New England area could see a new name in nursing home ownership.

A cutting-edge nursing-home operator is looking to expand in New England after selling off homes in other parts of the country.

Epoch Senior Living Inc. this week announced the sale of eight assisted-living facilities outside the region for $138 million – money that it wants to invest closer to home.

The Waltham-based company already has nursing home and assisted-living facilities on 14 campuses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

“We’re not in a rapidly growing part of the country, but the elderly population is growing,” said Epoch chief Laurence Gerber, explaining why the company wants to expand here.

Epoch’s hallmark is offering a full range of housing options from assisted living to full-service nursing homes. That allows patients to move seamlessly from one type of care to another. The company specializes in programs for patients with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Although the nursing home business is generally difficult because of low Medicaid reimbursements, Gerber said it is possible to be profitable. The key is attracting private paying residents to offset money lost on caring for residents covered by Medicaid, he said.