SAN DIEGO—The 2020 NIC Spring Conference this year focused on the importance and impact of the conference theme: Investing in Seniors Housing and Healthcare Collaboration. Panelists along the way talked harvesting data, partnership, telehealth, quality of health, planning for care needs, value-based strategies and more. In a general session, titled "Join the Disruption: Convergence of Healthcare and Seniors Housing," focused on real-world examples of healthcare and seniors housing disrupting current models in an increasingly value-based world. A panel discussion focused on the opportunities that now exist to break down old silos, adapt, and partner to improve outcomes. In another session, panelists in "Identifying Value Amidst Turbulent Market Conditions" offered varying perspectives on a range of issues affecting valuations today, from margin compression across all property types, to the rising costs of labor and insurance. The panel also discussed current cap rate drivers (trending downward for seniors housing) and the implications of healthcare collaboration. And in another panel titled, "Planning for the Care Needs of the Forgotten Middle," speakers explored how the seniors housing industry can provide appropriate care and housing for middle- income seniors, a growing cohort that will present a challenge to the nation going forward. During the luncheon keynote presentation, "Positioning for the Long Term: The Opportunity for Integrating Senior Care" healthcare strategist Andy Waldeck related his interactions with the healthcare system when his son broke his thumb. It served as an example of how the costly system is ripe for disruption and how the seniors housing and care industry can start to frame their place in the continuum in a new way. "We are in the early innings of the industry transitioning to a new vision," said Waldeck. In "What's the Physician's Role in the Value Equation?" attendees heard how this mismatch of incentives creates real problems for SNFs or other providers trying to offer better care at lower prices. "Executing a Payroll Play" explored how investors contemplating an opportunity should carefully investigate the financial impact of higher-than average staff turnover, forecast minimum wage increases, demographic issues like workforce housing options close by, and physical plant quirks like a basement laundry room that would make it difficult for care staff to work efficiently. In "Valued-Based Strategy: Partner, Acquire, or Build?" a trio of industry thought leaders walked through how they approached their respective vertical integration strategies to keep afloat, remain competitive – and better serve their residents and their families. NIC Chief Economist Beth Mace also presented, "The NIC Bluebook: Current Market Conditions and the Senior Care Industry" where Mace confessed that she had never seen a crazier week for global financial markets than this COVID-19-driven one. She pointed out that while it is easy to worry about plummeting stock markets and worst-case scenario predictions of a 3% drop in the global economy, historically low interest rates make it easier for people to buy houses and cheaper for companies to finance construction, so there may be a silver lining for seniors housing. She also noted that the US continues to be viewed globally as a safe haven for investors. Other key takeaways from the event are as follows: |

• Focus on value and partnerships: The role of managing and coordinating care should focus on the outcome of the individual.
• Risk-Operators should take risks and ultimately need to understand that somebody is going to be at risk for the total healthcare spend of the residents in your building.
• Shift-Expect to see a massive shift in health care delivery and payment model. Siloed, fee-based (volume) will move to a value-based system.
• Greater Accountability-We can expect greater accountability for what happens after (and before) the hospital.

Check out the related articles below that you might have missed and scroll through the slideshow photos above for more from the panels. Who Owns the Healthcare Dollar? How Senior Housing Fits in the Healthcare Expenditure Equation Panelists: Telehealth Will Produce Meaningful Savings for Senior Care NIC 2020 Talks Future of Healthcare Disruption, Scale Will Matter The Uncertain Demand for Senior Housing New Investors Flock To Senior Living