Sabra Health Care REIT is a publicly traded company that owns and leases nursing homes and assisted living facilities

Sabra Health Care REIT (ticker: SBRA) is a real estate investment trust, or REIT. It owns the physical buildings of hundreds of nursing homes and assisted living facilities across the United States, then leases those buildings to operating companies that run the day-to-day care. Sabra does not employ the nurses, aides, or administrators — it owns the property and collects rent from the operators.

As a REIT, Sabra is required by law to distribute at least 90 percent of its taxable income to shareholders as dividends. This structure means Sabra's primary obligation is to its investors, not to residents or their families. Understanding this ownership model matters because it shapes how the facility operates, how money flows, and what happens if the operator runs into financial trouble.

Sabra owns or leases more than 200 facilities in 35 states. The company went public in 2011 and is traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange. If you are researching a specific nursing home, you can find out whether Sabra owns the building by calling the facility directly or checking Sabra's investor relations website, which lists all properties by state.

Key Takeaways

  • Sabra owns the buildings but does not operate the nursing homes — a separate company runs the facility and pays Sabra rent.
  • If the operating company fails financially, Sabra may replace the operator or sell the property, which can disrupt care and staffing at the facility.
  • Sabra's financial health and decisions affect facility maintenance, staffing levels, and investment in equipment, even though Sabra is not the employer.
  • You can find out whether a specific nursing home is owned by Sabra by contacting the facility or checking Sabra's public property list.
  • Complaints about a Sabra-owned facility should go to the state health department and your state's long-term care ombudsman, not to Sabra directly.

How the landlord-operator relationship works at a Sabra facility

Sabra owns the real estate — the building, land, and major equipment. A separate company, called the operator, leases the building from Sabra and runs the nursing home. The operator hires and pays all staff, purchases supplies, sets policies, and is responsible for care. Sabra collects rent from the operator, typically based on a percentage of the facility's revenue or a fixed monthly amount.

This split creates a distance between the property owner and the people delivering care. If staffing is low or equipment breaks down, the operator makes those decisions, not Sabra. However, Sabra's lease terms can require the operator to maintain certain standards. If the operator violates the lease — for example, by failing to maintain the building or losing its license — Sabra can terminate the lease and remove the operator.

When an operator fails, the transition can be chaotic. Residents may experience changes in staff, policies, and care routines. Families often have little warning. If you are considering a Sabra-owned facility, ask the administrator about the lease terms and what would happen if the operator changed. This is not information Sabra will provide directly — it comes from the facility itself.

Financial pressure and how it affects residents

Sabra, like all REITs, is under constant pressure to raise rents and maintain high occupancy rates to satisfy investors. When Sabra raises the rent it charges the operator, the operator must either absorb the cost or pass it along by raising resident fees, reducing staff, or cutting services. This pressure flows downward to the people living in the facility.

Operators sometimes struggle to pay rising rents while also meeting payroll and maintaining the building. When an operator cannot pay, Sabra may agree to lower rent temporarily, but this is not may provide. If the operator cannot recover, Sabra will seek a new operator or sell the property. During these transitions, staffing often drops, training stops, and residents may be transferred to other facilities.

Sabra's own financial performance — whether its stock price is rising, whether it is refinancing debt, whether it is acquiring new properties — affects how aggressively it pursues rent increases. You cannot control Sabra's business decisions, but you can monitor them. Sabra publishes quarterly earnings reports and investor presentations that discuss its portfolio and strategy. These documents are public and available on the company's website.

What to do if you have concerns about a Sabra-owned facility

Complaints about care, staffing, safety, or conditions should go to your state health department, not to Sabra. Each state has a survey agency (often called the Department of Health or Department of Aging) that inspects nursing homes and investigates complaints. These agencies have the authority to fine facilities, require corrective action, and revoke licenses. Sabra has no regulatory authority over the facility.

Your state also has a long-term care ombudsman — an independent advocate whose job is to investigate complaints from residents and families. The ombudsman can pressure the facility and the state agency to act. You can find your state ombudsman through the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Center website, which has contact information for all 50 states.

If the facility is in financial trouble or the operator is changing, contact your state health department and ombudsman when ready. They can monitor the situation and may support that care standards are maintained during the transition. Document any changes in staffing, care quality, or resident condition in writing and share them with both agencies.

How to learn about a nursing home is owned by Sabra

Call the nursing home directly and ask whether the building is owned by Sabra Health Care REIT. The administrator or business office should know. You can also visit Sabra's investor relations website (investor.sabrahealth.com) and look for the property list, which is updated quarterly and organized by state.

If you are researching a facility before admission, knowing the owner matters because it tells you something about the financial structure and the incentives at play. Sabra-owned facilities are not inherently better or worse than facilities owned by other REITs or by private operators, but the ownership model is one factor to consider alongside inspection records, staffing ratios, and resident reviews.

You can also search the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) database, called Care Compare, which lists all Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes. The database does not always identify the REIT owner, but it does show inspection history, staffing levels, and resident complaints — all of which matter more than ownership alone.

The difference between Sabra and other nursing home owners

Sabra is one of several large REITs that own nursing homes. Others include Welltower, LTC Properties, and Omega Healthcare Investors. All operate on the same model: they own buildings and lease them to operators. The differences lie in the number of properties, the geographic spread, the types of facilities (nursing homes versus assisted living), and the financial strength of the company.

Sabra tends to focus on smaller, independent operators rather than large national chains. This can mean more local decision-making but also more financial fragility if an operator struggles. Larger REITs like Welltower own properties leased to major chains, which may have more resources to weather financial downturns but less flexibility in how they operate.

From a resident or family perspective, the REIT owner matters less than the operator and the state regulator. The operator determines day-to-day care. The state determines whether the facility meets minimum standards. The REIT is the financial backdrop. When evaluating a facility, focus on the operator's track record, the state inspection results, and staffing levels — not on which REIT owns the building.

What happens if Sabra sells a property or changes the operator

Sabra regularly buys and sells properties as part of its investment strategy. When Sabra sells a property, the new owner becomes the landlord, but the operator usually stays the same. The resident typically notices nothing. However, if the new owner has different lease terms or financial expectations, the operator may respond by changing staffing or services.

If Sabra removes an operator because of financial or compliance problems, the transition is more disruptive. Sabra will try to find a new operator quickly, but there may be a gap of weeks or months. During this time, the facility may operate under temporary management, and staff turnover often increases. Residents and families should expect changes in routines, policies, and personnel.

If you are a resident or family member and you learn that your facility's operator is changing, contact your state ombudsman and health department when ready. Ask what protections are in place to may support continuity of care. Request written notice of any changes to staffing, medication management, or care plans. Document the transition in case problems arise later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Sabra make decisions about staffing and care at the facility?

No. Sabra owns the building and collects rent. The operator — the company that leases the building from Sabra — makes all decisions about staffing, care, policies, and daily operations. However, Sabra's lease can include requirements about staffing levels or care standards, and Sabra can enforce those requirements by threatening to remove the operator.

Can I complain to Sabra if the nursing home is not providing good care?

Complaints should go to your state health department and your state's long-term care ombudsman, not to Sabra. These agencies have the legal authority to investigate and enforce standards. Sabra is the landlord, not the regulator. You can contact Sabra if there are issues with the building itself — like heat, water, or structural problems — but care and staffing complaints belong with the state.

What if the operator cannot pay rent to Sabra?

Sabra may negotiate a temporary rent reduction, refinance the lease, or remove the operator and find a new one. If Sabra removes the operator, the facility may experience staff turnover and disruption while a new operator is found. This is a risk of the REIT model — the financial relationship between landlord and operator can affect residents even though residents have no direct relationship with Sabra.

Is a Sabra-owned nursing home safer or better than other nursing homes?

Ownership by Sabra does not determine quality. Safety and care depend on the operator, the state regulator, and the facility's staffing and practices. Check the facility's inspection history, staffing ratios, and resident reviews on the CMS Care Compare database. These factors matter far more than which REIT owns the building.

How do I learn about a specific nursing home is owned by Sabra?

Call the facility and ask the administrator or business office. You can also visit Sabra's investor relations website and search the property list by state. The CMS Care Compare database lists all Medicare and Medicaid certified facilities but may not identify the REIT owner — you may need to call the facility directly.