​The seniors housing average occupancy rate posted its sixth consecutive rise in the third quarter of 2011, albeit a modest increase of 0.2 percentage points to 88.1 percent from the previous quarter, according to the latest analysis from the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry’s (NIC’s) MAP service.

The sixth consecutive rise puts occupancy rates 1 percentage point above its cyclical low of 87.1 percent in the first quarter of 2010.

The occupancy rate for independent living properties in the third quarter of 2011 averaged 87.9 percent, and the occupancy rate for assisted living properties averaged 88.6 percent.

Both property types showed improvement from second quarter 2011 occupancy rates of 87.5 percent and 88.5 percent, respectively.

The average occupancy rates for independent living and assisted living are now 1.0 and 1.1 percentage points, respectively, above their cyclical lows.

“With occupancy rising each quarter since first quarter 2010, it is clear we are past the bottom and are clearly in the recovery stage,” said Michael Hargrave, vice president of NIC MAP.

Nursing care occupancy remains stable at 88.3 percent, unchanged from the second quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of the same year. “This stability in occupancy has been reported since the second quarter 2010 in the sector,” the report said.

Nursing care annual inventory growth was down 0.3 percent in third quarter 2011, demonstrating the established trend of slightly declining inventory growth. Private-pay rents for the sector grew 3.4 percent year over year this quarter, which compares to the 3.3 percent pace reported in the second quarter of 2011.

In the third quarter of 2011, the seniors housing annual inventory growth rate was 1 percent, which is down from 1.1 percent in second quarter 2011 and 1.9 percent in third quarter 2010. This is the lowest level seen in the current market cycle.

The construction versus the inventory level for seniors housing was 1.5 percent, which is down from 1.8 percent in the previous quarter, NIC MAP said.