Page 3 of Best Memory Care in South Dakota

Overview of Avantara Huron

Avantara Huron opened recently on Michigan Ave. SW in Huron, South Dakota, under the administration of Laurie Solem. It is a nursing home. It has 80 beds, 56 of them currently occupied, and sits in a neighborhood where a car is essentially required for most errands (Walk Score 27).

The care model here is built around post-acute recovery. Residents coming off cardiac events, orthopedic procedures, or pulmonary conditions have dedicated recovery programs waiting for them. Total nursing coverage runs 3 hours and 31 minutes per resident per day, with registered nurses accounting for 40 minutes of that. Suites are available in private and semi-private configurations depending on preference and availability.

Meals are prepared from fresh ingredients with nutritional balance as the stated priority. On the amenities side, the facility has an on-site salon and community spaces that families can use for gatherings and events. State inspections have tended to center on areas like infection prevention and control, care planning and documentation, and fall and injury prevention.

Payment coverage spans Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. That range matters for a facility with a 135-day average stay: some residents arrive on Medicare short-term rehab benefits and transition to Medicaid as their stay extends, and the facility is structured to accommodate that arc. Avantara Huron is set up for people arriving from a hospital who need a supervised rehabilitation period before going home, not for those seeking a long-term residential placement.

Overview of Avantara Milbank

Avantara Milbank is a nursing home in Milbank, South Dakota, focused primarily on short-term recovery and post-acute care services for older adults. Privately owned and operated, this 45-bed community is currently operating at a 68% occupancy rate, which is lower than the state average and suggests availability for immediate placements. Furthermore, it serves a resident population largely composed of Medicare and private-pay individuals, with an average length of stay of approximately 127 days, which reflects its rehabilitation-centered approach rather than long-term custodial care.

The community underwent six inspections and received 18 citations over the past seven years, a figure above the South Dakota average. Between late 2023 and the end of 2024, three federal penalties were issued related to regulatory deficiencies. Six citations were also categorized as serious in severity, substantially higher than the statewide average, highlighting areas of compliance concern.

Additionally, the most recent inspection, completed in March 2025, identified deficiencies involving quality of care, resident rights, and nutrition services, all of which were subsequently corrected. Notably, the community has not recorded any immediate jeopardy findings or critical-level citations.

Staffing levels align with the community’s focus on rehabilitation and transitional care, with an average of 3 hours and 23 minutes of nursing care daily, which is slightly below the South Dakota average. Certified nursing assistants also make up the largest share of direct care staffing, while contract staff account for roughly 20% of total staffing hours.

Clinical programming focuses heavily on post-acute recovery and includes specialized support for post-surgical rehabilitation, stroke recovery, cardiac care, orthopedic rehabilitation, and pulmonary care. These services are designed for residents recovering from hospitalization or complex medical events who require time-limited skilled nursing oversight and therapy before returning home or transitioning to a lower level of care.

Focusing on post-acute therapy and specialized rehabilitation services, Avantara Milbank is best suited for older adults in the Milbank area seeking short-term rehabilitation and clinically focused recovery support within a moderately sized community.

Overview of Park Place Assisted Living

Park Place Assisted Living is a senior living community in Reno, Nevada, that offers assisted living and independent living. Licensed as a Residential Facility for Groups and in operation for nearly 30 years, this 60-bed community has studio accommodations on a single-story campus.

The community currently has 41 of 60 beds occupied, representing an occupancy rate of 68%, which is below the state of Nevada’s average of 81.5%. Notably, occupancy has fluctuated over the years, reaching as high as 80% capacity during periods in 2024. Assisted living and independent living are among the living options provided, along with transportation services, housekeeping, fitness and recreation programming, and a pet-friendly environment within a studio-based, single-story layout.

Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health Care Quality and Compliance, has inspected the community through annual surveys and complaint investigations since at least 2012, leading to a total of 33 inspections. Over that tracked window, the community has averaged approximately 10.2 deficiencies per year, which is about 44% above the Nevada average of 7.1 per year. Recurring themes include medication management, such as administration errors, unsecured medications, and incomplete medication records, along with staff training compliance regarding caregiver training timelines, elder abuse prevention, infection control, and cultural competency, as well as health and sanitation issues in food safety and kitchen practices.

Moreover, the most recent annual survey, conducted July 16, 2025, cited 14 deficiencies across administrator oversight, caregiver qualifications, medication documentation, TB screening, infection control program review, and first-aid kit compliance. Two substantiated complaint investigations are also on record, including the April 2025 investigation, which confirmed that six employees were performing blood sugar testing and insulin injections without documented training, a finding that coincided with a resident being hospitalized for critically low blood sugar. Another complaint investigation in December 2024 substantiated that a resident went without a prescribed medication for 15 days, resulting in withdrawal symptoms and an emergency room visit, and that a resident’s shower was not wheelchair accessible. However, no fines or license suspensions were listed in the available reports.

The location is situated in a car-dependent part of Reno with a Walk Score of 6, making personal transportation or the community’s own transportation services a practical necessity for most residents.

With a 29-year operating history and smaller scale, Park Place Assisted Living appeals to families seeking a more intimate yet established senior living option. However, interested families are advised to carefully consider the pattern of regulatory findings in recent years, particularly around medication management and staff training, when making a placement decision.

In Rapid City, South Dakota, Fountain Springs Healthcare Center is a haven for healing and compassionate care. Whether residents require transitional care following hospitalization or seek long-term support due to safety concerns at home, Fountain Springs offers a serene refuge. The center has garnered acclaim for its successful patient transitions back home or to a lower level of care, earning the prestigious 2018 Pinnacle Customer Experience Award for its exceptional senior healthcare services.

At Fountain Springs, individuals receive personalized care through an interdisciplinary approach to skilled nursing. The recreation department fosters a sense of community and home by organizing various activities and outings. Whether it’s assisted living, skilled nursing, memory support, or respite stays, Fountain Springs Healthcare Center remains steadfast in delivering 5-star quality care to its residents. 

Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Care Center is a tribally operated nursing home in Flandreau, South Dakota, that provides skilled nursing, memory care, and long-term residential support in a welcoming, close-knit environment. Administered by Annmarie Kutzke, this 42-bed community is a relatively new nursing home in Moody County. Its approach to care centers on treating residents like family while supporting comfort, dignity, and connection for older adults who require daily clinical or personal assistance.

The community holds a 3-star overall CMS rating, performing above the South Dakota state average in several key areas. Staffing levels and quality measures both significantly exceed the state benchmark, along with health inspection performance. One of the strongest indicators is nursing coverage, with total nursing hours averaging 6 hours and 15 minutes per resident each day, which is higher than the state average and is the highest among South Dakota skilled nursing communities. Registered nurse coverage is especially strong at 1 hour and 47 minutes daily, more than double the statewide average.

Weekend RN coverage also stands out at 1 hour and 19 minutes per day, significantly above the state average and indicative of strong clinical oversight throughout the week. Nurse aide staffing reaches 4 hours and 55 minutes per resident daily, placing the community among the strongest in the state for direct hands-on care. Weekend total nursing coverage remains consistently high as well. Meanwhile, the only staffing category slightly below the state average is LPN coverage, which averages 27 minutes per resident each day.

Across seven health inspections, exceeding the South Dakota average of 4.5 inspections, the community received only 10 total citations. Citations averaged 1.43 per inspection, substantially lower than the statewide average of 3.34 and among the better records in South Dakota. No critical citations were identified, and all reviewed deficiencies from recent inspections were reported as corrected.

Additionally, recent inspections completed in August and September 2025 cited citation categories related to quality of care, nutrition, pharmacy services, and abuse prevention. All of which are standard regulatory review areas and do not suggest a broader pattern of harm or systemic compliance concerns. Confirmed amenities include a courtyard, dining room, living room, spa, salon, laboratory services, and a private family dining space. Physician support and 24-hour staffing are available, as well as memory care.

For older adults and families in the Flandreau and Moody County region, including members of the Santee Sioux Tribe, Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Care Center offers a compelling option for skilled nursing and memory care supported by exceptional staffing levels, strong clinical oversight, and a consistently favorable inspection history.

Overview of Jenkin‘s Living Center

Established in 1959, Jenkin’s Living Center is a 110-bed skilled nursing facility in Watertown’s South Maple neighborhood, about a mile from Prairie Lakes Hospital and a short distance from downtown. The three-story community offers private rooms. Kasey Klapprodt serves as its administrator.

Residents receive care through individualized care plans. These are provided alongside medication management and specialized therapy programs to support both recovery and everyday health. Beyond clinical care, the community offers restaurant-style dining, scheduled transportation, organized social events, and fitness and recreation programs. These opportunities keep residents active and engaged.

Skilled nursing staff is available 24 hours a day. Registered nurses provide an average of 42 minutes of care per resident each day, while licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses contribute about 51 minutes. Nurse aides provide the largest share of daily support at roughly 2 hours and 1 minute per resident. Together, this staffing approach gives residents consistent hands-on care throughout the day and night.

The neighborhood has a Walk Score of 85, making it very walkable. Most errands are within easy walking distance. Families visiting the community can often combine their visit with shopping or other stops around the surrounding neighborhood.

Overview of Avantara Saint Cloud

Operated under owner Laura Henney, Avantara Saint Cloud is a nursing home in Rapid City, South Dakota. The facility is located at 302 St Cloud Street. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several ways to cover care costs. The 78-bed home has a current occupancy rate of 96%. Residents stay an average of 333 days, including people receiving short-term rehabilitation and those needing longer-term care.

The community provides 24-hour staffing. Nurse staffing averages 2 hours and 57 minutes of nursing care each day. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides are part of the care team. Rehabilitation services are available, and the home also offers respite care for families needing temporary placement for a loved one.

State inspections have reviewed areas such as staffing records, infection control, and care practices. These are important parts of daily operations in a nursing home. Families considering the facility should ask how regulatory engagement is overseen and how these areas are managed daily.

Meals are prepared with fresh ingredients to meet residents’ nutritional needs. Amenities on-site include salon services, high-speed Wi-Fi, and community spaces where residents and families can spend time together. The surrounding area has a Walk Score of 0, so it’s car-dependent. Most visits and errands require transportation.

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 Trail Ridge Retirement Community

Trail Ridge Retirement Community is a senior living community in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering independent living, assisted living, and memory care. This 72-bed community is licensed in Lincoln County in 2025, making it one of the newer senior care providers in the area.

Rehabilitation services, licensed nurses, and CNAs on staff, home care services, and wellness programs are provided, along with various living options, including independent living, assisted living, and memory care, under one roof. Additionally, Home care services extend the community’s reach beyond the building itself, offering flexibility for older adults who may not yet be ready for full residential placement.

Its location on Ralph Rogers Road, in southwest Sioux Falls, carries a Walk Score of 13, reflecting a car-dependent neighborhood where most errands and services will require transportation. Families visiting from the Sioux Falls metro area or surrounding Lincoln County neighborhoods are encouraged to plan travel accordingly.

Trail Ridge Retirement Community is ideal for older adults seeking a mid-sized community that spans independent living through memory care in the Sioux Falls and Lincoln County area, particularly those who value licensed clinical staff on-site and home care services as a transitional option.

Overview of Good Samaritan Society – Sioux Falls Village

Good Samaritan Society in Sioux Falls Village is an incredible senior living community that offers a comprehensive range of care services, including assisted living places and various assisted living levels of care. From affordable housing and independent living to rehabilitation and memory care, they cater to the diverse needs of seniors at every stage of life.
This exceptional home ensures that residents have access to the support they require, whether it’s in the form of personalized assistance with daily activities or specialized memory care for those facing cognitive challenges. Residents can enjoy the freedom and flexibility to personalize their living spaces within the assisted living places, adding their own cherished furnishings and personal touches. In addition to the comfortable and inviting accommodations, the community offers a wealth of amenities, including a well-stocked library, a serene chapel, and a refreshing indoor pool. For those seeking to prioritize their well-being, a state-of-the-art wellness center provides opportunities for fitness and personal growth.