Long-term care operators cautiously optimistic about future, capital still scarce, Kramer of NIC says

Robert Kramer

The economic downturn has tested long-term care operators and they feel stronger as a result of it, Robert Kramer, president of the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry, suggested Thursday at NIC's annual conference.

“For operators, there's a sense they've survived incredibly challenging conditions,” said Kramer, who talked to reporters at a press briefing during the NIC's conference held in Chicago at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. The annual conference ends today.

Owners and operators also think that the crisis has been a “painful but good exercise in the importance of demonstrating value to customers,” he noted.

The sold-out crowd of 1,800 at the conference indicates that long-term care operators are optimistic about the future, he said. The two main questions are: When will capital return? and What types of capital sources will there be? he said.