors and analyst think pieces, but ultimately no merger deals—at least as of Dec. 17. 

We also have a strong feeling that we owe the success of our most-read story of 2017 to Parrot Heads. 

Without further ado, here’s a list of the top 10 most-read Senior Housing News articles of 2017:

Jimmy Buffett Meets The Villages in $1 Billion Florida Development 

That’s right, folks—Jimmy Buffett entered the senior housing business with Latitude Margaritaville, a 55-plus active adult mixed-use community that’s set to open in Daytona Beach, Florida, next year.

Blackstone Rumored To Be in Takeover Talks with Brookdale

Rumors that private equity giant Blackstone Group was in talks to acquire Brookdale Senior Living circulated in January, causing shares of the nation’s largest senior living owner and operator to surge.

Brookdale Faces First-Of-Its-Kind ADA Lawsuit

In July, Brookdale Senior Living was the target of what might have been the first-ever class action lawsuit against an assisted living provider brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA).

Could a Brookdale-Holiday Merger Follow $3.3 Billion Fortress Sale?

In February, it was announced that Fortress Investment Group (NYSE: FIG) would be acquired by Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group for about $3.3 billion in cash. The acquisition sparked speculation about the potential for major—even industry-transforming—future plays in the senior housing space.

Report: Chinese Firm In Talks to Buy Brookdale for $3 Billion

Following months of buyout speculation, Brookdale Senior Living was reportedly in acquisition talks in June with a Chinese firm that offered $3 billion to purchase the largest U.S. senior living provider, Reuters reported.

Jefferies: Over 50% Chance Brookdale Will Be Sold This Year

After months of speculation surrounding who may or may not purchase Brookdale Senior Living, the probability of a sale before year-end was thought to be greater than 50%, investment banking firm Jefferies predicted in a March report.

LCS Aims to Create ‘Destination Senior Living’ with Disney Magic

Life Care Services, one of the nation’s largest senior living operators, aims to capture some of Walt Disney World’s magic when it opens an $82 million, 239-unit community in nearby Celebration, Florida.

Brookdale Deal Stalls, Could Fetch $4 Billion

The acquisition of Brookdale Senior Living by Beijing-based real estate and leisure firm Zhonghong Zhuoye Group Co. Ltd. reportedly stalled in August, according to the Financial Times.

Holiday Retirement Moves Headquarters to Florida, 200 Jobs Impacted

The nation’s largest independent living provider moved its corporate headquarters from Lake Oswego, Oregon, to Winter Park, Florida, this summer—eliminating or relocating approximately 200 jobs in the process.

The Top 10 Largest Senior Living Providers of 2017 

While Argentum’s 2017 list of the largest senior living providers closely resembles the 2016 list, there are some changes of note. There were two changes in the top 10, and there was new data tracked on continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs).

Written by Mary Kate Nelson