Is the West the next big frontier for post-acute care?
Business is booming for long-term and post-acute care communities in western states, a region that saw a significant jump in care sites compared to all other U.S. regions.
In the West, licensed residential care sites increased from 36.4% to 40.8% since the last census data. In every other region, the percentage of communities serving long-term or post-acute residents dropped from 2012 to 2016, the most recent census data set.
The residential care community trends are part of the National Study of Long-Term Care Providers, conducted every two years by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study includes residential care communities that are state-regulated and which provide around-the-clock on-site supervision, room and board with at least two meals a day, and assistance with personal care and activities of daily living. Residential care communities exclusively licensed to serve those with mental illness, intellectual or developmental disabilities were excluded.
The trends seem to support the rise of regionalism within post-acute care. While skilled nursing still struggles nationally, larger chains are finding more success with regionally-focused operator models, especially as home healthcare continues to mature as a sector, notes an article in Skilled Nursing News.
For HR departments in the West, recruitment might get a lot easier as more candidates take note of the hot job market trends. For employers in other regions, better spiff up your retention efforts and brand support, or your best employees may go West.
