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Why trust this guide?
Our editorial team analyzed 71 nursing homes in SD using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in SD
Info below is compiled from CMS reports & the SD Dept. of Health (DOH), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.
Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.
The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
Care Types in This TableAL (Assisted Living):
Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing.
NH (Nursing Home):
24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs.
SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility):
Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness.
MC (Memory Care):
Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia.
RC (Respite Care):
Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break.
IL (Independent Living):
Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care.
HC (Home Care):
Professional care delivered in the person's own home, from companionship to skilled nursing.
HOS (Hospice Care):
Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment.
ADC (Adult Day Care):
Daytime supervision, health monitoring, and social activities for seniors who live at home.
PC (Palliative Care):
Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative treatment.
Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The South Dakota average is: 58.6% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
$2.4M*Fiscal year ending 2020These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
$1.9M*Fiscal year ending 2020These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
79%*Fiscal year ending 2020These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each nursing home is ranked against every other SD nursing home we track that reports that metric, not just the 71 on this page. See how we rank facilities
Tieszen Memorial Home offers nursing home and skilled nursing care, assisted living, hospice care, memory care, and independent living in Marion, SD. The range of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow from help with daily tasks to supervised memory care or nursing support.
Assisted living includes help with bathing, dressing, and medication while the resident maintains an apartment. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision, while nursing home and skilled nursing provide licensed nursing care around the clock. Hospice care focuses on comfort at the end of life, and independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care.
The home has 64 beds. Total nurse staffing is 4 hours and 35 minutes per resident each day, representing the daily nursing staff time associated with each resident. Rehabilitation services are available for residents working on recovery or functional abilities. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, and Laura Wilson serves as the administrator.
Skilled care is the name the center puts on its rehabilitation program. Alcester Care and Rehab Center stands in Alcester, South Dakota, with nursing home care, assisted living, and skilled nursing on one license. Forty-one beds puts it in the smaller end of the range, where the aide who helps someone one day is likely the same on the next, and the next week too.
Assisted living covers bathing, dressing, and medication for a person who does not need a nurse for those things. Skilled nursing covers the hours when someone does. Help with a shower in the afternoon and a licensed nurse at two in the morning are both something the building can handle.
Needs that change do not require a change of address to somewhere else.
Nursing time stands at 3 hours and 40 minutes for each resident daily. Therapy is part of the stay rather than an errand. A chapel, a sun room, and a salon are on the property, and there is also a gazebo and a backyard area outside. Tiffany Miller runs the center.
Three payment routes are open here: Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.
Menno-Olivet Care Center offers nursing home, assisted living, hospice care, respite care, and skilled nursing in Menno, South Dakota. Nursing home and skilled nursing services provide licensed nursing care for residents who need ongoing support, while assisted living helps with daily tasks. Hospice supports residents receiving end-of-life care. Short-term rehabilitation supports recovery during a temporary stay, and outpatient therapy provides rehabilitation without requiring an inpatient stay.
Respite care offers short stays for a family caregiver who needs temporary coverage while traveling or recovering. The range of care services may be a good fit for a resident whose needs change over time or a family seeking temporary care. The center has 41 beds, making it a smaller community where staff and residents can get to know each other. Private and semi-private rooms provide either an individual room or a shared room, while the whirlpool room offers a dedicated space for bathing and relaxation.
Meals on Wheels provides delivered meals, and Medicaid gives families an accepted payment option for care. Menno-Olivet Care Center opened in 1971 and is administered by Aisha Abbink. Total nurse staffing is 5 hours and 52 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily hands-on nursing time allocated per resident.
Avera Maryhouse Long Term Care, located in Pierre, SD, offers a comprehensive range of senior living options and care services. With 80 certified beds, Avera Maryhouse provides nursing homes, assisted living, memory care for Alzheimer’s and dementia, and independent living options. Residents benefit from on-site occupational, physical, and speech therapy services, ensuring personalized care and support tailored to individual needs.
Avera Maryhouse is dedicated to improving the quality of life for its inhabitants and places a high value on comprehensive care and a lively community setting. A library, visitor and resident parking, and a variety of activities like arts and crafts, wellness and health programs, and spiritual pursuits are just a few of the community’s many amenities. Situated in close proximity to healthcare services and local conveniences, Avera Maryhouse offers residents a comfortable and supportive living in a warm and friendly setting.
Avantara Lake Norden offers nursing home, skilled nursing, hospice care, and memory care in Lake Norden, South Dakota. Nursing home and skilled nursing services provide licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while hospice focuses on comfort at the end of life.
The secured memory care unit provides supervision for a resident who may be at risk of wandering. Having these care options in one home may also suit someone whose needs change from short term rehabilitation or nursing support to memory or hospice care without requiring a move to a new community.
The home has 50 beds. Total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 37 minutes per resident each day, representing that amount of daily hands on nursing time for each resident.
Rehabilitation services include short term rehabilitation for someone who needs a temporary stay focused on recovery. Other programs address stroke and other neurological conditions, cardiac care, oncology recovery, orthopedic rehabilitation, and pulmonary care, providing clinical support tailored to those conditions.
Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted. Margaret Grimm serves as the administrator.
Oakview Terrace provides nursing home care, adult day care, assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Freeman, SD. Assisted living supports daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication management while a resident maintains a private living space; memory care provides a secured, supervised setting for someone at risk of wandering. Nursing home care provides residential nursing support, independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care, and adult day care provides care during the day.
The range of care levels may suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since care can continue within the same community rather than requiring a move elsewhere. With 45 beds, Oakview Terrace is a smaller community where staff and residents can get to know each other. Total nurse staffing is 5 hours 38 minutes per resident each day, representing the daily nursing time allocated per resident.
Landscaped gardens provide outdoor space for relaxation and reflection. Chef-prepared meals include options for different dietary needs and preferences. Courtney Unruh serves as the administrator.
Prairie Heights Healthcare provides nursing home, hospice care, and skilled nursing in Aberdeen, SD. Nursing home services include short-term and long-term care, while skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Hospice care is available for residents receiving hospice services, so Prairie Heights Healthcare can suit someone whose needs include skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or hospice support during a short- or long-term stay.
The home has 99 beds. Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay are accepted, giving families several stated ways to cover care. Darcy Albrecht serves as administrator.
Total nurse staffing is 3h 41m per resident/day, representing the recorded daily nursing time assigned to each resident. Rehabilitation therapy supports recovery needs, while dialysis, pain management, dental care, and podiatry services address specific clinical needs. Individualized care plans organize services around each resident’s documented needs.
Westhills Village sits at 255 Texas St in Rapid City, South Dakota, in a stretch of the city that’s firmly car-dependent. The Walk Score here comes in at 21, so anyone visiting should plan on driving. There’s not much within walking distance, and that’s just the nature of this part of town.
The facility has 44 beds, and right now every single one is filled. A full house at one year of operation says something on its own; this is a place that filled up fast. Rehabilitation services and respite care are both available here, meaning residents can come in for short-term recovery work or for a temporary stay while family caregivers get a break.
Staffing runs around the clock, and the numbers back that up with real specificity. Registered nurses put in about 1 hour and 13 minutes per resident each day, while licensed practical nurses contribute another 28 minutes. Add nurse aide time, and the total nursing care residents receive averages 4 hours and 36 minutes per resident, per day.
Financially, Westhills Village takes Medicare and private pay, so there’s more than one route to covering costs depending on a family’s situation. There’s also a volunteer program woven into daily life here, which tends to matter more than people expect once they’re actually living somewhere.
South Dakota’s Department of Health, Office of Health Care Facilities Licensure oversees inspections, and the recurring focus areas, medication management, infection control, and resident rights, are the same categories regulators lean on everywhere. Between the full occupancy, the staffing hours, and the rehab and respite options on the table, Westhills Village reads as a facility that’s found its footing quickly and is running at real capacity.
Overview of Bethany Home Sioux Falls/bethany Home-Brandon
Bethany Home Sioux Falls/bethany Home-Brandon offers nursing home and skilled nursing care, assisted living, independent living, and memory care in Sioux Falls, SD. Nursing home and skilled nursing care provide licensed nursing support around the clock, while assisted living helps with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication. Independent living provides private housing without daily care, and memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering.
Because the community offers several care levels, it may be a good fit for a resident whose needs could grow over time and who may be able to remain in the same community as care needs change. The community has 112 beds, and total nurse staffing is 5h 36m per resident per day, representing the daily nursing time allocated to each resident. Amanda Peterson serves as the administrator.
The Independent Homes & Apartments program supports the independent living offering with housing for residents who do not need daily care. Rehabilitation services are available, giving residents access to therapy through the community. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted as payment methods.
A Walk Score of 65 places the area in the somewhat walkable category, meaning some errands can be done on foot and a resident who no longer drives may still reach some nearby destinations independently.
Avantara Clark City provides nursing home, hospice care, and skilled nursing services in Clark, SD. Nursing home and skilled nursing services give residents a residential setting with licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while hospice care focuses on comfort for a person with a life limiting illness. Short term rehabilitation gives a resident a temporary setting for recovery after an illness, injury, or medical treatment.
Orthopedic care, oncology recovery care, wound care, and rehabilitation services may suit someone recovering from orthopedic treatment or cancer care. The home has 35 beds. Total nurse staffing is 3h 3m per resident/day, representing the total daily nurse time allocated to each resident across the nursing staff. Families can use Medicare, Medicaid, or private pay to fund care, and Rachel Morehouse serves as administrator.
Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports. Rank badges compare each home against other nursing homes in the same state — never against assisted living, memory care, or independent living communities.
How we're paid:If we help you find a home and you move in, that home may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
Avg Overall CMS Rating:2.7/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in South Dakota. Ratings combine health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average:3.2/ 5
Avg Staffing Rating:3.3/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in South Dakota. Reflects nursing staff hours per resident per day (including RNs), adjusted for residents' care needs. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average:3.4/ 5
Avg Health Insp. Rating:2.7/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in South Dakota. Based on each facility's recent inspections and complaint investigations, weighing the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in South Dakota
What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in South Dakota?
Assisted living in South Dakota is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.
Does South Dakota Medicaid cover nursing home care?
Yes — South Dakota Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet income, asset, and medical-need eligibility requirements. Most CMS-certified nursing homes accept Medicaid as a primary payer once long-term-care eligibility is established.
What is nursing home care?
Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses, rehabilitation services, and long-term custodial care for residents with significant health or functional needs.
How many nursing homes are listed on this page?
This page features 71 nursing homes in South Dakota. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.
How do I choose the right nursing home in South Dakota?
Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in South Dakota, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.
What should I look for when visiting nursing homes in South Dakota?
Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.
If you move into a community through us, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never changes your cost or which options we recommend. Learn more
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