SNF occupancy rates stable; Sacramento, Calif., leads growth markets

The stability in the skilled nursing care market fundamentals continues, as occupancy remains essentially flat. During the fourth quarter of 2012, nursing care occupancy was 88.1 percent, an increase of 10 basis points from the prior quarter and a 10 basis point decline from a year earlier.

While the national occupancy continues to be stable, there has been variation in the trends among the individual metropolitan markets during the past year. Select groups of metropolitan markets reported significant changes in nursing care occupancy. Sacramento, Calif., experienced by far the most significant gain during the past year, with its occupancy rising by 280 basis points. Conversely, San Francisco and St. Louis stand out as markets having the most significant occupancy declines during the past year at 130 basis points and 150 basis points, respectively.

Chart Source: NIC MAP^® Data & Analysis Service