South Dakota Town Fights to Keep Nursing Home Open

A small South Dakota community is showing that local determination can stand up to corporate decisions when it comes to caring for their elders.

Douglas County residents formed the Senior Health Care Taskforce after Sanford Health announced plans to close the Good Samaritan Society nursing home in Corsica last fall. The company cited severe workforce shortages, but the community wasn't ready to let their seniors be moved away from family and familiar faces.

The taskforce's response was immediate and powerful. When told how much money would keep the facility viable, community members raised the full amount in minutes. That early show of commitment set the tone for months of determined advocacy that followed.

"We are asking for the opportunity to develop a locally driven plan that allows seniors from this area to continue receiving care close to home," said taskforce member Logan Denning.

The group has spent nearly two years in conversations with Sanford and Good Samaritan representatives. After the closure announcement, they pushed past public relations staff to meet directly with corporate decision makers, presenting detailed plans for how they would handle staffing, licensing, and daily operations.

Their insistence on maintaining elder care appears to be the key sticking point. Taskforce member Jamie Rexwinkel believes alternative uses like apartments would have been approved quickly, but the community refuses to abandon senior care services.

Why This Inspires

The taskforce drew lessons from neighboring Tripp, where a 2018 nursing home closure created lasting gaps in care. That facility was sold with permanent restrictions preventing any future senior health services, a scenario Corsica is working hard to avoid.

Geography matters deeply to these families. While Wagner is only 30 minutes away and recently opened renovated facilities, it's not considered a regional hub for Corsica residents. The concern is that family visits will become less frequent and social connections harder to maintain.

"There's comfort in knowing that when people need extra care, they can stay in the place they've always called home," said Luke Bamberg, president of the Corsica Development Corporation. "That matters not only for families, but for the health of the entire community."

Research shared within the taskforce showed that following the Tripp closure, many relocated residents passed away within months. The stress of leaving familiar surroundings, caregivers, and community at the end of life can have devastating effects.

About 15 residents remain in the Corsica facility as of this week, expected to transition to Wagner over the next month. But the taskforce's work continues, focused on what comes after the last resident leaves.

The building itself represents decades of community investment, originally constructed through local fundraising efforts. Leaders want to ensure it returns to local control without restrictions that would prevent future senior care.

Discussions with Sanford and Good Samaritan remain professional and ongoing, with no final decision yet reached. The taskforce has shown they're ready with structured plans, committed funding, and unwavering resolve to keep elder care local.

Small towns across America face similar battles when corporate healthcare systems make centralization decisions, but Corsica is writing a playbook for communities that refuse to give up on their most vulnerable members.