The share of older adults who reside in assisted living varies widely across U.S. metropolitan markets, and the reasons extend beyond demographics or economics alone, according to new research from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). The study examines why some markets have significantly higher occupied penetration rates of assisted living than others, even when older adults’ functional care needs in the market are similar.
NIC defined assisted living occupied penetration rate — also known as capture rate — as the share of households aged 75 and older residing in assisted living properties within a given market.
Using data from 99 geographic markets, NIC researchers identified substantial variation in assisted living penetration rates nationwide. To better understand those differences, the team conducted deeper anal
