Lakeland Health Care Center has gone through many changes since its beginning in the late 1800's.  The Walworth County Poor Farm and Insane Asylum was established to take care of all individuals in the county who were unable to care for themselves.  The residents actually worked the farm to provide products for their own use and for distribution to the needy in the county. 

The early facility was governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the County Board of Supervisors.  This Board made placement decisions on the grounds of an individual's status: poor, needy, ill or insane. 

In 1938, the County General Hospital was built to better serve the medical needs of the county.  The County Poor Farm became the Walworth County Home for the Aged.  Assistance to individuals not needing institutional care became the responsibility of the County Public Welfare Board.  This is now the responsibility of the Walworth County Health & Human Services Department. 

Lakeland Nursing Home was established in 1962 with the completion of the building on the north side of County Road NN, referred to as the North Building .  The old building on the south side of County Road NN was remodeled and designated as the Nursing Home Annex or the South Building .  Nursing home residents were housed on both sides of County Road NN, in the old South Building and the new North Building .

In 1967, Lakeland Nursing Home became a Medicaid certified skilled nursing facility offering 24-hour nursing care to all of its 328 residents under the direction of a Medical Director.

In September 1978, construction was completed on an addition to the North Building .  All residents were moved from the old South Building to the North Building .  The South Buildings were turned back to the Public Property Committee for other use.  These buildings housed many county offices such as the Extension offices, Zoning, Land Management and Employee Relations.  In early 2007 these buildings were demolished per County Board direction after relocation of the offices to various other county buildings.

Due to the increase in the number of alternative services now available to the elderly, Lakeland Nursing Home began to experience a decline in occupancy in November 1996.  The first thirty-three bed unit was closed July 11, 1997 after relocating those residents to other rooms in the facility and the number of licensed beds changed from 328 to 295.  On August 1, 1997 Lakeland Nursing Home’s 1North (67 beds) became the distinct part certified for Medicare.  The Lakeland Nursing Home Strategic Planning Study conducted by Keefe and Associates, Specialists in Health Care Management of Sauk City, Wisconsin was presented to the Board of Trustees in November 1999.  The Board of Trustees continued to review the study results, but made no recommendation for action.  At the July 26, 2000 Board of Trustee meeting, action was taken to proceed with the study recommendations and to reduce additional beds.   At the January 9, 2001 County Board meeting, the resolution recommended by the Board of Trustees to change the name from Lakeland Nursing Home to Lakeland Health Care Center was adopted to better reflect its mission in the community.  The next thirty-six bed unit was closed on March 28, 2001.  On April 23, 2001 the Public Property Committee approved the architectural/engineering firm of Architects 2000 to proceed with the development of programs and cost estimates which will be used for planning and decision making related to possible remodeling of areas within Lakeland Health Care Center.

In October 2002 Walworth County engaged the service of Schenck Business Solutions of Appleton, Wisconsin to conduct a five-year financial analysis of the Lakeland Health Care Center operations.  The scope of the study was to address the estimated tax levy impact for the next five years of operation of Lakeland Health Care Center maintaining the status quo, remodeling the current facility, closing the facility or building a new facility.  The study findings were presented at the January 22, 2003 Lakeland Health Care Center Board of Trustee meeting.  On January 31, 2003 Lakeland Health Care Center was annexed to the city of Elkhorn .  At the April 7, 2003 Board of Trustee meeting a recommendation to construct a new 200 bed facility was adopted by a vote of 3-2.  On April 15, 2003 Schenck Business Solutions presented an overview of the study to the County Board of Supervisors. On April 24, 2003 the study was discussed by the County Finance Committee directing the County Administrator to develop a more detailed financial picture as well as checking into any privatization possibilities to be reviewed at their May meeting.  At the May 22, 2003 Finance Committee meeting, financial projections on the County for a 200 bed facility were presented.  In order to stay within the 6% levy cap, significant service cuts would need to occur in the Health and Human Services Department and in the Sheriff’s Department.  The committee did not feel such service cuts would be in the best interest of Walworth County .  A motion was made and carried (6-0) to continue to pursue proposals from the private sector and look at construction of a 100 bed facility.  

A special combined meeting of the Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees was held on July 30, 2003 to again discuss the future bed size of Lakeland Health Care Center.  The County Administrator submitted a report on a proposal from the private sector, Carriage Healthcare Companies, Inc., expressing interest in a county/private venture.  No action on the proposal was taken by the committee.  However, the County Administrator was directed to obtain further information on the proposal from Carriage Healthcare Companies, Inc.  The Finance Committee voted 5-2 to not recommend building a 200 bed facility.  The Finance Committee’s recommendation was presented to the full County Board at the August 12, 2003 meeting and the Board was asked to take action concerning the long term future of Lakeland Health Care Center.  At the August 12, 2003 County Board meeting on a vote of 19-5, a motion passed to build a 90-125 bed facility.  A new 120-bed facility was included in the 2004 preliminary Walworth County budget.  

The Board of Trustees put a freeze on new admissions effective August 20, 2003.  On September 2, 2003 notice was sent to residents and legal representatives of the decision to close the next thirty-six bed unit, which was eventually closed on January 15, 2004, and begin the relocation process to appropriate beds within the facility.  The relocation process began October 5, 2003.  On October 14, 2003 a resolution was passed by the County Board to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds for promissory notes not to exceed $9,930,000 for the purpose of constructing a new facility and/or remodeling of the north (1978) building.  The final decision to be determined by the County Board upon receipt of a report from Schenck Business Solutions, Inc. estimating the tax levy of the resulting operation whether construction or remodeling.  The cost not to exceed $3.5 million in the first year of operation.  The resolution also contained language to provide the maximum number of nursing home beds, but in no event less than 120 beds.  The report needed to be presented to the County Board on or before February 10, 2004 to maintain authority to issue the debt.  At the Public Works Committee meeting on October 12, 2003, approval was granted for Plunkett Raysich Architects to move into the construction document phase.  On January 20, 2004 the Public Works Committee voted unanimously to recommend building a new 120 bed facility.  On January 21, 2004 the Lakeland Health Care Center Board of Trustees voted to recommend new construction with no specific number of beds.  Lakeland Health Care Center continued with the hold on new admissions and with the downsizing to reach 120 residents prior to the completion of the new facility, which was scheduled for the fall of 2006.  

On February 10, 2004 the County Board approved the construction of a new 120 bed nursing home on a vote of 23-2.  The architectural firm of Plunkett Raysich Architects was selected by the Public Works Committee on February 12, 2004.  On January 17, 2005 Wipfli presented their Staffing Analysis to the Lakeland Health Care Center Board of Trustees and the Human Resources Committee.  On April 11, 2005, the Public Works Committee approved awarding the bid for the construction of the new 120-bed Lakeland Health Care Center to J.P. Cullen & Sons, Inc., Janesville , Wisconsin .  Following the approval of contracts and related documents, it was anticipated construction to begin June 2005 with completion by June 2006, contingent on weather conditions.  The last three units were closed by October 26, 2005 and the remaining 120 residents all resided in the north building.  

On June 8, 2005 the official Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Lakeland Health Care Center occurred.  All 235 beds were Medicare certified on July 1, 2005.  It was projected the moving of residents into the new facility should occur mid to late July 2006.  The new facility was constructed on county property east of the site of the old facility.  On July 23, 2005 the Board of Trustees recommended that due to the number of beds available on 2North that the freeze on admissions for 2North be lifted not to exceed a census of 120 beds housewide.  On January 19, 2006 the 1North freeze on admissions was also lifted with a census not to exceed 120 beds housewide.  

Over 500 people attended the Lakeland Health Care Center Open House and Dedication on July 9, 2006.  Entertainment, refreshments and guided tours were provided following a short ceremony.  July 19, 2006 was move day from the old Lakeland Health Care Center into the new facility.  The move went smoothly due to the many volunteers and extra staff, but especially due to the extensive hours of planning and preparing for the move.  Staff and volunteers did an outstanding job.  Residents appear to be enjoying their new home, especially their private room, the many windows and the smaller, quieter households.  The old building was turned back to Public Works and demolished in December 2006 per County Board direction. 

Lakeland Health Care Center currently is licensed for 120 beds as a skilled nursing facility.  A Board of Trustees, appointed by the Walworth County Board, governs Lakeland Health Care Center. 

For over 125 years, this Walworth County facility has been a home for its citizens, from the original Poor Farm to today's modern Health Care Center.  Lakeland Health Care Center has a long and proud tradition of providing care and services to the needy of Walworth County and its neighbors.