Page 2 of Best Memory Care in South Dakota

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 Avantara Huron

Avantara Huron is a privately owned nursing home in Huron, South Dakota, that provides short-term rehabilitation, skilled nursing care, and specialized recovery programs. The 80-bed community is administered by Laurie Solem and has received the AHCA Bronze Quality Award in 2022 in recognition of its quality improvement efforts. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay options are also accepted.

Confirmed programs include short-term rehabilitation, cardiac recovery, orthopedic recovery, pulmonary rehabilitation, and wound care management. These specialized services support residents recovering from surgery, illness, or hospitalization and position the community as a post-acute care provider for a range of medical needs.

The community is currently operating at a 70% occupancy rate, which is lower than the state average and suggests availability. Average stays extend to approximately 151 days, indicating a blend of both longer-term nursing support and shorter rehabilitation-focused stays. The resident population also reflects a balanced combination of payers, with Medicaid representing a significant portion of admissions.

Avantara Huron is a compelling option for older adults seeking skilled nursing care, rehabilitation services, or specialized recovery support for cardiac, orthopedic, pulmonary, or wound care needs within a community that demonstrates meaningful staffing investment and clinical service diversity in Huron and the surrounding Beadle County area.

Overview of Edgewood Pierre

Administered by Melissa Johnson, Edgewood Pierre is an assisted living community in Pierre, South Dakota. It offers assisted living, adult day care, and memory care. The community is located at 1950 E. 4th Street in Hughes County. The two-story building has 86 beds and offers studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments, giving residents several choices based on their space needs.

Serving residents for about one year, Edgewood Pierre features newer construction and recently built common areas. The surrounding neighborhood has a Walk Score of 6. It’s car-dependent, so most errands require a vehicle. Families who prefer a quieter residential setting instead of a busy commercial area may find the location appealing.

Residents take part in memory care programs offered in a home-like setting. Activities are designed around comfort and familiar daily routines. Shared amenities include a chapel, a family gathering room, several recreation rooms, a dedicated dining room, and an on-site fitness center. The community also provides transportation services and welcomes pets, giving residents both structured support and everyday flexibility.

Families considering Edgewood Pierre may ask about current availability for the studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments because different floor plans may fill at different times.

Legends at Lake Lorraine (Formerly Grand Living at Lake Lorraine) is a distinguished senior living community that sets the standard for luxury independent living, assisted living, and memory care services in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This home is climbing the charts of excellence, offering unparalleled service and a truly engaging lifestyle that captivates residents and their families alike.

Indulge in the grand spa and fitness center, where you can rejuvenate your body and nurture your well-being. Legends at Lake Lorraine also goes above and beyond to provide life-enriching experiences through a variety of programs. From world-class music entertainment performances to delightful cocktail evenings and friendly games of bocce ball, there’s always something exciting happening.

Located in Marion, South Dakota, Tieszen Memorial Home is a nursing home in Turner County. Tieszen Memorial Home operates the community, and Laura Wilson serves as administrator. Alongside skilled nursing, it offers assisted living, memory care, and hospice care, giving families a full continuum of care as residents’ needs change.

The 64-bed home is almost full, with occupancy around 93%. Residents stay an average of about 409 days, a figure that shows that most residents stay here for long-term care rather than short rehabilitation stays. The community has been operating for about 1 year. Rehabilitation Services and a Wellness Center support residents’ ongoing health and activity needs. Skilled care and apartment-style housing options are also available.

Total nursing care averages about 4 hours and 33 minutes per resident daily, and it’s a central part of daily life. Families can choose from Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay to cover both short-term and long-term stays.

The community is in a small, rural part of South Dakota, with a Walk Score of 23. Most errands and outings require driving. Families visiting from outside the area may want to plan transportation before visiting.

Overview of Good Samaritan Society – St Martin Village

Good Samaritan Society – St. Martin Village is a nursing home in Rapid City, South Dakota, offering independent living, assisted living, long-term care, rehabilitation, and respite care. This 60-bed community is operating as part of the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, one of the nation’s largest nonprofit senior care organizations. This reflects a mission-centered approach focused on compassionate care and supportive living.

The community received the Bronze National Quality Award from the American Health Care Association in both 2023 and 2024, recognizing ongoing efforts toward performance improvement and quality care standards. On the other hand, registered nurse staffing significantly exceeds South Dakota averages, with both weekday and weekend RN coverage standing well above statewide benchmarks. Physical therapy staffing is also notably strong, offering therapy hours substantially higher than average and supporting residents recovering from illness, surgery, or hospitalization. Nursing and nurse aide overall hours also remain below state averages.

For a community of its size, the community’s amenities are notably extensive, which include walking trails, a wellness center, guest housing, and private dining spaces. Three daily meals are included, while volunteer opportunities and religious services are aligned with its faith-based mission. Studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom options are available, with monthly pricing varying based on apartment style and level of care. Rehabilitation therapy and respite care are also offered.

Located in a highly walkable area of Rapid City with a Walk Score of 83, the community has convenient access to nearby services, amenities, and neighborhood destinations, making it one of the more accessible senior living campuses in western South Dakota.

Good Samaritan Society – St. Martin Village is well-suited for older adults seeking a faith-oriented community that combines multiple levels of care, strong RN oversight, rehabilitation support, and a broad range of lifestyle amenities 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.

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 Avantara Pierre

Avantara Pierre, located at 950 East Park Street in Pierre, is a 65-bed nursing home in Hughes County that opened in 2025 under the administration of Chase Watson. Operating primarily as a short-term rehabilitation facility, it admits residents across a Medicare-majority population (53 percent), supplemented by private-pay and Medicaid placements, with a typical stay of 212 days. The facility lies close to Avera St. Mary’s Hospital, 0.13 miles away, providing ready access to acute care. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Staffing presents a significant challenge. The facility delivers 2 hours 36 minutes of total nursing care per resident daily, which is well below South Dakota’s 3-hour-46-minute benchmark and among the lowest in the state (ranked 56th of 57 facilities). Weekend coverage narrows further to 2 hours 27 minutes per day. This staffing constraint aligns with broader performance gaps: health inspection ratings run 21.6 percent below state norms, and overall CMS ratings trail benchmarks by 20.3 percent.

One bright spot: quality measures like hospital readmissions, falls, mobility gains outperform state averages by 9.9 percent, suggesting clinical management compensates despite lean staffing. No federal penalties or payment denials have been issued over the past three years.

The facility’s clinical footprint spans seven specialized programs: post-surgical and short-term rehabilitation, stroke and neurological recovery, cardiac care, oncology support, pulmonary services, and orthopedic rehabilitation, alongside a memory care unit.

Room options include private and semi-private suites; community spaces, high-speed Wi-Fi, and on-site salon services support daily living.

Avantara Pierre orients toward post-acute rehabilitation in a newer operational environment where short-stay clinical recovery is prioritized and specialized programming is available.

Overview of The Village of Harmony Hill

The Village of Harmony Hill, Inc. is a senior living community in Watertown, South Dakota, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. Administered by Krista Beauchamp, this 104-bed community is notably pet-friendly, an uncommon feature among assisted living communities in South Dakota.

Along with a full continuum of care, ranging from independent living, assisted living, to memory care, dining, housekeeping, transportation, laundry services, lifestyle, and wellness programs are provided. A full events calendar, an ecumenical chapel, and outdoor spaces are also available. Specialized offerings include Adult Day Services, veteran resources, and an on-site culinary arts program, which is a distinctive addition that provides cultural and social enrichment beyond standard senior living programming. Religious services are also provided on-site.

With a Walk Score of 85, the location has one of the highest walkability ratings of any South Dakota assisted living community, with most daily errands accessible on foot. This is a meaningful quality-of-life advantage for residents who remain mobile and value a close connection to the broader town.

Combining independent living, assisted living, and memory care, The Village of Harmony Hill is well-suited for older adults and families seeking a pet-friendly, full-continuum living community with broad programming, walkable surroundings, and veteran-specific resources in Watertown and Codington County.