Dane County will have only 16 nursing homes, down from 21 around a dozen years ago, after the closure of Heartland Country Village nursing home in Black Earth by March 19, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Heartland opened in 1975 and as of Dec. 9, the 50-bed facility housed 23 residents.
Nursing homes have widely experienced struggles including staffing shortages and low Medicaid reimbursements — although the latter have increased in Wisconsin over recent years. Consumer demand is also reportedly shifting to assisted living facilities, which are less regulated and designed for individuals with fewer medical needs.
Heartland plans to help relocate its current residents, as required by the Department of Health Services.
The facility faced fines last year and in 2023 — $39,429 and $102,353, respectively — for regulatory violations including three “immediate jeopardy” citations. Its most recent inspection on Sept. 20 yielded 15 additional citations, none of which were categorized as immediate jeopardy.
