Best Nursing Homes in South Dakota

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.

Overview of Prairie Heights Healthcare

Prairie Heights Healthcare is a skilled nursing community in Aberdeen, South Dakota, providing rehabilitation therapy, long-term residential care, short-term skilled nursing, and a range of specialized clinical services. Administered by Darcy Albrecht with a Medicare certification, this 99-bed community accepts both Medicaid and Medicare, helping broaden access for individuals with varying financial and healthcare coverage needs. Occupancy is below the state average, with a 63.2% occupancy rate, suggesting availability.

Confirmed care services include rehabilitation therapy, long-term and short-term nursing care, licensed nursing support, pain management, dental services, dialysis, and podiatry care. The availability of both dialysis and on-site dental services is particularly notable for a mid-sized skilled nursing community in the Aberdeen market, offering added convenience for residents managing multiple medical conditions or requiring ongoing specialized treatment. Positioned in one of the most walkable areas among South Dakota nursing communities, with a Walk Score of 85, the community provides convenient access to many nearby services and destinations on foot.

Prairie Heights Healthcare is well-suited for older adults in Aberdeen and throughout Brown County seeking skilled nursing support, post-acute rehabilitation, or long-term residential care, as it has a wide range of specialized services.

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 Avantara Lake Norden

Avantara Lake Norden is a privately owned nursing home in Lake Norden, South Dakota, that offers memory care, short-term rehabilitation, and specialized clinical support services. The 50-bed community is owned and administered by Margaret Grimm and operates under an active CMS certification. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay residents are accepted, providing flexibility for a variety of care needs and financial situations.

The community holds a 5-star overall CMS rating, the highest designation available, and performs substantially above South Dakota averages across multiple quality categories. Health inspection scores rank exceptionally high, while quality measures also exceed statewide benchmarks by a wide margin, reflecting strong regulatory performance and positive resident outcomes. Staffing ratings are modestly above average according to CMS methodology, although raw nursing hours per resident remain somewhat below state averages. Weekend nursing coverage also averages 2 hours and 44 minutes daily.

The community has an occupancy rate of 92%, reflecting sustained demand and local confidence in the community’s services. Medicare residents typically remain for one to two months, while private-pay residents often stay several months longer. The average overall length of stay is approximately 175 days.

Secured memory care services are a particularly important differentiator in the region, offering support for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in an area where specialized memory care options may be limited.

Avantara Lake Norden is ideal for older adults and families seeking a highly rated skilled nursing community with memory care capabilities, strong inspection outcomes, and a reputation supported by high occupancy and sustained community demand in Hamlin County and eastern South Dakota.

Owned by Stroschein Properties III LLC, Alcester Care and Rehab Center is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Alcester, South Dakota. The 41-bed home is located at 101 Church Street and serves residents who need ongoing nursing care and support during recovery after an illness or hospital stay. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for covering care costs.

The facility has an occupancy rate of 95%, where residents stay an average of about 523 days. The population is a mix of people receiving rehabilitation services and those needing longer-term nursing care.

Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 43 minutes of nursing care each day. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical or vocational nurses make up the care team. This level of support helps residents during recovery and assists those who need ongoing skilled nursing care and daily medical oversight.

The facility is located in a rural part of South Dakota. Alcester has a Walk Score of 14, making the area car-dependent. Most errands and visits require transportation. Families who prefer a smaller community setting may appreciate the town’s quieter environment.

Daily life is supported by practical amenities throughout the facility. Residents are served meals in a large dining room. Other features include a chapel, sun room, beauty shop, laundry services, and outdoor spaces such as a backyard area and gazebo, and residents and visitors can spend time together here.

Families looking for skilled nursing and rehabilitation care in a small-town setting should consider Alcester Care and Rehab Center for its nursing support, rehabilitation services, and on-site amenities that support short-term recovery and ongoing care needs.

Overview of Menno-Olivet Care Center

Menno-Olivet Care Center is a church-operated nonprofit nursing home in Menno, South Dakota, that offers long-term care, assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, respite services, hospice care, and outpatient therapy. The 41-bed community is owned by Lacee Feltman, administered by Aisha Abbink, and accepts Medicaid. Additionally, its occupancy rate is 58.3%, which falls below the state average and suggests availability.

The community maintains a 5-star overall CMS rating and performs substantially above South Dakota averages in both health inspections and staffing measures. Staffing represents the community’s strongest performance area, with total nursing hours reaching nearly double the statewide average. Weekend nursing coverage and registered nurse availability also exceed state benchmarks by significant margins, while licensed practical nurse and nurse aide hours remain above average as well. Quality measure scores, however, fall somewhat below statewide averages, making it worthwhile for families to review specific outcome metrics alongside the community’s staffing strengths.

Amenities and services include private and semi-private rooms, a spa-style whirlpool room, outpatient therapy services, and coordination for Meals on Wheels support. Respite care, hospice, and rehabilitation services are also available to broaden the range of care available within the community.

Menno-Olivet Care Center is especially well-suited for older adults and families in Hutchinson County and rural south-central South Dakota who value exceptionally high staffing levels, faith-based care, and a smaller community-oriented environment focused on personalized support and direct caregiving attention.

Overview of Westhills Village

Relish a life filled with enriching experiences and a supportive environment. Nestled in Rapid City, South Dakota, Westhills Village Health Care Facility provides a range of options tailored to meet the needs of seniors such as independent senior living and retirement community to assisted living and health care services. This assisted living community has a vibrant and engaging atmosphere, ensuring residents feel right at home.
With an unwavering dedication to surpassing the needs and expectations of retirees, Westhills Village offers a comprehensive care program. Westhills Village seamlessly combines comfort, care, and convenience, making it an ideal destination for senior residents seeking an independent lifestyle and those who require additional support.

Tieszen Memorial Home serves Turner County residents through a full continuum of care that includes skilled care, memory care, assisted living, and independent living. The nonprofit community operates as a 64-bed nursing home in Marion, South Dakota, under administrator Laura Wilson.

Tieszen’s CMS record is strong. Three inspections since 2022 have resulted in 7 citations, well below the South Dakota average of 14.8. There were no critical or serious findings, and all citations were corrected. The facility’s 4-star overall CMS rating reflects above-average performance on both Health Inspections and Staffing. Nurse hours average 4 hours and 33 minutes per resident per day, 21% above the South Dakota mean, placing the facility15th among 57 state SNFs.

Occupancy is 89.2%, notably above the state’s average of 79.9%, which shows consistent local demand. Residents stay at an average of 409 days, indicating a population that trends toward longer-term placement. Rehabilitation services and a Wellness Center support residents with post-acute and ongoing care needs alongside the memory care and assisted living programs.

Tieszen Memorial Home fits older adults and families seeking a nonprofit community with a broad care continuum, from independent living through skilled and memory care, in a smaller rural South Dakota setting.

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.