Small Town Fights to Keep Nursing Home Open for Seniors

When Sanford Health announced plans to close the Good Samaritan nursing home in Corsica, South Dakota, local leaders refused to accept that their seniors would have to leave town to receive care.

The facility, built by community members in the early 1960s, serves more than 3,000 people across Douglas County and surrounding areas. Sanford cited staffing shortages for the planned closure, initially scheduled for November 30, though 15 residents still remain in the building today.

Community members quickly formed the Senior Health Care Taskforce to explore every possible path forward. The group has opened conversations with Sanford leadership, asking for the building to be returned to local control without restrictions on future senior care use.

"This closure doesn't just affect the 650 residents of Corsica, but more than 3,000 people who reside in and near Douglas County," said Logan Denning, a taskforce member. The facility serves residents from Armour, Stickney, Harrison, New Holland and surrounding rural areas.

The taskforce learned a cautionary tale from neighboring Tripp, where a similar nursing home closed in 2018. That building was sold with covenants preventing any future senior care services, leaving a lasting void in the community.

"A facility like that is the lifeblood of a community, similar to a school," said Caleb Finck, president of the Tripp Development Corporation. "People know that when they need extra care, that's where they're going to go. There's comfort in that, because it's still home."

Douglas County leaders are staying ahead of similar challenges. The hospital depends on nursing home residents for viability, and the local economy benefits from both jobs and family visits to the facility.

The Ripple Effect

The taskforce isn't waiting for corporate decisions. Members are simultaneously exploring partnerships with other healthcare providers and considering new construction options if the original building becomes unavailable.

"We won't give up on this important sector of our community," said Luke Bamberg, president of the Corsica Development Corporation. "It's about more than just jobs. It's about the legacy given to us by our past community members."

With the nearest alternative facilities at least 25 miles away, keeping local senior care means elderly residents can stay connected to lifelong friends, family visits remain feasible, and the community maintains its commitment to every generation.

Despite Sanford's initial refusal to commit, the taskforce remains "cautiously optimistic" that their persistence will pay off. They're proving that when rural communities face challenges, creative solutions and determined voices can make all the difference.