Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect additional commentary from NIC Senior Principal Omar Zahraoui. High occupancy rates in senior living are not always translating to broad improvements in operating margins, even as demand for senior living remains high in 2026. In a recent analysis, National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC) Senior Principal Omar […]
NIC
Market dynamics and a lack of new supply are starting to impact how providers can capitalize on incoming demand – a phenomenon NIC Senior Principal Omar Zahraoui called the “great tightening,” Six in 10 senior living properties in the 31 primary markets tracked by NIC re now operating above 90% occupancy. Another 16% fall between 85% and 90% occupancy. This means that more than three-quarters (77%) of all senior living […]
This article is part of your SHN+ subscription Editor’s note: SHN Reporter Andrew Christman also contributed to this article. In 2026, senior living providers are honing their models to capitalize on the growing demand for senior living services. Providers are bringing new strategies forward to address staffing and daily operational challenges, focusing on tighter, more […]
This story is part of your SHN+ subscription Discussions about senior living affordability usually center on whether a resident can pay a certain monthly rate, but operators don’t always take into account how long they can afford it. Residents may well be able to afford the cost of senior living, but only for a year […]
This story is part of your SHN+ subscription Senior living operators are embracing AI. Their current and future prospects are not to nearly the same degree. According to a Pew Research Center report from earlier this month, more than one-third of older adults age 65 and older believe AI will have a mostly negative impact […]
Senior living resident rate growth moderated from levels seen in 2025 for independent living and accelerated for assisted living, according to new NIC data. In March, NIC data showed that year-over-year rate growth for in-place and asking rates was 6.1% and 7.4%, a deceleration compared to the same period last year. Assisted living showed strong year-over-year […]
This story is part of your SHN+ membership Looming demand from the baby boomers. A highly fragmented industry. Deep-pocketed capital sources looking to deploy their dollars where they can. That could well describe 2026 – or 1996. Three decades ago, the senior living industry underwent a period of big growth via investment. NIC Co-Founder and […]
This story is part of your SHN+ subscription Labor-intensive operations. A fragmented industry. Properties susceptible to new supply. Multi-brand strategies. That describes senior living – and also the U.S. hotel sector. This week, I caught an interesting NIC report on the U.S. lodging sector. The report, prepared by Taylor Vance Founder and CEO John Arabia […]
This story is part of your SHN+ subscription New investors and owners are entering senior living, fueling transaction activity as established groups expand services to reap the benefits of boomer-driven demand. Dealmakers reported nearly 21% more transaction activity in 2025 compared to 2024, according to deal activity tracked by Levin Associates. A separate report by […]
Dealmakers in 2025 notched almost 21% more transactions than in 2024, representing a record-smashing year for the industry, according to a new report from Levin Associates. A separate new report from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC) shows that senior living investors are on the “fast lane” of growth in 2026, […]
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