Best Senior Communities in South Dakota

Located in a tranquil neighborhood adjacent to Manor Park in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Avera Mother Joseph Manor offers a comprehensive range of senior living lifestyle options, complemented by skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Residents of this community can immerse themselves in the abundant local opportunities available in Aberdeen while receiving exceptional care and support.

Avera Mother Joseph Manor proudly upholds the Christian tradition of the Avera health care system, ensuring immediate access to premier health care services. With a deep commitment to respecting human dignity and valuing each individual, Avera Mother Joseph Manor operates as a division of Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, providing compassionate care to enhance the well-being of residents.

Overview of Touchmark at All Saints

Touchmark at All Saints is a magnificent senior living community that offers exquisite living options such as cottages or condo-style rooms for residents of independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Regardless of what kind of living option you are in, management and staff are guaranteed to provide resort-like accommodations with exceptional hospitality. The luxurious and elegant senior living community offers a stimulating environment where every need of each senior is being met.  Touchmark at All Saints strives to provide a comfortable lifestyle of everyday living for its residents, making it an ideal place to call a new home. 
The Touchmark experience is focused on the holistic wellness of its residents, which is why they have included life-enriching activities, health and fitness club, and recreational activities in the daily routine of seniors. 

Overview of The Parkwood

Nestled in a quiet yet convenient residential area in Sioux Falls, SD, The Parkword is an active senior living community that offers a vibrant and engaging independent living. The community features 133 apartments with 22 unique floor plans, furnished kitchens, balcony and high ceiling, offering a comfortable and elegant residence. With housekeeping, a variety of dining options, and all utilities included, residents are guaranteed to live an easy and worry-free life with more time in their hands to do the things they love.

At Parkwood, they strive to provide a service-rich environment that fosters strong community connections and maintenance-free living. Here, residents benefit from regular community social events and activities, scheduled transportation, and on-site amenities. Wellness and leisure is guaranteed with amenities like a fitness studio with treatment space, a full-service salon, library, indoor theater, club room, game room, guest suite, and outdoor courtyards with walking trails and dog parks. Here, residents are set to experience a vibrant community filled with meaningful connections and fun experiences.

Overview of The Inn on Westport

The Inn on Westport is a distinguished senior living community managed by The Goodman Group, bringing 50 years of expertise in developing and managing exceptional healthcare and assisted senior living communities. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including assisted living, independent living, memory care, and respite care, ensuring that each resident’s unique needs are met with the utmost care and attention. As part of their commitment to holistic well-being, they even provide specialized programs, including a Parkinson’s program, to support residents with specific health needs.
Prepare to be captivated by the serene and beautifully landscaped indoor spaces, including a stunning three-story atrium that serves as the centerpiece of the community. From the cozy café to the tranquil chapel, every corner of The Inn on Westport is thoughtfully designed to create a welcoming and nurturing environment. On-site amenities such as a bank, beauty and barber salon, and more, add convenience and luxury to residents’ lives. Recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of veterans, the home also provides an exceptional environment for assisted living for veterans. Here, veterans can connect with fellow servicemen and women, share stories, and be honored for their dedication and commitment.

Overview of Avantara Norton

At 92% occupancy less than a year after opening, Avantara Norton has moved quickly from new construction to near-full capacity. The 110-bed nursing home at 3600 South Norton Ave in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is administered by Ashley Nickel and sits in a moderately walkable part of the city (Walk Score 61), where the nearest hospital is just over a mile away.

The average resident stay of 97 days tells you something useful about how this place functions. This is not a long-term residency setting for most people who come through. It is a structured recovery environment, built around a specific clinical menu: post-surgical care, orthopedic rehabilitation, cardiac care, pulmonary care, oncology recovery, and stroke and other neurological conditions. Respite care is also available for families who need a temporary placement.

Staffing data reported to CMS shows total nursing time at 3 hours and 32 minutes per resident per day. Registered nurses account for 39 minutes of that figure; nurse aides account for 2 hours and 21 minutes. Avantara Norton accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, which means residents arriving on Medicare for short-term rehab and those transitioning to Medicaid for longer stays both have a coverage path here.

The facility opened recently, and we see a nursing home that filled fast and built its programming around complex post-acute cases rather than general long-term care. Avantara Norton is a reasonable fit for adults who need a defined, clinically supervised recovery period after a major medical event and plan to return home when that period ends.

Overview of Jenkin`s Living Center

Jenkin’s Living Center is a nonprofit nursing home in Watertown, South Dakota, that focuses on short-term rehabilitation and post-acute recovery services. This relatively new community also accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Confirmed services also include transportation, 24-hour skilled nursing support, individualized care planning, therapy programs, and restaurant-style dining.

The community currently holds a 1-star overall CMS rating, reflecting ongoing challenges related to regulatory compliance and quality oversight. Over the past four years, six inspections resulted in 25 health citations, significantly exceeding the South Dakota average. These include one critical citation and two serious deficiencies, while complaint investigations identified incidents involving inadequate supervision related to a fatal fall and medication administration errors. Between October 2023 and April 2024, the community received two federal fines.

Inspection reports also documented recurring concerns in areas such as infection control, resident care planning, environmental safety, fall prevention, and pressure ulcer management. Although corrective actions were implemented, several issues reappeared across multiple inspection cycles.

Staffing performance presents a more favorable picture and represents one of the community’s stronger operational areas. Nursing care is provided more than four hours daily on average, exceeding South Dakota benchmarks and earning the community a 4-star CMS staffing rating. Licensed practical nurse coverage is especially strong, which is above state averages and supports routine hands-on care and medication management.

The resident population is also heavily oriented toward short-term rehabilitation, with Medicare admissions accounting for the majority of new residents and typical rehabilitation stays averaging just over three weeks. Additionally, current occupancy levels remain below the state average, suggesting availability for immediate placement.

Jenkin’s Living Center is best suited for older adults seeking short-term rehabilitation or skilled nursing support in the Watertown area, particularly those who value stronger staffing coverage. However, careful review of the community’s inspection history and compliance record is advised.

Overview of Avantara North

Located in Rapid City, South Dakota, Avantara North is a 68-bed nursing home administered by Celina Block that offers memory care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing. Rehabilitation services cover a wide range of needs, particularly those in need of recovery as part of their care plan. Furthermore, short-term rehabilitation can support a time-limited recovery, while respite care offers a short stay when the primary caregiver needs to travel or recover.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, with Medicare covering eligible short-term skilled care after a hospital stay and Medicaid helping when savings may not cover a long stay. Meanwhile, private pay allows a family to pay directly. Total nurse staffing is 3 hours per resident per day, representing the daily nursing time provided for each resident.

The area has a Walk Score of 39 and is car-dependent, so most errands require a car or a ride. This indicates that a resident who no longer drives would need one for those trips. Avantara North may be a good fit for those living with dementia who need a secure, supervised setting, people recovering after surgery, stroke, or orthopedic treatment, or a family caregiver who needs temporary support.

Overview of Avantara Watertown

Avantara Watertown is a nursing home in Watertown, South Dakota, that offers skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Administered by Lynna Speier, it is one of the newer communities in the area, with only one year of operating history. This 51-bed community maintains a consistent 90% occupancy rate, which reflects strong local demand and deep trust among area families, but limited availability.

With an intimate, small-scale capacity, the community offers meals, routine laundry, linen care, housekeeping, and property maintenance. A calendar of social activities, recreational events, and therapeutic exercises is also provided. Short-term post-hospitalization rehabilitation, comprehensive programs for stroke and neurological recovery, customized cardiac care, wound management, and tailored oncology recovery care are among the services provided.

Operating under federal CMS certification, the community utilizes an interdisciplinary care model to manage complex health transitions. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are also accepted. Structurally, the community demonstrates particular strength in direct care oversight, maintaining a Registered Nurse (RN) staffing ratio that tracks 45% above the South Dakota state average, providing significant clinical reassurance for residents with complex medical needs.

Regulatory monitoring is conducted via unannounced on-site health and safety evaluations by the South Dakota Department of Health and federal inspectors. In recent evaluation cycles, the property achieved an “Above Average” health inspection star rating, recording only three health citations during its most recent comprehensive survey, which is well below both the national average of 9.4 and the South Dakota state baseline of 6.9. While historical record scorecards show a low baseline count for severe citations, the community ranks favorably across statewide compliance indexes, reflecting a proactive administrative team and a consistent operational record.

For families in the Watertown area seeking a seasoned, regulation-compliant environment with an intimate community feel, Avantara Watertown offers a stable and credentialed choice. Ranked 14th among the longest-operating senior care properties in South Dakota, its multi-decade presence ensures a deeply rooted, relationship-centered approach to care.

Overview of The Village at Skyline Pines Assisted Living & Memory Care

The Village at Skyline Pines Assisted Living & Memory Care is situated above Mount Rushmore Road in the medical district of South Rapid City, South Dakota. This distinguished assisted living community prioritizes personalized care and independence for its residents. The compassionate staff, well-versed in assisted living, ensures exceptional service. Memory care specialists are also available to support those dealing with memory-related challenges.

The Village offers a welcoming environment with a solid clinical foundation, allowing residents to feel at home while receiving top-notch care. Perched on a secure hilltop, The Village at Skyline Pines provides city-view rooms for sunrise and city lights enthusiasts and western-view rooms with glimpses of wildlife amidst pine trees. Here, vibrant living awaits—join them to forge friendships and create cherished memories. 

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.