The sector’s national occupancy rate, based on aggregate statistics from 31 markets, held at 88.8 percent last quarter, according to NIC.

Executives at several seniors housing REITs say the burdens of more supply coming on-line this year are being complicated by a particularly nasty flu season.

Thirty percent of JLL’s survey respondents ranked those property sub-types as “extremely desirable,” and another 56 percent ranked them as “very desirable.”

During earning calls this month, senior-housing operators and landlords have lamented a harsh flu season that has led ailing residents to move out of their facilities.

There are several headwinds that need to be addressed—if not this year, then soon, some industry experts say.

In markets where there is presently an unfavorable supply/demand, growing demand penetration rates could possibly make a difference.

Seniors housing occupancy remained unchanged at 88.8 percent, but same-property rent growth decelerated.

Depending on the outcome of the debate over tax reform, senior housing assets could become more attractive to some non-REIT players.

Kayne Anderson is the third developer to try its hand at high-end New York senior living, a niche of development aimed at serving an expected boom of well-heeled elderly.