With capital at a premium and financial stress prevalent throughout the industry, acquisitions continue to increase in the senior living industry.  Large companies with decent balance sheets continue to look for ways to expand and spread their infrastructure across more revenue producing units.  This can have both positive and negative effects on the communities that are being acquired.

On the positive sign, communities struggling to provide quality care and services receive a boost in support, often times receiving facelifts and updates to the property.  New programs brought in by the acquiring company may add to the quality of life where the previous owner had been forced to reduce or eliminate expenditures that weren’t considered vital to the health and well-being of the residents.  This could include activities and outings that while not vital to residents’ health, are vital to quality of life.  There also may be improvements in dining options or quality.

On the other side, corporations may send down new policies and procedures to the acquired communities that may hurt the personality or culture of a property.  Staff may be reduced and corporate may look to share staff between properties in the area.  These factors can lead to a complete change in the personality of your community, as the staff and activities can shape the culture.  This type of scenario has lead to residents leaving a local property that I am familiar with and made it more difficult to sell the lifestyles to perspective residents.

If you are involved with a community that is being acquired, talk to the acquiring company as soon as possible.  Show them what makes your community unique and fight to maintain the culture that has made your community’s lifestyle so popular amongst current and perspective residents!