The Ensign Group 2024 Expansion

The Ensign Group has recently taken over multiple skilled nursing facilities in Iowa and Colorado. Ensign took possession of Greater Southside Health and Rehabilitation, which was a 76-bed skilled nursing facility located in Des Moines, Iowa. The acquisition was effective on August 1st, 2024 by a subsidiary of Standard Bearer Healthcare, Ensign’s captive real estate company.

Barry Port, Ensign’s chief executive officer said, “We are thrilled to add this operation and excited to continue our recent growth in Iowa” and “This acquisition also provided another great opportunity to add to Standard Bearer’s growing portfolio in the Midwest.”

In a separate transaction, Ensign noted that they also acquired Holly Heights Care and Rehabilitation and City Park Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Both are skilled nursing facilities located in Denver, Colorado with about 125 to 133 beds in both facilities. One of the facilities will be purchased by Standard Bearer and leased to an Ensign-affiliated operator, while the other will be subject to a long-term, triple net lease to siphon funds away from the facilities to the corporate owners.

After the purchases stated above, this will now give Ensign a growing portfolio of 315 healthcare operations, which includes 29 senior living operations, across fourteen states. Standard Bearer, which is Ensigns subsidiaries, owns 122 real estate assets.

Port also noted that Ensign is actively seeking opportunities for real estate and to lease skilled nursing facilities that are both well-performing and struggling, as well as senior living facilities and other healthcare related businesses throughout the United States.