Ava’s House is an inpatient multigenerational hospice facility on West 17th Street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Operated by Sanford Health, the 20-bed facility includes 16 adult rooms and 4 pediatric suites, making it one of only a few centers in the United States to provide specialized inpatient pediatric hospice care. The medical team offers 24-hour nursing supervision and complex pain management when a patient’s symptoms require care beyond what can be managed at home or in a standard long-term care setting.
The care model integrates physical comfort with emotional and spiritual support through music enrichment, aromatherapy, pet therapy, and bereavement counseling. Staff utilize pass-through supply cabinets to restock medical items without interrupting patients. For family convenience, the facility features a fully stocked guest kitchen with seating for up to ten people, a dedicated 24-hour patient room service menu, an indoor children’s playroom, a community room, and a wrap-around front porch with a bench swing. Every patient suite opens directly onto an outdoor patio space and includes a built-in sleeper sofa or Murphy bed so family members can stay overnight free of charge.
The local neighborhood carries a walkability score of 55 out of 100, making the area moderately walkable for visitors. Out front, the building features secure entryways and an open parking lot for guests. Families are welcome to stop by the facility to tour the physical spaces, see the room setups firsthand, or speak directly with the coordinators about the intake process.
