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Success Stories

Providing Care Close to Home in a Rural South Dakota Community

Tammi Schone
Community Facilities
Wilmot Care Cente photo

As many communities have experienced the loss of assisted living and nursing home facilities over the past 3-5 years, the Wilmot Care Center has found a way to help with the growing need for elderly care in their small, rural community in northeast South Dakota located in Roberts County, with a population of 492. 

The Wilmot Care Center recently completed an assisted living addition to their nursing home facility in order to help address the lack of available elderly care services in the area.  As word of the assisted living addition spread, many phone calls from interested individuals were fielded and requests to reserve the 11-units followed.  To date, the facility has two-one bedroom units available.

USDA provided Community Facility loans of $1,777,000 and $506, 000 for the construction of an addition for an assisted living facility.  The upgrades include adding  two-two bedroom units, six-one bedroom units and three efficiency units to the existing nursing home, making  renovations to the commons space area, upgraded heating and cooling,  expanded dining area, and renovated nursing station and lobby, along with a new driveway.  All units have a private shower, kitchenette, and storage within the unit.

The Wilmot Care Center’s goal is to provide personalized care and services that achieve extraordinary results and exceed the expectations of those they serve.  The partnership between USDA and the Wilmot Care Center will provide for the continuum of care and positive experiences, allowing those who receive service and those who serve the ability to live their life to the fullest within the community.  The facility, in addition to providing assisted living services, offers apartment living with nursing checks done once daily, long term care, short term rehabilitation, adult day care, respite care, and hospice services. The facility accepts Medicaid and Private Pay as types of payments.

The enhancements to this project provides adequate space and greater efficiencies, in addition to allowing elderly people who need care to be able to stay in Wilmot, closer to their families and friends.

“The new addition of the Assisted Living Wing is part of the continuum of care that can be offered to current residents and future residents.  If and when residents need additional services , they can move from their apartment into the nursing home without leaving the facility,” said, Scott Kessler, Administrator for the Wilmot Care Center.  “I am so thankful for the Wilmot Care Center Board of Directors, the staff at Wilmot Care Center, the USDA Rural Development and other individuals or businesses that were part of making the Assisted Living addition possible for the community of Wilmot and surrounding towns.”

Obligation Amount:
$1,777,000 and $506,000 Community Facility Loans
Year(s) of Obligation:
Congressional District:
At Large Johnson