Seniors, Healthcare Head for Convergence, New Survey Says
Seniors housing providers and industry consultants believe that reimbursement/healthcare reform is going to drive the continued convergence of the healthcare and seniors living industries.
By Dees Stribling, Contributing Editor
New York—Seniors housing providers and industry consultants believe that reimbursement/healthcare reform is going to drive the continued convergence of the healthcare and seniors living industries. That was one of the main findings of a just-released survey by the international design and architecture firm Perkins Eastman, “Senior Living 2015 Survey: An Industry Poised for Change.”
Led by associate Emily Chmielewski, along with principals David Hoglund and Dan Cinelli, the firm surveyed major not-for-profit providers and industry consultants nationwide. Just under 200 respondents answered a total of 23 questions related to four areas of interest: memory support, neighborhood and Small House programs, industry trends and examples of healthcare and seniors living convergence.
Almost 80 percent of the survey’s respondents cited the convergence of healthcare and senior living. Other survey results reveal that high-quality memory support programs are in demand; in-house healthcare is a growing preference among residents; and an increasing number of providers want to diversify and offer flexible payment options. Despite the overwhelming belief in convergence, only 10 percent of those surveyed currently have a healthcare partner, but half expressed confidence that they would partner with one in the near future.
Survey results also indicate the belief that the Great Recession has permanently changed people’s outlook and expectations about housing and service choices. As a result, the traditional entry fee for CCRCs should be reevaluated, respondents said.
“The market is already seeing an explosion of new memory support programs with a balance of new construction and renovation,” the report explains. “Almost 70 percent of respondents were creating new assisted living programs, but almost one-quarter were addressing it continuum-wide.” Also, household, Small House and Green House models have gained in popularity throughout the “care” portion of the continuum.