Rural Nursing Homes Closing at Rapid Rates

"Over the last two decades, nursing homes around Minnesota have been closing," reports Peter Cox. "And it has hit rural Minnesotans especially hard. According to data from Care Providers of Minnesota, of the 41 Minnesota nursing homes that have closed since 2007, 31 have been in rural towns."

Cox traces a number of factors influencing the current reality facing nursing homes: they're expensive to operate, they're highly regulated, states like Minnesota are funding aging-in-place programs, and seniors prefer to age in their homes. Rural facilities face the added factor of reduced Medicaid payments.

As Cox notes, nursing homes can play an important role in communities. The example cited here is the Twin Valley Living Center in Twin Valley, Minnesota, which is closing in November.