Best Independent Living in South Dakota

Located in a tranquil neighborhood adjacent to Manor Park in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Avera Mother Joseph Manor offers a comprehensive range of senior living lifestyle options, complemented by skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Residents of this community can immerse themselves in the abundant local opportunities available in Aberdeen while receiving exceptional care and support.

Avera Mother Joseph Manor proudly upholds the Christian tradition of the Avera health care system, ensuring immediate access to premier health care services. With a deep commitment to respecting human dignity and valuing each individual, Avera Mother Joseph Manor operates as a division of Avera St. Luke’s Hospital, providing compassionate care to enhance the well-being of residents.

Overview of Touchmark at All Saints

Touchmark at All Saints is a magnificent senior living community that offers exquisite living options such as cottages or condo-style rooms for residents of independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Regardless of what kind of living option you are in, management and staff are guaranteed to provide resort-like accommodations with exceptional hospitality. The luxurious and elegant senior living community offers a stimulating environment where every need of each senior is being met.  Touchmark at All Saints strives to provide a comfortable lifestyle of everyday living for its residents, making it an ideal place to call a new home. 
The Touchmark experience is focused on the holistic wellness of its residents, which is why they have included life-enriching activities, health and fitness club, and recreational activities in the daily routine of seniors. 

Overview of The Parkwood

Nestled in a quiet yet convenient residential area in Sioux Falls, SD, The Parkword is an active senior living community that offers a vibrant and engaging independent living. The community features 133 apartments with 22 unique floor plans, furnished kitchens, balcony and high ceiling, offering a comfortable and elegant residence. With housekeeping, a variety of dining options, and all utilities included, residents are guaranteed to live an easy and worry-free life with more time in their hands to do the things they love.

At Parkwood, they strive to provide a service-rich environment that fosters strong community connections and maintenance-free living. Here, residents benefit from regular community social events and activities, scheduled transportation, and on-site amenities. Wellness and leisure is guaranteed with amenities like a fitness studio with treatment space, a full-service salon, library, indoor theater, club room, game room, guest suite, and outdoor courtyards with walking trails and dog parks. Here, residents are set to experience a vibrant community filled with meaningful connections and fun experiences.

Overview of The Inn on Westport

The Inn on Westport is a distinguished senior living community managed by The Goodman Group, bringing 50 years of expertise in developing and managing exceptional healthcare and assisted senior living communities. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including assisted living, independent living, memory care, and respite care, ensuring that each resident’s unique needs are met with the utmost care and attention. As part of their commitment to holistic well-being, they even provide specialized programs, including a Parkinson’s program, to support residents with specific health needs.
Prepare to be captivated by the serene and beautifully landscaped indoor spaces, including a stunning three-story atrium that serves as the centerpiece of the community. From the cozy café to the tranquil chapel, every corner of The Inn on Westport is thoughtfully designed to create a welcoming and nurturing environment. On-site amenities such as a bank, beauty and barber salon, and more, add convenience and luxury to residents’ lives. Recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of veterans, the home also provides an exceptional environment for assisted living for veterans. Here, veterans can connect with fellow servicemen and women, share stories, and be honored for their dedication and commitment.

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 Bethany Home Sioux Falls/bethany Home-Brandon

Bethany Home Sioux Falls / Bethany Home-Brandon is a faith-based nursing home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering a continuum of care that includes independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing services, and rehabilitation. The 112-bed community is administered by Amanda Peterson in Minnehaha County, guided by a Christian mission. It also emphasizes support for residents’ physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being while also offering independent homes and apartment living as part of its larger campus environment.

The community is currently operating at 78.5%, which is slightly lower than the state average of 79.9%, and suggests availability. Additionally, Medicare accounts for 89% of new residents, with an average stay of 25 days, reflecting a focus on short-term rehabilitation. Meanwhile, private pay new residents are approximately 10%, with an average stay of 7 to 8 months, and 2% of new residents are Medicaid-eligible, with a typical stay of 6 years.

Since 2022, the community has undergone four total health inspections, with the latest conducted in October 2025, which is notably lower than the state average. A total of 13 health citations have been recorded throughout its operational history, which is also lower than the state average, and have been corrected. No penalties have been issued in the past three years.

Confirmed services include skilled nursing care and rehabilitation therapy, along with independent living options designed for older adults who remain largely self-sufficient but prefer a supportive community setting. Its faith-centered approach is a defining aspect of the community’s culture and may be particularly meaningful for individuals and families seeking care rooted in Christian values and holistic support.

Located on the south side of Sioux Falls, the community sits in a moderately walkable area with a Walk Score of 65, allowing access to some nearby services and amenities on foot. Service to the Brandon area also provides additional convenience for families throughout eastern Minnehaha County.

Bethany Home Sioux Falls / Bethany Home-Brandon is an ideal option for families seeking values-based care within a setting that supports aging across different levels of assistance and medical support. The ability to transition from independent living to higher levels of care within the same community can help reduce disruption and provide continuity for older adults as healthcare needs progress.

Ponderosa Lodge Senior Living is a newly established community in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, serving older adults seeking independent or assisted living arrangements. Located at 7400 S Louise Ave, the community provides both independent living options for active seniors who want a supportive residential setting and assisted living services for those who need help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication management. The home also offers respite care, making it an option for short-term stays.

The community is modest in size at 76 beds and features one and two-bedroom housing options, allowing residents to choose a living space that suits their preferences and needs. Ponderosa Lodge opened recently—within the last year—so the setting is new. Martina Castle serves as administrator. At just over $4,000 per month for starting rates, the community is positioned competitively for the market.

The location scores a 30 on the Walk Score, which means some errands and services are accessible on foot, though most outings will require transportation. The surrounding neighborhood is typical of suburban Sioux Falls—quiet and residential, with relatively easy access to the highway. Families should be aware that the community maintains a no-pet policy, so residents’ pets will need alternative arrangements.

For a newly opened home, an in-person tour is especially worthwhile to see how the community is being developed and to get a sense of the daily operations and the team leading the facility.

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 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 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.