The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) VP of Post-Acute Care, Justin Hinker, appeared on SDPB radio earlier this week, answering questions regarding nursing home closures.
(SDPB Report by C.J. Keene)
New studies constantly report similar findings – nursing and long-term care homes, especially in rural areas, are closing at an alarming rate.
A recent study found South Dakota loses a nursing facility once every seven or eight months, part of a larger trend since 2015 across the nation.
The state Association of Healthcare Organizations, or SDAHO, has tallied closures across the state since 2016. Justin Hinker is the group’s VP of post-acute care. He said many facilities never fully recovered from the pandemic.
“That was certainly a difficult time for residents in facilities and for facilities to navigate that whole situation,” Hinker said. “I would say that we’re maybe coming out of COVID and it’s maybe becoming more back to normal.”
He said supporting these facilities are a health care and economic issue for small town South Dakota.
To read full article or listen to the audio, visit SDPB here.
