Best Memory Care in South Dakota

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 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 Avantara North

Operating a 68-bed nursing home at 1620 North 7th Street in Rapid City’s North 7th Street neighborhood, Avantara North serves residents under administrator Celina Block’s leadership.

The privately owned facility, operational since early 2025, accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents and maintains 87% occupancy; exceeding South Dakota’s average of 79.9%. Average resident stay extends to 151 days.

CMS assigns a 2-star overall rating, 20.3% below state average, driven by health inspection performance rated 2 stars (21.6% below state) and below-average quality measures.

Conversely, staffing earns a 3-star rating, 4.5% above state benchmarks, as does quality measures at 3 stars with 9.9% above-state performance. Total nursing care averages 3 hours 7 minutes per resident daily, falling 17% below the state average. Weekend nursing drops to 2 hours 32 minutes daily, 23% below state norms. Staff-to-resident ratio of 1.32:1 underperforms the state standard of 1.93:1 by 31%, indicating concentrated staffing constraints.

Rehabilitation programming encompasses post-surgical recovery, short-term skilled rehabilitation, stroke and neurological care, cardiac services, oncology recovery, orthopedic rehabilitation, and pulmonary support. Respite care and on-site salon services complement clinical offerings. Wi-Fi access and community spaces support resident engagement.

Five inspections since 2022 identified 20 health citations with no critical findings. One $12,000 federal penalty was imposed in October 2024.

Clinical strengths include zero reported depressive symptoms and minimal antipsychotic use (10.0%, well below state average of 24.4%). Walking ability decline at 37.2% significantly exceeds state benchmarks.

The location sits 1.4 miles from downtown and adjacent to Black Hills Urgent Care (0.37 miles). Walk score of 39 indicates somewhat walkable surroundings dependent on transportation for most errands.

Avantara North operates as a newly established short-stay rehabilitation facility managing competing staffing constraints against selected clinical outcome advantages.

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 The Village at Skyline Pines Assisted Living & Memory Care

The Village at Skyline Pines Assisted Living & Memory Care is situated above Mount Rushmore Road in the medical district of South Rapid City, South Dakota. This distinguished assisted living community prioritizes personalized care and independence for its residents. The compassionate staff, well-versed in assisted living, ensures exceptional service. Memory care specialists are also available to support those dealing with memory-related challenges.

The Village offers a welcoming environment with a solid clinical foundation, allowing residents to feel at home while receiving top-notch care. Perched on a secure hilltop, The Village at Skyline Pines provides city-view rooms for sunrise and city lights enthusiasts and western-view rooms with glimpses of wildlife amidst pine trees. Here, vibrant living awaits—join them to forge friendships and create cherished memories. 

Overview of Edgewood Brookings

Edgewood Brookings is an assisted living with memory care services in Watertown. The community understands the importance of happiness and serenity, ensuring that every resident can receive only the best care. Edgewood Brookings is the home where seniors thrive and get back on their feet quickly and independently.
Community features include essential services like transportation, housekeeping, interior and exterior maintenance, ADLs, and specialized memory programs. Amenities provided are dining areas, indoor common areas, a full-service salon, well-lit lounge areas, furnished apartments, and outdoor lounges.

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.

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.

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.