Wearables, Voice Assistants Nearly Ready for Primetime in Senior Living

Wearable technology, voice-activated assistants and “smart” devices are on the verge of dominating the senior living landscape, and providers must be prepared to navigate the risks and opportunities that lie therein. These cutting-edge technologies are promising, but providers are still determining how to implement them most effectively, according to executives with some of the largest providers in the nation, […]

Best Repositioning 2017: Drab, Empty Community Gets Top-Drawer Amenities

The Kingswood Senior Living Community in Kansas City, Missouri, has been around for over 35 years—and, until recently, that fact was painfully obvious to both residents and management. A couple of years ago, its occupancy was low—about 64%—and attracting new residents had begun to prove challenging, due at least in part to the community’s drab, […]

Movers & Shakers: LCS, Atria Senior Living

SHN’s Movers & Shakers Column is sponsored by the SHN Job Board. To look for assisted living jobs for yourself or a friend, visit https://jobs.seniorhousingnews.com. If you’re an employer, post your senior living jobs with us and attract the industry’s best-read professionals today. Have hiring/staffing announcements? Send them to [email protected] LCS Appoints Bird to Leadership […]

LCS Starts to Execute on New CEO’s Agenda

Joel Nelson officially took the reins as Life Care Services president and CEO on Jan. 1, and the company is making moves on some of the top priorities he identified after being named to the position. The Des Moines, Iowa-based company is one of the largest senior living operators in the nation, and is the […]

How One CCRC Transformed Vacancies into Great Local Publicity

In senior housing, it may prove worthwhile to consider vacant units as unique opportunities, as opposed to just empty space waiting to be sold. That’s exactly what happened recently at Henry Ford Village in Dearborn, Michigan. The continuing care retirement community (CCRC) is the largest of its kind in Michigan as well as the third-largest CCRC […]

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 […]

Big Rock Aims to Acquire Large Senior Housing Operator After IPO

Following an initial public offering (IPO), Big Rock Acquisition Corporation (Nasdaq: BRPAU) has its sights set on ultimately acquiring a large senior housing operator. Florida-based senior housing owner and investor Big Rock Partners just completed the IPO for Big Rock Acquisition Corporation, a new special purpose acquisition corporation. It raised $69 million in the IPO. […]

Ryan Companies to Invest $500 Million Per Year in Senior Housing

A Minneapolis-based commercial real estate services firm is beginning to invest in senior housing—to the tune of $500 million per year. The firm—Ryan Companies US, Inc.—isn’t entirely new to the senior housing space, as the company has developed about 2,700 senior housing units in the last five years, Eric Anderson, Ryan Cos. vice president of development-senior […]

Incoming CEO to Lead LCS in New Directions

There’s a changing of the guard happening at the nation’s third-largest senior living provider, with its long-time CEO about to step down. However, a familiar face is taking the wheel and setting a course for the future. As of Jan. 1, 2018, Joel Nelson is set to become the CEO of Des Moines, Iowa-based LCS, […]

LCS Names Joel Nelson CEO, Ed Kenny Remains Chairman

Life Care Services (LCS), the third-largest U.S. senior housing operator, has promoted Joel Nelson to CEO and president. The leadership change is effective Jan. 1, 2018, the company announced Thursday. Long-time CEO Ed Kenny (pictured above) will remain chairman of the board of Life Care Companies and LCS Holdings. Based in Des Moines, Iowa, LCS manages and supports a […]