THE BRIGHT SIDE

Walworth County has a lack of childcare and senior care.
This can cause loneliness from living in a rural community with an aging population and harsh winters. A local community group has launched the “Nursery to Nursing Home” campaign, a proposal to transform a vacant wing of the county’s nursing home into a combined childcare center and senior-living space, addressing caregiving shortages.

The Lakeland Health Care Center, a county-owned skilled nursing facility in Elkhorn, has had a vacant wing since 2019, when staff shortages forced the facility to downsize. The facility is undergoing broader renovations, but the future of this specific wing is being evaluated as part of long-term planning. The Groundswell Collective, a local community group, is proposing to transform this unused wing into an intergenerational care facility. The vision includes 12 apartments for older adults and a childcare center serving 60 to 70 children, aiming to address both senior care needs and the local childcare crisis. In November 2025, the Walworth County Board approved funding for a feasibility study to explore this transformation. As part of the proposal, county employees would get priority for childcare slots.

Groundswell Collective has leaned heavily on research to make its case. Research shows that intergenerational care sites boost well-being for both children and older people, reducing isolation, improving cognitive and physical health for older people, and cultivating empathy and connection in young children. Studies also find that these programs create cost efficiencies, especially when facility expenses and other operational costs can be shared. In intentionally creating spaces that bring older and younger people together, these benefits organically emerge in daily interactions.

This could be a win for all involved and a great use for the decaying space. As of January 2026, the grassroots effort to turn the wing into a shared “Nursery to Nursing Home” space is moving forward.