NIC Chats

National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care
  • 5.0 (8)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Get to know some of the leading voices and business leaders influencing seniors housing and skilled nursing today. Expect a little more humor, a few good stories from the frontlines, and perhaps a priceless insight gained from deep experience.

  1. Building Lasting Partnerships Between Operators and Capital Partners

    2D AGO

    Building Lasting Partnerships Between Operators and Capital Partners

    Host Lisa McCracken sits down with Julie Robinson and Andrew Wantok of Clarion Partners — a roughly $70 billion private investment manager — to talk about their growing commitment to senior housing. The duo shares how Clarion approaches the sector with intention: from market-level labor analysis and purpose-built, private-pay asset selection to the "yellow flag" philosophy that guides their operator diligence process. The conversation gets candid on what true capital-operator alignment looks like, why staff compensation structures matter all the way down to the department head level, and what questions operators should be asking their capital partners before signing on. Julie and Andrew also weigh in on technology expectations and share their long-term vision for Clarion's role in the senior housing space. Want to join the conversation? Follow NIC on LinkedIn. We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of NIC Chats by giving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    28 min
  2. Aligning HR, Tech, and Life Enrichment: Procare HR’s Vision for Resident and Staff Engagement

    APR 28

    Aligning HR, Tech, and Life Enrichment: Procare HR’s Vision for Resident and Staff Engagement

    Live from the NIC Spring Conference in Nashville, this episode of NIC Chats brings together Procare HR founder and CEO, Brett Landrum, and Go Icon CEO, Ryan Galea, to explore how aligning staff and resident engagement can transform outcomes in senior living communities. Host Lisa McCracken, NIC’s head of research & analytics, moderates a candid conversation about rethinking turnover as an engagement challenge, the power of real-time data, and the promise of connecting the employee and resident journey on a single platform. Learn how Procare HR’s tech-enabled HR services and Go Icon’s engagement and communication tools have the potential to work together to boost employee sentiment, increase “engagement density,” and directly link the staff experience to resident and family satisfaction.Hear why traditional, twice-a-year surveys fall short and how pulse surveys, multi-channel feedback, and gamified recognition apps can support daily, incremental improvements at the community level.Want to join the conversation? Follow NIC on LinkedIn. We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of NIC Chats by giving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    26 min
  3. Center Stage: Why Senior Housing Capital Is All In for 2026

    MAR 24

    Center Stage: Why Senior Housing Capital Is All In for 2026

    Host Lisa McCracken welcomes Courtney Nickels, managing director and COO of healthcare at Artemis Real Estate Partners, for a candid conversation about why senior housing is now center stage for investors heading into 2026. Drawing on her career-long focus in healthcare real estate, Nickels discusses how accelerating demand and historically low new supply are driving strong rent growth, occupancy above pre-COVID levels, and expectations for continued double-digit NOI growth—even as labor remains the top headwind to watch.​  The discussion also explores the wave of new equity and debt capital coming into seniors housing, rising competition for deals, and what it takes to succeed in an operationally complex, local, and people-centric business. Nickels outlines Artemis’ disciplined, scalable strategy across the capital stack and care continuum—from active adult through assisted living and memory care—with an emphasis on private-pay, continuum of care communities, strong local and regional operator partnerships, selective development, and maintaining appropriate risk-adjusted returns in what she believes will be a defining year for the sector.  Want to join the conversation? Follow NIC on LinkedIn. We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of NIC Chats by giving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    20 min
  4. Beyond the Buzz: Imran Javaid on Debt, Development, and Senior Housing Momentum

    MAR 19

    Beyond the Buzz: Imran Javaid on Debt, Development, and Senior Housing Momentum

    Senior housing lending may be experiencing significant momentum, but seasoned lender and NIC Board member, Imran Javaid, brings a disciplined perspective to today’s capital markets. In this episode, Head of Research & Analytics, Lisa McCracken, talks with Javaid, Managing Director for BMO’s U.S. for-profit healthcare team, about the sector’s sharp turnaround from the COVID doldrums, why robust debt availability has not translated into a construction boom, and how cautious assumptions around cap rates, exit strategies, and rent levels are shaping both senior housing and skilled nursing finance. They also discuss the influx of new capital, including family offices, and why aligning with the right operator and product in each market remains critical in a still-fragmented industry where most operators manage 10 or fewer communities. Along the way, Javaid offers practical advice for emerging operators on building credibility with lenders and equity partners, reflects on lessons from COVID, and explains what needs to change before construction lending meaningfully loosens and new development accelerates. Want to join the conversation? Follow NIC on LinkedIn. We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of NIC Chats by giving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    27 min
  5. Skilled Nursing’s Moment: Omega’s Vikas Gupta on Strategy, RIDEA, and What’s Next

    MAR 11

    Skilled Nursing’s Moment: Omega’s Vikas Gupta on Strategy, RIDEA, and What’s Next

    Vikas Gupta, chief investment officer of Omega Healthcare Investors, joins the NIC Chats podcast to explore why he believes it “feels like one of the best times” for skilled nursing and senior housing. Drawing on more than two decades in the industry, Gupta discusses occupancy and reimbursement tailwinds, lingering labor and staffing mandate pressures, and why it’s a good—if still challenging—time to be a skilled nursing operator or investor.  He explains Omega’s shift into RIDEA for senior housing, why they are open to turnaround opportunities and “good bones” buildings, and how the team vets and “tiers” operators based on market fit, performance, and financial sophistication. The conversation also covers Omega’s capital structure, growth in UK care homes, selective development and replacement projects in the U.S. and Canada, and Gupta’s bullish but cautious outlook for 2026 as an energized sector moves further past COVID and into its next cycle.  Want to join the conversation? Follow NIC on LinkedIn. We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of NIC Chats by giving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    24 min
  6. Inside Active Adult: Market Trends and Valuation Insights

    11/11/2025

    Inside Active Adult: Market Trends and Valuation Insights

    Explore how active adult rental communities are evolving and filling the needs for both older adults and investors in this episode of NIC Chats. NIC Senior Principal, Caroline Clapp, speaks with Zach Bowyer, head of living sectors at Cushman & Wakefield about today's growth of active adult rental properties — a sector that combines the lifestyle-driven amenities of modern multifamily with the demographic momentum of senior living. Learn why investor demand for active adult is rising, the value these properties bring for baby boomers seeking flexibility and wellness-focused options, and how operational and regulatory risk profiles compare with traditional senior housing.  Zach and Caroline examine active adult key valuation drivers, rent and occupancy trends, and the importance of lifestyle programming and community design. The episode also touches on cap rate compression, emerging brands, market fragmentation, and how active adult communities are positioned to meet the evolving expectations of both residents and investors in the years ahead.​ Want to join the conversation? Follow NIC on LinkedIn. We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of NIC Chats by giving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    29 min
  7. Harnessing Data to Redefine the Resident Experience

    10/15/2025

    Harnessing Data to Redefine the Resident Experience

    In this episode of NIC Chats, recorded live at the 2025 NIC Fall Conference, David Sawyer, founder and CEO of TSO Life joins host Lisa McCracken to share the origins and evolution of TSO Life—a resident insight and experience platform reshaping senior living.  Learn about the innovative AI behind TSO Life, built on over 150,000 interviews, and how its personalized approach helps staff better understand and engage with residents at every level of care. Explore topics such as resident data collection, the unique resident quality of life score, predictive analytics for length of stay, and integrating actionable insights for all staff roles—from dining to memory care. Whether you’re an operator, care provider, or tech enthusiast, you’ll want to listen in on this compelling conversation about operationalizing engagement and leveraging data to drive transformative experiences in senior living communities. Want to join the conversation? Follow NIC on LinkedIn. We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of NIC Chats by giving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    28 min
  8. Driving Workforce Excellence and Innovation in Senior Care

    10/08/2025

    Driving Workforce Excellence and Innovation in Senior Care

    NIC Chats was live at the 2025 NIC Fall Conference in Austin as Lisa McCracken, Head of Research & Analytics at NIC sat down with Brett Landrum, CEO of Procare HR, for a candid conversation on growth, innovation, and the future of HR in senior care. Hear pivotal moments from Procare’s ten-year journey, lessons learned, and the evolving landscape of workforce management in the industry.  Gain insight into the need for integrated, accountable partnerships in HR services, and learn how HR can be a strategic driver for quality care.  Don’t miss this episode filled with leadership insights, industry trends, and big-picture thinking from the heart of senior care innovation. Want to join the conversation? Follow NIC on LinkedIn. We want to hear from you! Let us know what you think of NIC Chats by giving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

    26 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Get to know some of the leading voices and business leaders influencing seniors housing and skilled nursing today. Expect a little more humor, a few good stories from the frontlines, and perhaps a priceless insight gained from deep experience.

Information

  • Creator
    National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 NIC Chats
  • Show Website
    NIC Chats

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