Best Assisted Living in South Dakota

Avera Maryhouse Long Term Care, located in Pierre, SD, offers a comprehensive range of senior living options and care services. With 80 certified beds, Avera Maryhouse provides nursing homes, assisted living, memory care for Alzheimer’s and dementia, and independent living options. Residents benefit from on-site occupational, physical, and speech therapy services, ensuring personalized care and support tailored to individual needs.

Avera Maryhouse is dedicated to improving the quality of life for its inhabitants and places a high value on comprehensive care and a lively community setting. A library, visitor and resident parking, and a variety of activities like arts and crafts, wellness and health programs, and spiritual pursuits are just a few of the community’s many amenities. Situated in close proximity to healthcare services and local conveniences, Avera Maryhouse offers residents a comfortable and supportive living in a warm and friendly setting.

Overview of Bethany Home Sioux Falls/bethany Home-Brandon

Bethany Home Sioux Falls / Bethany Home-Brandon is a faith-based nursing home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering a continuum of care that includes independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing services, and rehabilitation. The 112-bed community is administered by Amanda Peterson in Minnehaha County, guided by a Christian mission. It also emphasizes support for residents’ physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being while also offering independent homes and apartment living as part of its larger campus environment.

The community is currently operating at 78.5%, which is slightly lower than the state average of 79.9%, and suggests availability. Additionally, Medicare accounts for 89% of new residents, with an average stay of 25 days, reflecting a focus on short-term rehabilitation. Meanwhile, private pay new residents are approximately 10%, with an average stay of 7 to 8 months, and 2% of new residents are Medicaid-eligible, with a typical stay of 6 years.

Since 2022, the community has undergone four total health inspections, with the latest conducted in October 2025, which is notably lower than the state average. A total of 13 health citations have been recorded throughout its operational history, which is also lower than the state average, and have been corrected. No penalties have been issued in the past three years.

Confirmed services include skilled nursing care and rehabilitation therapy, along with independent living options designed for older adults who remain largely self-sufficient but prefer a supportive community setting. Its faith-centered approach is a defining aspect of the community’s culture and may be particularly meaningful for individuals and families seeking care rooted in Christian values and holistic support.

Located on the south side of Sioux Falls, the community sits in a moderately walkable area with a Walk Score of 65, allowing access to some nearby services and amenities on foot. Service to the Brandon area also provides additional convenience for families throughout eastern Minnehaha County.

Bethany Home Sioux Falls / Bethany Home-Brandon is an ideal option for families seeking values-based care within a setting that supports aging across different levels of assistance and medical support. The ability to transition from independent living to higher levels of care within the same community can help reduce disruption and provide continuity for older adults as healthcare needs progress.

Oakview Terrace is a nursing home in Freeman, South Dakota, offering assisted living and memory care. Administered by CEO Courtney Unruh, this 45-bed community operates as the non-profit, skilled nursing wing of Freeman Regional Health Services (FRHS), which maintains a close partner-in-health affiliation with the Avera Health network.

A specialized 10-bed memory care neighborhood is provided along with a variety of shared spaces dedicated to recreation and wellness. Care options include 24-hour clinical supervision, physical rehabilitation coordination, and long-term skilled care, while lifestyle services consist of chef-prepared meals and a calendar of activities.

Operating under federal CMS certification, the community maintains an exceptionally high-coverage staffing matrix to oversee complex physical and cognitive recovery. A defining structural strength of the property is its clinical staffing allocation, which provides a robust 4 hours and 47 minutes of total direct nursing care per resident daily, ranking it ninth highest out of all skilled nursing providers statewide. This framework also relies heavily on an above-average concentration of Registered Nurses (RNs) and dedicated certified nurse aides (CNAs) to maintain an attentive, relationship-centered care model.

Regulatory monitoring is conducted jointly by the South Dakota Department of Health and federal CMS frameworks, ensuring compliance through rigorous, unannounced health and safety inspections. The community holds a 5-star overall CMS rating, which is the highest possible designation achievable in federal care comparison systems, driven by quality measure outcomes and staffing metrics that track significantly above South Dakota state averages. During its most recent comprehensive state evaluation in June 2025, a small number of minor health citations across standard nutrition and infection control categories have been identified. However, all previous findings were systematically resolved under approved plans of correction, resulting in an active, fully compliant operating status with zero critical deficiencies.

Positioned in a quiet, rural setting, the community offers a close-knit atmosphere where older adults benefit from an integrated healthcare loop that seamlessly links the nursing home to the adjacent Freeman Medical Center hospital and local rural clinics.

With a unique status as a community-owned non-profit hospital district community, Oakview Terrace is a compelling option for families in the Freeman, Menno, Marion, and Bridgewater areas. While the rural location carries a car-dependent walk score of 26, the community coordinates specialized medical and recreational transportation to bridge logistical gaps.

Owned by Stroschein Properties III LLC, Alcester Care and Rehab Center is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Alcester, South Dakota. The 41-bed home is located at 101 Church Street and serves residents who need ongoing nursing care and support during recovery after an illness or hospital stay. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for covering care costs.

The facility has an occupancy rate of 95%, where residents stay an average of about 523 days. The population is a mix of people receiving rehabilitation services and those needing longer-term nursing care.

Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 43 minutes of nursing care each day. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical or vocational nurses make up the care team. This level of support helps residents during recovery and assists those who need ongoing skilled nursing care and daily medical oversight.

The facility is located in a rural part of South Dakota. Alcester has a Walk Score of 14, making the area car-dependent. Most errands and visits require transportation. Families who prefer a smaller community setting may appreciate the town’s quieter environment.

Daily life is supported by practical amenities throughout the facility. Residents are served meals in a large dining room. Other features include a chapel, sun room, beauty shop, laundry services, and outdoor spaces such as a backyard area and gazebo, and residents and visitors can spend time together here.

Families looking for skilled nursing and rehabilitation care in a small-town setting should consider Alcester Care and Rehab Center for its nursing support, rehabilitation services, and on-site amenities that support short-term recovery and ongoing care needs.

Overview of Menno-Olivet Care Center

Menno-Olivet Care Center is a church-operated nonprofit nursing home in Menno, South Dakota, that offers long-term care, assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, respite services, hospice care, and outpatient therapy. The 41-bed community is owned by Lacee Feltman, administered by Aisha Abbink, and accepts Medicaid. Additionally, its occupancy rate is 58.3%, which falls below the state average and suggests availability.

The community maintains a 5-star overall CMS rating and performs substantially above South Dakota averages in both health inspections and staffing measures. Staffing represents the community’s strongest performance area, with total nursing hours reaching nearly double the statewide average. Weekend nursing coverage and registered nurse availability also exceed state benchmarks by significant margins, while licensed practical nurse and nurse aide hours remain above average as well. Quality measure scores, however, fall somewhat below statewide averages, making it worthwhile for families to review specific outcome metrics alongside the community’s staffing strengths.

Amenities and services include private and semi-private rooms, a spa-style whirlpool room, outpatient therapy services, and coordination for Meals on Wheels support. Respite care, hospice, and rehabilitation services are also available to broaden the range of care available within the community.

Menno-Olivet Care Center is especially well-suited for older adults and families in Hutchinson County and rural south-central South Dakota who value exceptionally high staffing levels, faith-based care, and a smaller community-oriented environment focused on personalized support and direct caregiving attention.

Overview of Westhills Village

Relish a life filled with enriching experiences and a supportive environment. Nestled in Rapid City, South Dakota, Westhills Village Health Care Facility provides a range of options tailored to meet the needs of seniors such as independent senior living and retirement community to assisted living and health care services. This assisted living community has a vibrant and engaging atmosphere, ensuring residents feel right at home.
With an unwavering dedication to surpassing the needs and expectations of retirees, Westhills Village offers a comprehensive care program. Westhills Village seamlessly combines comfort, care, and convenience, making it an ideal destination for senior residents seeking an independent lifestyle and those who require additional support.

Tieszen Memorial Home serves Turner County residents through a full continuum of care that includes skilled care, memory care, assisted living, and independent living. The nonprofit community operates as a 64-bed nursing home in Marion, South Dakota, under administrator Laura Wilson.

Tieszen’s CMS record is strong. Three inspections since 2022 have resulted in 7 citations, well below the South Dakota average of 14.8. There were no critical or serious findings, and all citations were corrected. The facility’s 4-star overall CMS rating reflects above-average performance on both Health Inspections and Staffing. Nurse hours average 4 hours and 33 minutes per resident per day, 21% above the South Dakota mean, placing the facility15th among 57 state SNFs.

Occupancy is 89.2%, notably above the state’s average of 79.9%, which shows consistent local demand. Residents stay at an average of 409 days, indicating a population that trends toward longer-term placement. Rehabilitation services and a Wellness Center support residents with post-acute and ongoing care needs alongside the memory care and assisted living programs.

Tieszen Memorial Home fits older adults and families seeking a nonprofit community with a broad care continuum, from independent living through skilled and memory care, in a smaller rural South Dakota setting.

Overview of Dow Rummel Village

Dow Rummel Village is an extraordinary nonprofit organization in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, dedicated to providing a premier life plan retirement community that encompasses assisted living levels of care. With a remarkable 60-year history of service, they offer a comprehensive range of services under one roof, including independent living, memory care, assisted living, skilled nursing, respite care, and more.
Residents in this assisted living home have the opportunity to choose different levels of care that best suit their needs. Whether they opt for independent living, where they can enjoy the freedom and autonomy of a vibrant community, or require the specialized support and assistance provided in memory care or assisted living, every aspect is thoughtfully tailored to enhance their well-being. Discover a variety of floor plans, including spacious studios, comfortable one-bedroom suites, and inviting two-bedroom options. From personal assistance with daily living to weekly housekeeping and convenient transportation services, residents can truly embrace a worry-free lifestyle.

Overview of Bethesda Home of Aberdeen

Bethesda Home of Aberdeen is an 86-bed skilled nursing facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota, operated by Scott Eisenbeisz under a church-affiliated nonprofit. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, with a payer mix oriented heavily toward private pay (31%) and Medicare short-term rehab (57% of admissions), reflecting a 153-day average length of stay.

Across three standard inspections since 2022, the facility recorded 9 total deficiencies, 53% below the South Dakota average of 19. There were no fines, immediate jeopardy findings, or substantiated complaint investigations. Deficiency themes have been consistent: food temperature monitoring and care coordination with hospice. All citations were moderate severity; none were serious or critical.

CMS rates the facility 4 stars overall, with a 5-star Health Inspection rating placing it 8th out of 59 South Dakota nursing homes on citation count. Staffing holds a 4-star rating, with total nurse hours averaging 4 hours and 23 minutes per resident per day, 16% above the South Dakota average of 3 hours and 46 minutes. Physical therapist staffing is double the state average, a meaningful differentiator for post-acute rehab residents.

Quality Measures earned 2 stars, driven by weaker short-stay outcomes in falls, ED visit rates, and self-care ability at discharge. Occupancy rate is 93%, ranking the facility 8th in South Dakota and well above the state’s average of 79.9%.

Bethesda Home of Aberdeen fits residents seeking post-acute skilled nursing or long-term care in Brown County, particularly those for whom strong inspection performance and above-average staffing hours are deciding factors.