That said, the coronavirus pandemic upended the senior housing segment over the short term and caused Welltower to cut its dividend by 30%. That demand, meanwhile, is set to help Welltower push through large price increases, partly driven by inflationary pressures. The big-picture story for healthcare real estate investment trusts (REITs) like Welltower (NYSE: WELL) hasn't changed -- society is getting older, and older people need more medical care.