The release of the 2009 AAHSA Ziegler 100 (AZ 100) report coincides with one of the most challenging economic environments senior living providers have faced in decades. This annual publication of data from the nation’s 100 largest not-for-profit multi-site senior living providers reflects ongoing growth by some but unit reductions by many others.
The publication’s primary ranking lists not-for-profit multi-site senior living providers on the basis of their market-rate unit count as of December 31, 2008. Included with the report are separate rankings of affordable (government-subsidized) housing providers, health-care-sponsored senior living providers, and single-campus senior living providers. Readers should note that two types of systems have been intentionally excluded from the AZ 100 primary ranking: (1) systems that are composed primarily of government-subsidized (affordable) housing and (2) systems that are composed primarily of acute or post-acute services or health care systems. Data for these systems are included in the health-care-sponsored listing within the publication.
The survey has a high percentage of participation, with 98 of the AZ 100 confirming the data used to prepare the ranking. Some of the key findings from the compilation of the data include:
1) A wide disparity between the size of the smallest and largest not-for-profit multi-site senior living provider: the systems range from 805 units (Morningside Ministries, TX) to 19,684 units (Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, SD)
2) A disproportionate number of units are held by the largest 10 providers: they represent approximately 37 percent of the total number of units.
3) While, despite the economic challenges, over 4500 units were added by the AZ 100 (a growth rate of 2.4 percent), the AZ 100 systems have reduced their portfolio of nursing communities in five of the last six years.
New to the publication’s research in 2009 is a presentation of the degree to which the AZ 100 have designated memory support (79 of the 100 offer memory support, with 41 percent offering both assisted living and nursing care memory support). New, too, is a look at the tenure of key positions (CEO, CFO & COO) within the senior living systems. Finally, to assist those who may be taking a closer look at their own financial strength in light of economic challenges, this year’s publication did a supplemental survey of the largest 25 to provide a snapshot of their long-term debt, annual revenue, corporate structure, and auditing practices.
The 209-page publication examines the AZ100’s locations, age, unit mix, pace of growth, type of growth, etc. to inform the reader on the characteristics of the nation’s largest not-for-profit senior living providers. The publication is available at no charge at www.ziegler.com.
