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Elder Care Services Expertly Tailored in Ainsworth, NE

Looking for compassionate and personalized elder care services in Ainsworth, NE? Our dedicated team is here to cater to the unique needs of your loved ones with top-notch care and support.

“Give your loved one’s quality care you can trust.”

Individualized Elder Care Solutions

Sandhills Care Center is a licensed 46-bed skilled nursing Home facility located in the heart of the Sandhills. Being in a small rural community, we pride ourselves in taking care of our friends, families, and neighbors. We believe that quality patient care, incorporating family and community interactions is key to a heartwarming and welcoming environment.

Sandhills Care Center opened its doors to the public in November of 2016.  We are community owned and carry a nonprofit status which allows us the opportunity to provide down home care to your loved ones. Our staff takes pride and is committed to providing individualized, exceptional, and compassionate care for our elder community.

Our facility maintains dual Medicare and Medicaid certifications and accepts a variety of insurance carriers. We understand that change can be stressful, but we are here to help.

Not only are we here for your loved ones, but we are also here for you too.

BIO

Our Leaders

Penny Jacobs, Administrator

Penny Jacobs is the Administrator of Sandhills Care Center. For 3 years she has given her time and dedication to making this facility a stable and sustaining business.  Originally a native of Arizona, Penny moved to Nebraska in 2021.  She holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on Health Care Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. She values the importance of education and without fail, always encouraging those around her to persevere and take every available opportunity as “education is something that no one can take away from you”. 

Mackenzie Crane, Business Office Manager

As the right hand of Penny Jacobs, Mackenzie Crane is the Business Office Manager of Sandhills Care Center. She too has been with the facility for 3 years, making this administrative team the strong foundation of Sandhills Care Center. With her experience and degree as a Medical Administrative Assistant, she maintains the financial and human resource aspects of the facility.  Mackenzie values the small-town community and the relationships built here.  She and her husband Ben planted roots in Ainsworth in 2012 and together they raise 3 boys.  They stive to instill the value of hard work within their children to show them that “success comes to those who work for it.”

Sara Mayhew, Director of Nursing

Sara Mayhew has been the Director of Nursing at Sandhills Care Center since October 2023. Sara has been in the nursing field since 1995, starting as a CNA.  She received her LPN in 2002, followed by her RN in 2023 from Mid-Plains Community College.  Sara is a strong and dedicated manager and vital to the success of our facility. She has lived many places over the years, but calls Valentine her home where she married, raised her 2 children and welcomed her 1st grandchild.  The long-term care industry has always been near and dear to her heart, and she wishes nothing more than to “give love and laughter to those in the last stages of their life”.

Marti Dunbar, LPN, MDS Coordinator RAC-CT, IP

Marti Porter started working for the facility in 1997 during her youth, starting in the kitchen and working her way up to our MDS Coordinator and Infection Control Preventionist. Marti is living proof that hard work and dedication can take you anywhere you want to go.  She received her LPN Diploma from Mid-Plains Community College in 2015, along with certifications in Wound Care Management, MDS and Infection Control in years to follow.  Marti was born and raised in Ainsworth making her love for this community pure.  She prides herself in putting the residents and their families first as we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.  

Tina Rehkopf, Director of Social Services

Tina Rehkopf is the Director of Social Services at Sandhills Care Center.  She has been with the facility for 13 years.  Originally from Michigan, Tina came to Nebraska to be closer to her 2 grandchildren.  She fell in love with Ainsworth and decided to call this home in 2011.  Tina is a certified Social Services Designee and maintains training in the MDS field.  As an essential member of our team, she ensures the needs of our residents are always met and has their best interest in mind.   Although she misses Michigan, she can’t imagine her life being anywhere else.  Her biggest joy is caring for the residents.  She truly believes in being their biggest advocate.   

Alexandra Stich, Housekeeping Manager

Alexandra Stich is the Housekeeping/Laundry and Emergency Preparedness Manager for Sandhills Care Center.  She started working for the facility in July of 2022 as a housekeeping/laundry aide and quickly moved into the Manager position in September of that same year.  Since taking on the responsibility of Emergency Management in 2023, she has developed a facility Safety Team and has participated in statewide emergency drills.  Alexandra graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2020 and moved to the area shortly after in 2022, where she is happy to call home.

Aliya Keezer
Certified Dietary Manager

Aliya Keezer is Sandhills Care Center Certified Dietary Manager.  Born and raised in Ainsworth, Aliya graduated from high school in 2021 where she met her now husband Dalton.  Together they welcomed their son in 2023.  Growing up in a small community, Aliya has a strong sense of community and values the relationships she has built here.  As a former stay at home mom, Aliya decided to further her education and take courses on Dietary Management in 2025, becoming certified in early December.  Aliya is excited to grow in her position as CDM at Sandhills and build a strong and successful team.  

Savanah McGowan
Activities Director

Savanah McGowan is Sandhills Care Centers Activities Director.  Savanah has been a CNA for 3+ years, where she focused primarily on Activities and Restorative Therapy in other small towns around Nebraska.  This is where she truly found her love for Activities and Resident cares.  Savanah strives to make sure every resident is active and engaged – no matter what their condition.  Her nurturing nature makes her the perfect fit for our facility.  Savanah is currently taking courses on Activities and Recreational Therapy, with graduation ahead in early 2026.  Her bright ideas and enthusiasm are a breath of fresh air for the facility.

Darrell Olson
Maintenance Director

Darrel Olson started at Sandhills Care Center in 2024 as our Maintenance Director.  Growing up on a ranch in southern South Dakota, Darrell is your typical working man.  He enjoys hunting, fishing, and tinkering on anything mechanical; always finding himself busy.  In 1992 Darrell married his wife Laurie and later moved to Springview, NE in 1997.  Together they welcomed 5 children.  As the “oldest and wisest” male of the bunch, Darrell has a deep sense to take care of his coworkers, as any father figure would.  With Darrel around, everyone is taken care of, and the building is always in tip top shape.

Heidi Zeigler
Scheduling Coordinator

Heidi Zeigler is the Scheduling Coordinator for Sandhills Care Center.  Heidi is a devoted mother to 4 children.  As an Ainsworth native, Heidi moved away in 2005 for college, but the small-town life and atmosphere brought her back home.  Joining our team in 2023 as a CNA, she later began to develop into her role as our Scheduling Coordinator in 2025.  Her genuine heart carries through the facility, caring for our residents and staff as if they are her own family.  Heidi believes that “Holding everyone to the highest standard, is key to building a strong team”.

Our Providers

  • Kenneth Wasmund, MD – Serving as Medical Director
  • Jordan Kunz, MD
  • Crystal Daily, APRN, FNP-C
  • Dawn Nahrstedt, APRN, FNP-C
  • Daniel Fiebelkorn, PharmD

Our Board Members

  • Tom Jones, Chairman
  • Bruce Papstein, Vice Chairman
  • Dennis Bauer, Treasurer
  • Kent Taylor, Member
  • Melvin Campbell, Member

Give your loved ones quality care you can trust. Contact Sandhills Care Center today.

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