Page 14 of Best Senior Communities in South Dakota

Overview of Holiday Hills Estates | Sky Active Living

A reliable senior living community set in the harmonious neighborhood of Holiday Lane, Rapid City, SD, Holiday Hills Estates ensures seniors live in comfort and warmth by providing independent living services. As a Sky Active Living community, Holiday Hills Estates encourages seniors to keep moving and well-engaged with their surroundings. With its convenient place near local attractions and practical amenities, the community ensures seniors’ needs and desires are within a few steps away.

Awaken your creativity and pursue new interests with a wide array of enjoyable activities and engaging programs. Fostering comfort with meals, the community serves delightful and healthy meals for the finest dining experience. Holiday Hills Estates is a haven for seniors aiming to remain active in their best years.

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.

The Good Samaritan Society in St. Martin Village is one of the trusted senior living communities in Rapid City.  They provide a range of comprehensive care that focuses on assisted living places and various assisted living levels of care which includes independent living. Many families have trusted the quality service the community has continuously provided for many seniors over the years. As a Good Samaritan Society, seniors can expect a worry-free lifestyle during their stay.

The Good Samaritan’s all-inclusive services and amenities include home-cooked meals, maintenance-free living, and housekeeping; social activities include gatherings at the community room, dining room, o r chapel; wellness programs, religious services, an emergency response system, and housekeeping services are also offered.

Overview of Avantara Arrowhead

Seventy-five percent occupancy, or 51 of 68 beds, at a nursing home positioned in Rapid City’s Broadmoor Subdivision, about 2.3 miles from the city center and less than a mile from the nearest hospital. The address is 2500 Arrowhead Dr, and the surrounding area is car-dependent (Walk Score 12). Sharon Martin administers the facility, which operates within the Avantara network.

The average length of stay is 174 days. That number places Avantara Arrowhead in a middle zone: not a pure short-stay rehab operation, but not configured primarily around indefinite long-term residence either. Rehabilitation services and short-term rehab are the confirmed service lines, with orthopedic care listed as a clinical program.

Staffing reported to CMS totals 2 hours and 48 minutes of nursing care per resident per day. Registered nurses account for 47 minutes; nurse aides account for 2 hours and 2 minutes. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted.

Avantara Arrowhead is a mid-sized nursing home serving residents in post-acute and transitional care, with orthopedic rehabilitation among its confirmed clinical offerings and full coverage across Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Overview of Rolling Hills Healthcare

Situated in the gorgeous town of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, Rolling Hills Healthcare offers a wide range of care options for seniors, including long term & short term care and rehab therapies. Whether you need physical, occupational, or speech therapy, their dedicated team is there to help. Seniors can enjoy the peaceful surroundings and friendly atmosphere of the community, making it a great place to relax and focus on wellness.

Rolling Hills Healthcare goes above and beyond in providing high-quality care with a personal touch. They aim to make every resident feel respected and well-cared-for by offering tailored care plans. The community features a variety of programs and amenities, including advanced therapies, pain management, dental care, dialysis, hospice services, and more. With a focus on individual wellness and rehabilitation, Rolling Hills Healthcare ensures that each resident receives the best possible care in a supportive and compassionate environment.

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.

Overview of Custer Care and Rehab Center

Custer Care and Rehab Center is a government-operated nursing home in Custer, South Dakota, providing skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, and respite care. Operated through a subsidized community district and maintaining Medicare certification, this community is administered by Madison Barta. With a 35-bed capacity, its smaller size and rural location allow it to serve as one of the few local skilled nursing care options available within Custer County.

The community currently holds a 1-star overall CMS rating, with health inspection scores and quality measures both ranking below the state average. Staffing scores are roughly 65% lower than statewide benchmarks, representing the most significant area of concern among the available performance metrics. Families evaluating care options may want to review these indicators carefully alongside more detailed inspection findings and current staffing information.

Since 2025, the community has undergone two health inspections, with the most recent completed in August 2025. Across those inspections, 20 health citations have been recorded, exceeding the South Dakota average of 14.8. This places the community at the bottom statewide for citations per inspection, averaging 10 citations per visit compared with the state average of 3.34.

However, all identified deficiencies were classified as moderate in severity, with no critical or serious citations reported, meaning inspectors did not identify situations involving immediate jeopardy or findings associated with severe resident harm. Citation categories included administration, infection control, quality of care and quality of life, resident rights, pharmacy services, environmental concerns, and abuse prevention. All of which were documented as corrected.

Confirmed amenities and services include 24-hour nursing support, high-speed Wi-Fi, mounted televisions with cable service in resident rooms, a daily snack cart, and three meals per day with alternate menu selections available. Respite care services are also offered, providing temporary care options for caregivers and families who need short-term support placements. 24-hour staffing coverage is also confirmed.

Its location in Custer has a Walk Score of 49, suggesting moderate walkability with some nearby services available within walking distance, while transportation may still be needed for many daily errands and appointments.

Custer Care and Rehab Center is most appropriate for older adults in Custer and the surrounding Southern Black Hills area who require local access to skilled nursing or respite care, particularly in a region where alternative care communities may be limited.

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 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.

Overview of Palisade Healthcare Center

Located on 4th Street in Garretson, South Dakota, Palisade Healthcare Center is a skilled nursing facility with 55 beds. Most daily errands within this small community require transportation beyond walking distance. The center has an occupancy rate of 84%, and residents stay an average of 96 days. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, providing access routes for rehabilitation stays and longer-term care.

The community’s clinical focus is reflected in its staffing model. Nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 2 minutes per resident each day. Residents are supported by registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses. This hands-on support makes it an ideal setting for patients recovering from an illness or injury, or for those needing ongoing skilled nursing care.

Clinically, Palisade offers rehabilitation services and respite care options, so families can choose if they need short-term support for a recovering relative. There’s 24-hour staffing and memory support services to ensure the safety and specialized care for residents with cognitive needs. Residents’ meals are prepared on-site with attention to nutrition.

The straightforward, no-frills facility is best-suited for families focused on skilled care and clinical support rather than extensive amenities or activities programming.