Skilled nursing occupancy continues to reach new pandemic highs – reaching 77.1% at the end of March 2022 – as recovery continues after a slight downturn during the height of the omicron variant.
The sector’s occupancy has increased 1.2% since January, according to data from the NIC MAP Data Service, powered by NIC MAP Vision. The authors of the monthly report suggest that demand for skilled nursing is growing, although staffing shortages continue to limit the ability to admit new residents.
While SNF recovery moves ahead, it may not be enough as regulatory changes loom with the sector still considerably below pre-pandemic occupancy levels of 84.8% seen in March 2020.
Data was collected from 25 contributors across 46 states with 1,220 SNF properties represented.
Move-ins pick up for SNFs
The most recent NIC executive survey, conducted between May 2 and May 27indicated that the rate of move-ins is an ‘encouraging sign’ that recovery is continuing with 68% of respondents with nursing care reporting an acceleration in the pace of move-ins.
Organizations reporting acceleration in nursing care move-ins continued to increase – from 21% in Wave 37 conducted in January 2022 to 68% in Wave 41, marking the fourth consecutive wave where the pace of nursing care move-ins has risen.
The pace of move-outs also increased slightly during this time.
Responses for the executive survey were collected from owners and leaders of 60 senior housing and skilled nursing operators across the nation.
Acuity levels have also increased in the nursing care sector with 62% of respondents reporting that new resident move-ins are more acute.
While staffing shortages remain a “moderate” problem for most operators, only 16% of respondents reported staffing shortages to be severe — the second consecutive wave in which severe staffing shortages declined for operators.
Still, attracting community and caregiving staff remains a top challenge for operators – cited by 83% – followed by rising operating expenses – 80% – and staff turnover – 63%.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) temporary nurse aide (TNA) waiver is set to expire on June 7 and operators have until October 7 to get their TNAs trained and certified. Roughly 43% of executive survey respondents acknowledged using the waiver to employ uncertified aides for longer than four months.
More than half of the executives surveyed expected the waiver expiration to have a moderate impact on their organization’s ability to staff their properties with 17% expecting a strong impact.
Approximately one out of three respondents have between 11% and 20% of full-time positions unfilled, whereas roughly two out of five respondents have 20% or more positions currently unfilled.
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