Grass Valley, CA – September 30, 2025 – Dignity Health Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital (SNMH) announced today the closure of its Home Health program, effective December 31, 2025. The difficult decision, approved by the SNMH Board of Directors, follows an extensive, multi-year strategic review focused on ensuring the long-term sustainability and viability of essential healthcare services for our community.

For 28 years, Sierra Nevada Home Health has been a cornerstone of in-home patient care, providing vital services including skilled nursing, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and social work. The program has been instrumental in assisting thousands of Nevada County residents to recover and regain independence in the comfort of their homes.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, not made lightly or quickly,” said Dr. Scott Neeley, President & CEO of SNMH. “Our Home Health team has consistently delivered exceptional, compassionate care, profoundly impacting countless lives. We are immensely grateful for their unwavering dedication over nearly three decades.”

Like many rural healthcare providers across the country, SNMH has been navigating an increasingly challenging operational landscape, marked by evolving reimbursement models, staffing complexities, and rising costs. 

“Over the past two years, a multi-functional team engaged in a thorough program improvement process, meticulous operational model reviews, and extensive strategic planning to explore every possible avenue for a sustainable path forward for our Home Health services,” Dr. Neeley elaborated. “This rigorous evaluation, grounded in principles of responsible resource stewardship, led us to conclude that redirecting our focus will ultimately safeguard the overall long-term viability of our operations. The SNMH Board of Directors approved this decision, recognizing its critical importance to ensure SNMH can continue providing high-quality, essential healthcare to our community for years to come.”

To ensure a smooth transition for patients, Sierra Nevada has proactively established partnerships with several other high-quality home health agencies within Nevada County, who are ready to accept new patients.

Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital has notified employees directly impacted by the closure and is committed to supporting them through the transition by identifying possible alternative positions within the organization.