Wisconsin's Battle to Save County-Owned Nursing Homes
- Wisconsin has a notable number of publicly owned nursing homes, which are generally better than their private counterparts.
- Conservative county boards are attempting to privatize these facilities, often using budget shortfalls as a pretext.
- Local backlash against privatization efforts indicates a reactivation of rural progressive populism in defense of valued community institutions.
In Wisconsin, a significant number of nursing homes are publicly owned, contrasting with the trend of privatization seen in many states. Recently, there has been a push from conservative county boards to sell these facilities to for-profit operators, often citing budget shortfalls as justification. This movement has faced backlash from local residents who value these institutions, leading to the ousting of several privatization supporters in recent county board elections. Despite this resistance, some counties, like Sauk County, have proceeded with plans to sell their nursing homes to notorious for-profit chains, raising concerns about care quality and staffing levels. Publicly owned nursing homes, such as Pine Crest in Lincoln County, are generally better rated and provide care without profit motives, allowing all revenues to be directed towards resident care. The ongoing struggle reflects a broader tension between rural progressive values and the encroachment of corporate interests in essential community services.