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County panel flags shortage of assisted living, no local doctor and high cost of long‑term care
Summary
Residents and the planning consultant said Daniels County lacks assisted‑living and has limited skilled nursing and physician coverage; the consultant recommended the growth plan examine incentives, regulatory programs and small pilot projects to help aging residents remain in place.
Participants in the growth‑policy meeting emphasized a shortage of senior housing options and limited healthcare capacity in Daniels County. Meeting participants said the county has assisted‑living options of limited scale, skilled nursing vacancies, and no local physician; primary care currently is provided by nurse practitioners and physician assistants at the county hospital.
Speakers described the financial strain families face when long-term care is needed and said some residents sold land to pay for nursing-home stays. The consultant said the population pyramid shows an aging county and suggested the growth policy include questions on aging in place, where residents go for skilled care and whether state programs or local incentives can help.
Laqua listed potential tools to encourage appropriate housing development, such as fee waivers, inspection-fee reductions or tax abatements used in other jurisdictions to stimulate construction or rehabilitation for targeted housing types. She said small, targeted grants or pilot projects could create proof-of-concept successes that attract further funding; she also offered to research state and federal programs that could support assisted-living or community health facilities.
No formal action was taken; the consultant will use survey results to identify demand and potential incentive approaches for the implementation plan.
