Page 11 of Best Senior Communities in South Dakota

Overview of Mitchell Retirement DBA Countryside Living

Countryside Living, also known as Mitchell Retirement, is a locally owned senior living community in Mitchell, South Dakota, that offers independent living and assisted living. Administered by Kathy Zoss and supported by Director of Nursing Jayne Zens, this 60-bed community provides a mid-sized setting for older adults seeking independent living or structured assisted living. Established in 1997, the community has been delivering nearly three decades of stable, continuous service to families in Davison County.

The community offers unfurnished apartments equipped with full appliances, allowing residents to customize their environments with personal belongings and familiar comforts. Dietitian-approved meals are provided three times daily. Weekly housekeeping, laundry, salon services, and shared spaces are also available on-site.

Operating under South Dakota state regulatory guidelines, the community maintains a 24-hour staffing presence to ensure continuous security and peace of mind. Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), including bathing, dressing, and comprehensive medication management, alongside available medical assistance, is also provided, along with a variety of recreational activities and wellness programs. Located in Mitchell, the community features an exceptional walk score of 81, making it one of the most walkable senior residential settings in the state. Additionally, transportation services are provided for medical appointments.

With a long operating history in the community, combined with a central, walkable location, Countryside Living is ideal for older adults who are largely independent but benefit from some daily assistance, structured social programming, and the security of on-site staff.

Overview of StoneyBrook Suites of Watertown

A proud member of the StoneyBrook Suites, the Watertown community heeds luxury assisted living for seniors in a nurturing environment. Residents can expect elegance and high-end surroundings at the cozy senior living home. The spirited retirement community provides exceptional service through its professional and compassionate staff. StoneyBrook Suites Suits is a community that proudly raises senior members to thrive in the community.

The lifestyle offers essential amenities and services available to residents, such as housekeeping and transportation services, dining areas and lounge areas, and a courtyard– to name a few of what they offer.

Make every moment count at Regency Retirement Living, an idyllic retreat in Chamberlain, SD, offering assisted living. Alongside cozy one-bedroom and purposely built two-bedroom floor plans, housekeeping, linens, and laundry services are also provided, ensuring residents feel at ease during their stay. Residents can also keep their peace of mind with a kind and well-trained team helping with their daily living activities.

A variety of engaging activities and exciting events are also provided, encouraging residents to live actively and maintain social connections. Three delicious and well-balanced meals are also served according to residents’ tastes and nutritional needs. With scheduled transportation, residents have convenient access to their needs. The community is ideal for those seeking comfort in their golden years, especially with its top-notch services and beautifully maintained amenities.

Overview of The Courtyard Westhills Village

The Courtyard Westhills Village is an assisted living community in Rapid City, South Dakota, offering assisted living, rehabilitation services, and respite care. With a 60-bed capacity, this community accepts Medicare, which is uncommon among similar communities. It is also affiliated with the Clarkson Health Care network as well as a broader campus that features therapy services, a Support Plus Program, and in-home care.

Amenities include a wellness space with specialized classes, activity and group areas, a welcoming outdoor inner courtyard, and a sun deck with southern exposure. Furthermore, living spaces feature handicap-accessible bathrooms and showers, generous closet space, expanded cable service, and central heating and cooling throughout. Floor plans are available in one- and two-bedroom configurations, and the building is equipped with a full fire sprinkler system and smoke detectors. Volunteer programs, clinical services, and respite stays are provided through 24-hour nursing staffing.

A comprehensive continuum of services is also provided, including therapy and in-home care, offering a level of care coordination that standalone assisted living communities often cannot match, which appeals to families and older adults anticipating progressing needs. Operating hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM, and Saturday through Sunday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

The Courtyard Westhills Village is a practical option for older adults in the greater Rapid City area seeking assisted living support within a structured, amenity-rich environment, particularly those looking for seamless access to on-site rehabilitation and respite care.

Overview of Dow Rummel Village

Dow Rummel Village is a nonprofit life plan retirement community in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, providing a full continuum of care that includes independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and respite care services. Serving the region since 1958, the community is recognized as one of the more established senior living providers in South Dakota. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay are also accepted, offering flexibility for families with varying financial and healthcare needs.

With a 79-bed capacity, the community is currently operating at a 94% occupancy rate, which is higher than the state average. Additionally, most of the community’s admissions are Medicare-funded rehabilitation stays focused on recovery and therapy services, while longer-term residents remain for multiple years through different stages of care. Rehabilitation, memory care, and skilled nursing services are also provided, allowing residents to access additional support without relocating.

The community maintains strong performance metrics compared to statewide averages, with a 4-star overall rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This reflects above-average scores in health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Staffing levels are also a particular differentiator, with nursing care hours significantly exceeding South Dakota averages. Physical therapy staffing also exceeds state benchmarks, an important consideration for residents recovering from surgery, illness, or hospitalization.

The community also offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom floor plans. Services also include housekeeping, transportation, dining, wellness programming, and assistance with activities of daily living.

With a combination of rehabilitation resources, memory care services, skilled nursing support, and independent living options, Dow Rummel Village is well-suited for older adults and families seeking a financially stable nonprofit community with strong staffing levels, established clinical infrastructure, and the flexibility of multiple care levels within one campus.

South Dakota Developmental Center, Redfield provides nursing home and skilled nursing care in Redfield, SD. Skilled nursing means licensed nursing care is available on site around the clock for residents who need ongoing clinical support in a residential setting.

The center provides specialized services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, focusing on quality of life and community inclusion. Its 240 beds place it among larger communities, with more residents and staff and usually more programming than a small community. Barb Abeln serves as the administrator, and the center may be a good fit for someone with an intellectual or developmental disability who needs skilled nursing care alongside specialized support.

Overview of Avantara Lake Norden

Avantara Lake Norden offers nursing home, skilled nursing, hospice care, and memory care in Lake Norden, South Dakota. Nursing home and skilled nursing services provide licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while hospice focuses on comfort at the end of life.

The secured memory care unit provides supervision for a resident who may be at risk of wandering. Having these care options in one home may also suit someone whose needs change from short term rehabilitation or nursing support to memory or hospice care without requiring a move to a new community.

The home has 50 beds. Total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 37 minutes per resident each day, representing that amount of daily hands on nursing time for each resident.

Rehabilitation services include short term rehabilitation for someone who needs a temporary stay focused on recovery. Other programs address stroke and other neurological conditions, cardiac care, oncology recovery, orthopedic rehabilitation, and pulmonary care, providing clinical support tailored to those conditions.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted. Margaret Grimm serves as the administrator.

Overview of Westhills Village Health Care Facility

Westhills Village Health Care Facility provides independent living, assisted living, home care, and skilled nursing in Rapid City, SD. Independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care, while assisted living provides help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication while a resident keeps their own living space. Home care supports a resident in their own home, and skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. The range of care may suit someone whose needs change over time because the facility offers both daily living support and skilled nursing.

With 44 beds, Westhills Village Health Care Facility is a smaller community where staff and residents get to know each other. Medicare can help cover short-term skilled care after a hospital stay, while private pay means the resident or family funds care directly. Kelsey Bertsch serves as the administrator.

Rehabilitation services and short-term rehab give residents access to therapy during a time-limited recovery stay. Respite care provides a short stay for someone whose usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

Peaceful Pines Senior Living – Huron is an assisted living community in Huron, South Dakota, offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, adult day services, and respite care. As a recently licensed provider, this 46-bed community brings freshly updated, contemporary amenities to the local market for older adults.

The amenity list is among the most extensive for an assisted living community of this size in South Dakota. Confirmed features include daily planned activities, community gardens, walking paths, housekeeping and laundry services, and local off-site transportation, along with emergency systems. Respite stays and adult day services are also available, making this a flexible option for both full residential placement and shorter-term care needs. With a continuum of care spanning independent living through memory care, residents can age in place without the need to relocate.

With a wide range of programming and care levels, Peaceful Pines Senior Living – Huron is a practical option for older adults in Huron and Beadle County seeking a lifestyle-rich, full-continuum senior living community with memory care and flexible care options, including adult day services and respite stays.

Overview of Arrowhead Lodge Senior Living

Arrowhead Lodge Senior Living is an assisted living and independent living community in Rapid City, South Dakota, that offers personal care, independent residential living, and respite care. Licensed in January 2025, this 48-bed community is a relatively new community that features updated accommodations and a modern approach to residential care and lifestyle services for older adults in western South Dakota.

24-hour supervision and respite services are provided along with on-site nursing support, medication assistance, and meal services that accommodate special dietary needs. Utilities are included, but telephone service is excluded, and residents can access a coffee and snack station throughout the day. Daily leisure and recreational programming is also offered seven days a week, as well as a full-service beauty salon, transportation services, and fitness and recreation opportunities.

For older adults in Rapid City seeking a lifestyle-focused residential community with access to licensed care services, Arrowhead Lodge Senior Living offers a balanced combination of independence, support, and amenities. Although the surrounding area is considered car-dependent with a Walk Score of 12, the availability of scheduled transportation helps residents maintain mobility and access to local services and appointments.