South Dakota lawmakers are raising alarms after Good Samaritan Society announced the closure of its Corsica, SD nursing home, leaving the community without a long-term care facility and placing strict limits on what can replace it.
The closure, scheduled for November 30, 2025, comes after Good Samaritan — a subsidiary of Sanford Health — cited severe workforce shortages as the primary reason. But local legislators say the decision goes far beyond staffing shortages and could permanently restrict Corsica’s ability to care for its seniors.
Representative Erik Muckey, whose grandmother once lived in the Corsica facility, said closing the home strips rural residents of the ability to age in their own community.
He noted that the nearest long-term care facility will now be located in Wagner, more than 30 minutes away — also owned by Good Samaritan.
But the deeper concern is a non-compete clause tied to the Corsica building.
According to Muckey, once the home closes, any future buyer will not be allowed to reopen it as a nursing home, making it nearly impossible for Corsica to ever restore local long-term care without constructing an entirely new facility.
“This puts up significant barriers for the community,” Muckey said. “In many ways, it feels like the community is being told what it can and can’t have access to.”
Representative Marty Overweg echoed those concerns, calling the restriction “wrong” and suggesting the move undermines the responsibilities of nonprofits operating in rural healthcare.
In a detailed written statement, Katie Davis, vice president of operations, said Good Samaritan made the decision only after years of worsening staffing shortages across southeastern South Dakota.
The organization emphasized:
Good Samaritan also highlighted investments in virtual care, telehealth access, and rural workforce development initiatives, stating its commitment to rural communities remains “unwavering.”
Corsica’s closure marks 18 nursing homes lost in South Dakota in less than 10 years — a trend driven by:
Lawmakers stress that while rural long-term care is challenging, closures should not be structured in ways that prevent a community from replacing essential services.
Families in communities like Corsica face real risks:
A facility closure often means rushed transfers, reduced monitoring, and gaps in care — especially for residents with dementia, limited mobility, or high medical needs.
If your loved one is being moved due to a facility shutdown:
1. Request the transition plan in writing.
This should include where the resident is going, how their records will be transferred, and immediate care needs during the move.
2. Ask whether the new facility has adequate staffing.
Licensed nurse coverage and CNA ratios are critical.
3. Watch for signs of decline after transfer:
4. Keep copies of all medical records before and after transfer.
Gaps in documentation are common and may hide neglect.
If a loved one suffered a bedsore, fall, infection, or decline during a facility closure or transfer, our team can investigate staffing levels, transition planning, and whether the facility followed regulatory requirements.
Consultations are free, and we work on a contingency basis — no recovery, no fee.
Contact Bedsore.Law to protect your family and hold negligent operators accountable.
Source: SDPB
