Page 7 of Best Assisted Living in South Dakota

Overview of Vista Care

Vista Care provides assisted living, adult day care, home care, and residential care services in Pierre, South Dakota. By offering multiple levels of support in one location, the community allows older adults to receive care that can adapt as their needs change over time.

The single-story layout is designed to promote accessibility and ease of movement throughout the residence. Without stairs or multiple floors to navigate, residents can move more comfortably between living spaces and common areas.

Transportation services, fitness opportunities, and recreational activities help support an active lifestyle and encourage engagement. The community is also pet-friendly, allowing older adults to remain with their animal companions while receiving care and support.

Located near Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, the community offers convenient access to healthcare services and medical appointments. The surrounding neighborhood provides moderate walkability, with some nearby destinations accessible on foot, while other errands may require transportation.

Located on East Dakota Avenue, Dakota Heritage House is an assisted living community in Pierre, South Dakota, that provides assistance with activities of daily living. This community also features a single-story building.

With a Walk Score of 57, the community’s surrounding area is relatively walkable, with few errands available within walking distance. This also benefits visiting families, as they can easily access some services and destinations on foot.

For better information about Dakota Heritage House’s care levels, services, amenities, lifestyle programming, and payment options, families exploring care options are encouraged to contact the community directly or visit in-person.

Located in Pierre, South Dakota, Countryside Hospice Support & Memory Center provides assisted living, hospice care, and memory care services in one community. Having multiple levels of support available in the same setting can help older adults remain in a familiar environment as their needs evolve.

The community is housed in a single-story building, creating a straightforward layout that may be especially beneficial for residents with mobility challenges or those receiving memory care. The absence of stairs and multiple floors can contribute to a safer and more comfortable daily experience.

Residents have access to wellness programs, recreational activities, social opportunities, and specialized memory care services designed to encourage engagement and routine. Transportation, fitness opportunities, and other supportive services are also available, helping older adults maintain independence and stay connected to the surrounding area.

Situated in a moderately walkable neighborhood with a Walk Score of 55, the community is located just 0.3 miles from Avera St. Mary’s Hospital. Pet-friendly policies also allow residents to continue enjoying the companionship of their animals.

Overview of Country View Assisted Living Center

Owned by Vicky Maag, Country View Assisted Living Center sits in Florence, South Dakota, just a few minutes from Watertown. The community offers both memory care and assisted living. Families can start with one level of support and stay if care needs change over time.

The home has been part of the Florence community for 26 years. The long reflect real staying power in a small town. It’s close to the center of Florence, about 0. Prairie Lakes Hospital is roughly 14 miles down the road if a resident ever needs hospital-level care.

Because the surrounding area is rural, getting around by foot is limited. Country View has a walk score of 9, meaning most errands and outings call for a car rather than a walk. Visiting families should plan, particularly if they will run other errands nearby.

Families considering Country View should call ahead for details on room types, daily activities, and dining. A phone conversation can fill in the specifics that aren’t listed here.

Golden Ridge Senior Living is an independent living and assisted living community in Lead, South Dakota. They pride themselves on the services that are delivered with only the best in its class brought by their premier level of care entrusted to residents. The memory care community boasts its innovative and modern approach to senior care; they have ensured that they provide a spectrum of care as they understand the unique needs of each individual. Golden Ridge Senior Living’’s management and staff are well-trained professionals that ensure that residents are being heard and provide a lifestyle that suits their needs. 
Beautifully furnished common areas, walking paths, and outdoor patios are offered for seniors to have families come visit more often and have a place to socialize.  Other services include meals, security, and affordable senior housing. 

Overview of Primrose Cottages – Aberdeen

Primrose Cottages – Aberdeen is an assisted living community on Meadowbrooke Court in Aberdeen, South Dakota, offering one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments as well as townhome villas. These housing options give older adults flexibility in selecting a living arrangement that matches their preferences. The surrounding neighborhood has a walkability score of 7, so most errands and outings require transportation.

Residents are supported by 24-hour staffing with licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants, along with a rapid response call system and routine safety checks. Restaurant-style dining features chef-prepared meals and menu choices, while amenities include a wellness center, library, landscaped courtyards and patios, scheduled transportation, individual climate control, and telehealth services. Lawn care and snow removal are also included.

Signature programs and specialty services are designed to help residents maintain independence and support their overall quality of life.

Three levels of care under one roof is the real story at Fairmont Grand Manor, a two-story community at 409 E Fairlane Drive in Rapid City. Independent living, assisted living, and memory care all exist here, which means a resident’s needs can shift over the years without forcing a move somewhere else entirely.

Walkability sits at 36, somewhat walkable, so a car still earns its keep for most errands in this part of Rapid City.

What’s confirmed beyond the care-type range is fairly basic: transportation services for residents heading to appointments or errands, and fitness and recreation offerings to keep people active. That’s the extent of what’s independently verified.

For a Rapid City family thinking ahead, the appeal of Fairmont Grand Manor is structural: one address that can support independent living now and assisted living or memory care later, if and when that becomes necessary.

Overview of Five Counties Nursing Home

Five Counties Nursing Home is a 37-bed skilled nursing facility in Lemmon, South Dakota, operated as a voluntary nonprofit. The facility offers short- and long-term care, rehabilitation services, memory care, and assisted living and independent living options for residents in Perkins County.

Five Counties holds a 1-star CMS overall rating, driven primarily by its Health Inspection record, which ranks the facility 53rd out of 59 South Dakota skilled nursing facilities and is 60.8% below the state average. It has accumulated $32,000 in federal fines, which is 20% below the South Dakota average among facilities that received penalties.

Staffing is the clear counterweight: total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 9 minutes per resident per day, 4.5% above the state average, placing the facility 19th in South Dakota on that measure.

The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Occupancy rate is 87%, above the state average of 79.9%, reflecting sustained local demand in a rural market with limited alternatives.

Five Counties serves long-term and post-acute residents in the Lemmon area who require accessible skilled nursing care and accept a smaller, rural facility with a nonprofit governance model.

Overview of Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Village

Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Village is a nonprofit nursing home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering assisted living, independent living, memory care, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term nursing support. With 177 licensed beds, this church-operated community is one of the largest senior care campuses in South Dakota and operates under the Good Samaritan Society’s faith-based nonprofit mission. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay are also accepted.

The community currently holds a 1-star overall CMS rating, with health inspection and quality measure scores falling below South Dakota averages. On the other hand, staffing levels compare more favorably and are among the community’s stronger operational areas. Nursing care per day is recorded at over four hours on average, placing the community above statewide benchmarks. Licensed practical nurse coverage and weekend nursing hours also exceed state averages, while registered nurse and nurse aide staffing remain modestly below benchmark levels.

Occupancy remains high at nearly 90%, reflecting stable demand and an established reputation within the region. Additionally, the resident population includes a mix of short-term rehabilitation patients, private-pay residents, and Medicaid-supported long-term care residents. Medicare residents typically stay for shorter rehabilitation-focused periods, while private-pay and Medicaid residents often remain for several months. The broad continuum of care available, ranging from independent living to memory care, allows residents to transition between care levels as needs evolve.

Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Village is ideal for older adults and families seeking a large nonprofit community with multiple living and care options, strong overall staffing investment, and the ability to support both short-term rehabilitation and long-term residential care under one roof.

Set on the beautiful grounds of Aberdeen, SD, Derian Place Senior Living is a remarkable senior living community that offers assisted living and respite care. Residents live in comfortable and well-designed accommodations with a broad selection of floor plans to choose from, including a studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans. Acknowledging that individuals require different levels of care at varying stages of their lives, the community provides individualized and flexible care plans that change as residents’ needs change.

The community provides plenty of opportunities for socializing and companionship on a daily basis with their diverse calendar of activities. A licensed nurse is available 24/7 to provide supervision and immediately respond to residents’ needs. Encouraging lifelong learning, the community offers several signature monthly opportunities for it, including learning through guest speakers, fine arts programs, and educational series. The community works closely with their residents in understanding their goals and dreams and help them turn it into a reality.