SPECIAL REPORT  Steady Stream Of Variety    6/1/2014  Meg LaPorte This year’sTop 40 Largest Assisted Living Companies represent an occupant capacity of more than 214,000. And this year it’s Brentwood, Tenn.-based Brookdale Senior Living taking the top spot with more than 34,513 in occupant capacity. No. 2, Emeritus Senior Living, Seattle, comes in at 31,700. But the numbers drop precipitously after that, with the No. 3, Atria Senior Living Group, registering a capacity of 17,000—half of Brookdale’s count. No. 4 Sunrise Senior Living holds an occupant capacity of 15,220, followed by Five Star Quality Care at just over 14,000. From there the capacities range from 9,000 down to 4,950, at the No. 10 slot. With the announcement in February that Brookdale and Emeritus will merge, next year’s Top 10 assisted living companies will look quite different in terms of capacity. The new Brookdale will become a mammoth provider of assisted living, with an unprecedented capacity that registers north of 64,000, while the remaining nine companies will likely make up a total of approximately 80,000. Dementia Care Dominant Dementia care programs continue to dominate the sector, with all 40 of this year’s lineup offering this service, just as they did last year. Independent living units are offered by all but three of this year’s Top 40, up one count from last year, while just over half of the lineup has nursing home care among its business lines, down two from last year. Exactly half of the Top 40 providers count outpatient rehabilitation therapy among their service offerings. Hospice is offered by 19 companies, and dialysis services are provided by seven of this year’s assisted living pack leaders. Bariatric services are offered by 11 of the Top 40 this year, and 14 companies have home care among their business lines.  Future Plans Looking ahead, the leading assisted living companies appear to be strategizing for the impending baby boom onslaught with the addition of more spa-like services and amenities. No. 19, Americare, reports that it eliminated nurse stations and med carts “years ago” and also implemented “natural awakening” programs. The company also has adopted a “May I Take Your Order” dining initiative. No. 28, Benedictine Health System, is constructing a 48-unit “enhanced” assisted living community with a “focus on responding to the preferences and choice of each resident.” Also on Benedictine’s plate is a collaboration with a major health system in which it is constructing a new post-acute, transitional care facility for short-stay, rehab patients. The facilities are aimed at providing “customized, high-quality, technologically advanced rehabilitation and recovery programs.” Brookdale is adding assisted living and memory care apartments to “select communities,” while its ongoing renovations include the addition of units and “décor conducive to the needs of our resident and adult children populations.” Find more details about 2014's Top 50.