Page 3 of Best Senior Communities in South Dakota

Overview of Edgewood Prairie Crossings Assisted Living

Located at 1810 South Dorothy Avenue in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Edgewood Prairie Crossings Assisted Living is a 68-bed assisted living community. The single-story residence offers both private and semi-private rooms and has served residents for 1 year. The community is led by administrator Carmen Dougherty.

In addition to assisted living, the community provides short-term stays. It partners with outside medical providers to give residents additional clinical support. Transportation services, fitness programs, and recreational activities are available. Residents can conveniently access nearby medical clinics, shopping, and other destinations throughout Sioux Falls.

Residents enjoy organized social events that encourage them to connect with neighbors and stay involved in activities that match their interests. Three meals and snacks are prepared and served daily. Emergency pendant systems are also available, so residents can quickly call for assistance whenever needed.

The neighborhood has a Walk Score of 31, so a few nearby places can be reached on foot. However, most errands and outings require a car. Families interested in learning more about the community’s programs, apartment layouts, and daily routines should schedule a tour and see the community in person.

Overview of Edgewood Pierre

Edgewood Pierre is the ideal place for residents to experience an active lifestyle where seniors can fulfill independence and support, regardless of their housing options. Specializing in assisted living and memory care support, the community understands the importance of happiness and serenity, ensuring that each resident can receive only the best care. Edgewood Pierre is the home where seniors thrive and get back on their feet quickly and independently.

Edgewood Pierre’s accommodations are focused on maintaining an active lifestyle and immersing in stimulating memory care activities in a home-like setting. Other amenities include a family-gathering room, multiple recreational rooms, a Chapel, a dining room, and a fitness center.

Overview of Edgewood Watertown

Located on 14th Avenue Northeast in Watertown, South Dakota, Edgewood Watertown is a community offering assisted living and independent living in Codington County. The community is about 1.25 miles from Prairie Lakes Hospital, giving residents and families convenient access to nearby medical care.

The community opened about a year ago. It features a two-story building with 66 beds and private rooms. Residents are moving into a newer community rather than one with many years of established operations. Edgewood Watertown is part of the Edgewood Senior Living family of communities, led by administrator Jackie Clark.

Daily support includes housekeeping, transportation, interior and exterior maintenance, and assistance with activities of daily living. Residents also have access to specialized programs that focus on movement and neurological health, including LSVT Big and Loud, the Parkinson’s Care Program, Parkinson’s Wellness Recovery, Rocky Steady Boxing, and the CaringEdge therapy program. Together, these services highlight the community’s focus on supporting residents living with Parkinson’s disease and similar conditions. Transportation services, fitness programs, and recreational activities are also available here.

The neighborhood has a Walk Score of 18, making it a car-dependent location where most errands and outings require a vehicle. Families traveling from outside the area should drive when they visit.

Tieszen Memorial Home serves Turner County residents through a full continuum of care that includes skilled care, memory care, assisted living, and independent living. The nonprofit community operates as a 64-bed nursing home in Marion, South Dakota, under administrator Laura Wilson.

Tieszen’s CMS record is strong. Three inspections since 2022 have resulted in 7 citations, well below the South Dakota average of 14.8. There were no critical or serious findings, and all citations were corrected. The facility’s 4-star overall CMS rating reflects above-average performance on both Health Inspections and Staffing. Nurse hours average 4 hours and 33 minutes per resident per day, 21% above the South Dakota mean, placing the facility15th among 57 state SNFs.

Occupancy is 89.2%, notably above the state’s average of 79.9%, which shows consistent local demand. Residents stay at an average of 409 days, indicating a population that trends toward longer-term placement. Rehabilitation services and a Wellness Center support residents with post-acute and ongoing care needs alongside the memory care and assisted living programs.

Tieszen Memorial Home fits older adults and families seeking a nonprofit community with a broad care continuum, from independent living through skilled and memory care, in a smaller rural South Dakota setting.

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 Avantara Watertown

Forty-six beds are filled out of 51. Avantara Watertown runs at 90% occupancy, a solid number for a facility that only recently opened, sitting less than a mile from Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown’s 4th Avenue Northeast neighborhood. The address at 415 4th Ave. NE puts it in a moderately walkable part of the city (Walk Score 69), which matters for families who visit regularly.

At 168 days, the average length of stay sits in the middle range. This is not purely a 30-day Medicare rehab operation, but it’s also not a long-term custodial care setting by the numbers. The clinical menu reflects that positioning: stroke and neurological recovery, cardiac care, pulmonary care, oncology recovery, and orthopedic rehabilitation are the confirmed programs, all squarely in the post-acute specialty space. Administrator Lynna Speier leads a 51-bed facility in the Avantara network that is clearly built around structured medical recovery rather than extended residential care.

Registered nurses log 1 hour and 9 minutes per resident per day, with total nursing care at 3 hours and 35 minutes. Nurse aides account for 1 hour and 58 minutes of that total. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted.

Avantara Watertown is a compact, recently opened nursing home with a clinical program built for residents recovering from cardiac events, neurological incidents, cancer treatment, and orthopedic procedures, operating near hospital infrastructure that supports that care model.

Overview of Trail Ridge Senior Living Community

Trail Ridge Senior Living Community is a vibrant community with an energetic atmosphere. The senior living community offers housing for independent living, assisted living, and memory care; they are a not-for-profit faith-based community. Trail Ridge understands that individuals are unique and have their own needs, which is why they provide innovative ways to attend to their residents as soon as possible. During their 27 years of service, they have gained the trust of many families in South Dakota. 
Their calendar-filled engaging social and educational activities maximize the community amenities that keep residents stimulated and an enhanced standard of living through their amenities such as the 24-hour emergency communication system, game room, and library available/

Overview of Countryside Living

Countryside Living is a retirement community that houses assisted living and independent living where its services and community features are designed with the thought of ensuring that residents maintain an active lifestyle with endless opportunities. The community’s goal is to ensure that their residents live every day as a way to live a purposeful living as individuals who are constantly growing and learning as they begin their new journey. Countryside Living is the ideal place for comfort, convenience, and choice– with the help of their professional care staff dedicated to attending to your needs.
The countryside lifestyle is inclusive of ADLs, scheduled activities, and medical supervision. 

Overview of Bethesda Towne Square

Bethesda Towne Square Assisted Living Community, situated in Aberdeen, provides a selection of 40 spacious apartment suites for residents to choose from. In addition, residents benefit from priority access to the on-site skilled nursing home, ensuring comprehensive care if the need arises. The community prides itself on fostering a warm and compassionate atmosphere, catering to both short-term recovery and around-the-clock long-term care. Bethesda is dedicated to promoting independence of both body and spirit, with the added support of onsite chaplain services available to all residents.

The highly trained staff at Bethesda goes above and beyond physical health care, offering a diverse range of programs aimed at maximizing social interaction. From engaging dining experiences to socialization activities and exercise programs, residents are provided with ample opportunities to thrive and connect. These offerings are delivered in welcoming and comfortable surroundings that prioritize all aspects of life, extending support beyond medical attention to encompass the holistic well-being of each resident.

Overview of Dow Rummel Village

Dow Rummel Village is an extraordinary nonprofit organization in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, dedicated to providing a premier life plan retirement community that encompasses assisted living levels of care. With a remarkable 60-year history of service, they offer a comprehensive range of services under one roof, including independent living, memory care, assisted living, skilled nursing, respite care, and more.
Residents in this assisted living home have the opportunity to choose different levels of care that best suit their needs. Whether they opt for independent living, where they can enjoy the freedom and autonomy of a vibrant community, or require the specialized support and assistance provided in memory care or assisted living, every aspect is thoughtfully tailored to enhance their well-being. Discover a variety of floor plans, including spacious studios, comfortable one-bedroom suites, and inviting two-bedroom options. From personal assistance with daily living to weekly housekeeping and convenient transportation services, residents can truly embrace a worry-free lifestyle.