Page 12 of Best Senior Communities in South Dakota

Overview of Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Center

Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Center is a nonprofit nursing home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that offers long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, occupational therapy, and speech and language therapy. The 98-bed community operates under the Good Samaritan Society’s faith-based nonprofit mission and has received the AHCA Bronze National Quality Award in 2025 in recognition of its commitment to quality improvement and resident care. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents are all welcome.

The community’s current occupancy rate of 73.2% falls below the state average, which suggests availability for immediate placements. Additionally, the average stay is approximately 68 days, which reflects a balanced mix of post-acute rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing support.

Holding a 4-star overall CMS rating, the community performs significantly above South Dakota averages in several major categories. Health inspection scores rank notably higher than statewide benchmarks, while staffing and quality measures also exceed average performance levels. The community also recorded nearly four hours of nursing care per day on average, slightly above the state standard, with consistent weekend nursing coverage helping support continuity of care throughout the week.

The community has recorded a total of 14 health citations throughout its inspection cycle, with the most recent health inspection conducted in September 2025. Notably, all health citations were corrected. 24-hour admissions are also available, which is an important feature for individuals transitioning directly from hospitals or other acute care settings.

Amenities and support services include a dining room, salon, chapel, activity spaces, courtyard areas, housekeeping, maintenance support, and religious and volunteer programs consistent with the organization’s mission-driven philosophy. Therapy services are also provided, including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, rehabilitation programming, and short-term rehab services. Home-based services and caregiver support resources are also available through broader Good Samaritan Society programs.

Offering skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapies, or long-term residential support, Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Center is a good option for older adults in Sioux Falls who prefer a nonprofit, mission-oriented community that demonstrates above-average performance in health inspections and staffing measures.

Overview of Avantara North

Avantara North is a nursing home in Rapid City, South Dakota, that offers skilled rehabilitation and specialized medical support. This privately owned community focuses on post-acute recovery services, including short-term rehabilitation, orthopedic care, cardiac recovery, wound care management, and memory care programming. With a 68-bed capacity, it is currently operating at an 87% occupancy rate, which exceeds the South Dakota average. This reflects a strong local demand and supports Medicare patients on shorter recovery-focused stays averaging 151 days.

Over the past seven years, the community underwent five inspections and received 20 citations. Two citations were classified as serious, while the remainder were moderate in scope, and no immediate jeopardy or critical-level findings were reported. During the most recent inspection in August 2025, four moderate deficiencies were identified related to infection control, nursing services, and quality of care, all of which were later corrected. In October 2024, the community received a federal fine, with an amount significantly lower than the South Dakota average and indicative of a comparatively lower compliance burden.

Staffing levels operate below the state average, with nursing hours totaling approximately 3 hours and 7 minutes per resident daily, which is slightly below South Dakota’s average of 3 hours and 46 minutes. This staffing structure aligns with the community’s emphasis on short-term post-acute rehabilitation, where many residents recover and return home within a relatively limited timeframe. Quality metrics also point to strengths in preventive and supportive care, including low rates of depressive symptoms and new antipsychotic medication use, alongside positive outcomes in fall prevention efforts. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay are also accepted.

Avantara North is designed primarily for those recovering from hospitalization who require skilled nursing oversight, rehabilitation therapies, and short-term medical support before transitioning back home or to a lower level of care. It has also earned the 2023 AHCA Bronze Award, reflecting its commitment to quality care.

Overview of United Living Community

A central part of a downtown Brookings campus, United Living Community is an 81-bed nonprofit nursing home run by administrator Liz DeBerg and United Retirement Center. The facility handles skilled nursing, short-term rehab, respite care, and hydro-therapy. While 80% of new admissions use Medicare for short-term recovery, a smaller group of long-term Medicaid residents (18%) and private-pay clients (2%) shapes the building’s overall population, pushing the average stay to 421 days. The property sits in a highly walkable neighborhood with a Walk Score of 82, though recent financial records report a low occupancy rate of 34.1% alongside an operating deficit of $643.3 thousand on $7.8 million in revenue.

Government health logs show high staffing numbers, led by a daily nursing average of 5 hours and 55 minutes per resident that ranks third across South Dakota. This setup is heavily driven by nurse aides, who provide 3 hours and 48 minutes of direct care daily, helping to cover for below-average hours for registered nurses and LPNs. Clinical summaries reveal a sharp divide between short-term and long-term outcomes.

For temporary rehab residents, the logs show excellent performance, including zero major injuries from falls, zero antipsychotic drug initiations, and zero hospital readmissions. Conversely, tracking files show that permanent residents experienced higher rates of major fall injuries, antipsychotic usage, and daily activity decline than the state average, though the facility’s total federal fines sit low at $13,000.

Interested individuals looking over local care options can use these public tracking reports to see how the building handles different types of stays. Since the state logs verify top-tier daily care hours and flawless physical recovery scores for short-term rehab clients alongside low occupancy and some weak long-term safety numbers, the paperwork fits a building optimized for post-acute recovery.

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 Good Samaritan Society Canton

Good Samaritan Society Canton is a church-operated nursing home in Canton, South Dakota, providing short-term rehabilitation, long-term skilled nursing care, hospice support, and respite services. The 56-bed community is owned by Karsten Rohlfs and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay options. It has also earned the AHCA Bronze National Quality Award in 2023 for its commitment to quality improvement initiatives.

Occupancy levels remain strong at 91.8%, significantly higher than the South Dakota average, suggesting consistent local demand but limited availability. The average resident stay is approximately 148 days, and admissions are mostly private-pay residents, with Medicare and Medicaid admissions representing smaller but balanced portions of the resident population.

The community currently maintains a 1-star overall CMS rating, with health inspection and quality measures ratings below South Dakota averages. Staffing performance slightly exceeds state benchmarks, with total nursing hours averaging 3 hours and 38 minutes per resident daily, while weekend registered nurse coverage remains modestly above average. However, nurse aide and licensed practical nurse coverage trends are below the statewide averages.

Available services include rehabilitation therapy, short-term rehab, respite care, physician oversight, 24-hour staffing, and on-site security systems designed to support resident safety and care coordination.

With established clinical services and consistent occupancy stability, Good Samaritan Society Canton is best suited for older adults in Canton and the surrounding Lincoln County area seeking long-term nursing support or short-term rehabilitation within a nonprofit, faith-oriented care environment.

Overview of Bethesda of Beresford

Bethesda of Beresford is a nonprofit nursing home in Beresford, South Dakota, founded in 1914 and administered by Britney Senger. The 39-bed facility offers skilled nursing, rehabilitation, therapy services, and independent living options and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The facility holds a 2-star overall CMS rating, driven by a 1-star Health Inspection score, which is 21.6% below the South Dakota average. Across 5 inspections since 2023, the facility recorded 25 citations, averaging 5 per inspection, compared with a state mean of 3.34. A $16,000 civil money penalty was issued in October 2023. No critical citations appear in that window, and the single serious citation is 44% better than the state average.

The Quality Measures rating, however, is a genuine counterweight: 5 stars, 46.5% above the South Dakota average. Antipsychotic use is 15.1%, compared with a state average of 24.4%, and the UTI rate of 0.8% is 77% better than peers, both meaningful signals for long-stay residents.

The facility provides on-site rehabilitation and therapy services, with contracted physical, occupational, and speech therapy staff present most days of the week. A Resident Council meets regularly, and a state-approved Nurse Aide Training program operates on-site.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 85%, above the South Dakota average of 79.9%, with 33 of 39 beds filled. Its payer mix and average length of stay of 329 days reflect a predominantly long-term population: Medicaid covers 47% of current residents, and private-pay residents account for 50% of the census.

Bethesda of Beresford suits long-stay residents in Lincoln County seeking nonprofit, community-rooted skilled nursing care, particularly those for whom quality-of-care outcomes and low antipsychotic use carry weight alongside the inspection record.

Overview of Prosperous Home Health

Prosperous Home Health delivers home care and skilled nursing services to older adults throughout Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Rather than residing in a community setting, clients receive assistance in their own homes, allowing them to maintain familiar surroundings while accessing both personal care and medical support. Services include non-medical caregiving, companionship, and skilled care provided by licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants.

The agency’s clinical programs address a wide range of health needs, including wound treatment, cancer care, stroke recovery support, hydration management, chronic condition monitoring, and IV therapy. Rehabilitation services are also available, providing additional support for individuals recovering from illness, injury, or ongoing medical challenges.

Overview of Avantara Redfield

Avantara Redfield is a nursing home in Redfield, South Dakota, offering specialized rehabilitation services including post-surgical care, short-term rehabilitation, and specialized programs for stroke recovery, cardiac care, and wound management. This community focuses on high-acuity therapeutic recovery and extended physical care, under the leadership of dministered by Diane Forgey. Currently, the community is operating at a 66% occupancy rate, which translates into ready admission availability and minimal wait times for families in Spink County navigating sudden healthcare transitions.

The community has recorded 20 health citations over the past seven years, which is above the state average. Findings from 2024 through April 2025 include nutrition management and routine environmental standards during evaluations, which were systematically corrected under approved operational plans.

Furthermore, the community holds a 2-star overall CMS rating. While daily direct nursing hours track below the state benchmark at 2 hours and 54 minutes per resident daily, the community maintains a strong clinical safety profile with zero critical citations over recent inspection windows. Its specialized oncology recovery and on-site hospice partnerships further allow residents to age in place comfortably as their healthcare needs evolve.

For families in the Redfield area seeking a therapy-focused environment with high availability, Avantara Redfield provides a practical choice. Families are encouraged to tour the therapy wings in person, meet the clinical staff, and review current nursing schedules to ensure the community’s tailored support frameworks align precisely with their loved one’s recovery goals.

Overview of Strand-Kjorsvig Community Rest Home

Run by administrator Samuel Van Voorst and owner Shannon Schmidt, Strand-Kjorsvig Community Rest Home handles skilled nursing, short-term rehab, and respite care within a 33-bed private facility that also serves as a VA-qualified provider. Founded in 1957, the downtown building works with a varied payer group comprising 44% private-pay, 34% Medicaid, and 22% Medicare admissions, leading to an average stay of 229 days. The property is located in an area with a Walk Score of 22, maintaining a 64.4% occupancy rate and reporting a 2024 operating profit of $64.3 thousand on $2.8 million in revenue.

Public oversight databases highlight high staffing numbers, with total nursing care averaging 5 hours and 3 minutes per resident daily to rank ninth across South Dakota. Daily records show robust numbers for both registered nurses and LPNs, including strong weekend RN continuity, though contractors make up 28.1% of overall staff hours.

Clinical tracking summaries reveal solid long-term stability, with permanent residents recording favorable rates for major fall prevention, skin integrity, and walking abilities. However, the data points to some specific hurdles, as long-stay resident weight loss and antipsychotic drug use track higher than state benchmarks, and the home has compiled $56,000 in federal fines across eight penalties over the past three years.

Prospective residents weighing regional long-term care or rehab facilities can analyze these government health records to assess daily operational trends. Since the state reports confirm top-tier nursing hours and steady physical health outcomes alongside historical compliance fines and some specific dietary tracking issues, the documentation shows a small, highly staffed environment.

Overview of Avantara Pierre

Avantara Pierre is a nursing home in Pierre, South Dakota, that provides a specialized clinical setting tailored to high-acuity therapeutic recovery, memory care, and extended skilled nursing. The community serves Hughes County under the leadership of Chase Watson. With a 65-bed capacity, the community maintains an operational occupancy rate of 79%, matching South Dakota state averages and reflecting stable local demand.

Nutritious meals, daily housekeeping, laundry, and facility maintenance are among the confirmed services, along with a calendar of recreational activities, stretching exercises, and interactive social hours. The care framework also delivers round-the-clock clinical supervision, physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and structured dementia management programs.

Operating under federal CMS certification, the community utilizes an interdisciplinary care model to manage complex health transitions. The clinical pipeline specializes in short-term post-hospitalization recovery, with Medicare-covered short-stays averaging two to three months and accounting for 53% of new admissions. While baseline direct nursing hours track below state benchmarks at 2 hours and 36 minutes per resident daily, the community’s quality measures score roughly 10% above the state average, indicating that clinical outcomes and preventative benchmarks for current residents remain highly competitive.

The community holds a 2-star overall CMS rating, with performance metrics tracking below state baselines in the staffing and health inspection categories. To accommodate diverse financial setups, Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and VA contracts are accepted.

For families in Pierre and broader Central South Dakota seeking a therapy-focused environment for post-acute recovery, Avantara Pierre provides specialized short-term rehabilitation and dedicated memory care services within an accessible urban location.