KVSH Radio has learned that Sanford Good Samaritan has announced the closing of the Pineview long term care facility in Valentine. Pineview was one of 4 facilities announced for closing in the region by Sanford on Monday. It is expected that the Valentine facility will cease to exist on January 1st of 2022, eliminating about 20 jobs and relocating about 20 residents to other facilities. Sanford earlier had closed the Oakwood assisted living center in Valentine. Short staff and cost of operations were major reasons for the closures. The City of Valentine and Economic Development had worked with local Good Samaritan staff in trying to find a solution to keep the facilities open, but to no avail. Remaining Good Samaritan staff will help in relocating residents. Numerous nursing homes and assisted living centers across the country are struggling with the same issues of short staff and cost of operations.
A statement from: Nate Schema, Good Samaritan Society vice president of operations:
The pandemic has put unprecedented stress on the senior care industry, which has forced us to make difficult decisions about how and where we can provide services. As a result, Good Samaritan Society – Valentine will close effective Dec. 31, 2021, due to a number of factors including ongoing staffing challenges, a decline in the number of residents at our location and increased operating costs. Inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates that do not keep up with the cost of care we provide, combined with these other challenges, has led to a situation that is not sustainable. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and have resources available to help residents and families find new homes and care, including nearby Good Samaritan Society locations in Nebraska. It has been an honor to be a part of the community, and we are grateful to our residents and families for their support. We are proud of our staff for their commitment to caring for our residents throughout this pandemic and we are helping them pursue employment opportunities at
our other Good Samaritan Society locations.