Page 2 of Best Nursing Homes in South Dakota

Overview of Avantara Clark City

Avantara Clark City is a 35-bed nursing home in Clark, South Dakota, providing short-term rehabilitation services with specialized support in orthopedic recovery, wound care, and oncology rehabilitation. Privately owned and operated, the community serves individuals throughout Clark County with a strong emphasis on post-acute recovery and transitional skilled nursing care following hospitalization or surgery.

The community has maintained a notably strong inspection history over the past seven years, with only five total citations across inspections, placing it among the best-performing nursing communities in South Dakota for both total citations and citations per inspection. Notably, these is no critical citations, a performance level significantly stronger than statewide averages. One serious citation was identified and resolved in 2024, while the remaining deficiencies were classified at the moderate level. However, the community received a federal monetary penalty in September 2024 related to compliance issues, though this amount remained well below the South Dakota average for similar penalties.

Staffing levels align with the community’s focus on short-term rehabilitation and recovery care, with an average of 3 hours and 9 minutes of nursing care per day, slightly below the South Dakota average of 3 hours and 46 minutes. Meanwhile, occupancy remains steady at approximately 79%, closely matching statewide trends and reflecting consistent demand for rehabilitation-focused services. Many short-term rehabilitation residents also remain in the community for one to two months while recovering from surgery, illness, or hospitalization before returning home or transitioning to another care setting.

The care model is designed primarily for older adults requiring focused, skilled nursing and rehabilitation support during recovery periods. Services are commonly focused on post-acute patients needing rehabilitation following orthopedic procedures, acute medical events, wound treatment, or oncology-related recovery.

Avantara Clark City is a strong option for individuals in Clark County seeking short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitation care within a smaller community environment focused on recovery, therapy, and transitional medical support.

Overview of Dells Nursing and Rehab Center

Owned by Stroschein Properties LLC, Dells Nursing and Rehab Center is a nursing and rehabilitation facility in Dell Rapids, South Dakota. The 46-bed facility is located on Thresher Drive. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for covering both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care.

The community has an occupancy rate of 89%. Residents stay an average of about 15 months, including people recovering through rehabilitation and those needing ongoing skilled nursing care. The facility provides short-term rehabilitation and longer-term care.

Residents recovering from illness, surgery, or a hospital stay can access physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. Those staying longer receive 24-hour nursing care and dietary services depending on their individual needs.

Total nursing care averages 4 hours per resident each day. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses work together to provide coordinated support and daily care. Meals are an important part of daily life at the facility. Residents are served homemade meals in a family-style dining setting. Residents have access to an open breakfast service and meal choices at each sitting, so they can choose what they eat throughout the day.

The surrounding area has a Walk Score of 60, so some errands and nearby services can be reached while walking. Families visiting from outside the area may appreciate the small-town setting and the community-focused approach to care.

Overview of Bethesda Home of Aberdeen

Bethesda Home of Aberdeen is an 86-bed skilled nursing facility in Aberdeen, South Dakota, operated by Scott Eisenbeisz under a church-affiliated nonprofit. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, with a payer mix oriented heavily toward private pay (31%) and Medicare short-term rehab (57% of admissions), reflecting a 153-day average length of stay.

Across three standard inspections since 2022, the facility recorded 9 total deficiencies, 53% below the South Dakota average of 19. There were no fines, immediate jeopardy findings, or substantiated complaint investigations. Deficiency themes have been consistent: food temperature monitoring and care coordination with hospice. All citations were moderate severity; none were serious or critical.

CMS rates the facility 4 stars overall, with a 5-star Health Inspection rating placing it 8th out of 59 South Dakota nursing homes on citation count. Staffing holds a 4-star rating, with total nurse hours averaging 4 hours and 23 minutes per resident per day, 16% above the South Dakota average of 3 hours and 46 minutes. Physical therapist staffing is double the state average, a meaningful differentiator for post-acute rehab residents.

Quality Measures earned 2 stars, driven by weaker short-stay outcomes in falls, ED visit rates, and self-care ability at discharge. Occupancy rate is 93%, ranking the facility 8th in South Dakota and well above the state’s average of 79.9%.

Bethesda Home of Aberdeen fits residents seeking post-acute skilled nursing or long-term care in Brown County, particularly those for whom strong inspection performance and above-average staffing hours are deciding factors.

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. 

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.

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 Spearfish Canyon Healthcare

Spearfish Canyon Healthcare is a nursing home in Spearfish, South Dakota, providing skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, and a range of specialized medical services. The 105-bed community is administered by Charlotte Pentheny. Both Medicare and Medicaid are accepted, broadening access for a range of financial situations.

According to CMS data, the community holds an overall rating of 3 stars, placing it in the average tier compared to national baselines but above the local market average of 2.4 stars. The community also features an “Average” 3-star health inspection rating, with 8 citations recorded during its most recent standard health survey on August 28, 2025. This performance is slightly above the South Dakota statewide average of 6.9 citations but remains lower than the national average of 9.4.

A complaint survey was also completed in July 2025, which identified deficiencies related to care quality and accident prevention following an elopement incident. This finding was immediately addressed through corrective staff education. Its quality of care metrics are strong, particularly for long-stay residents, with significantly fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits than state averages. However, its nursing staffing levels and turnover metrics currently hold a “Below Average” rating.

Confirmed services include rehabilitation services, long-term and short-term care, pain management, dental care, dialysis, podiatry, and licensed professional nursing staff on-site. The range of specialized services, particularly dialysis and dental care, is noteworthy for a community of this size and reflects a higher level of clinical capability than many similarly sized rural communities.

Spearfish Canyon Healthcare is ideal for older adults in the Spearfish area and broader Black Hills region seeking skilled nursing care, post-acute rehabilitation, or long-term residential support, particularly those with complex medical needs such as dialysis or chronic pain management.

Overview of Avantara Mountain View

Avantara Mountain View is a nursing home in Rapid City, South Dakota, offering skilled nursing and post-acute rehabilitation. Privately operated by Mountain View SD Skilled Nursing Facility, LLC, this 95-bed community is currently operating at an 81% occupancy rate, which is similar to the state average and reflects local demand.

Operating under federal CMS guidelines and South Dakota state licensure, the community features a robust multi-disciplinary care framework. The clinical support specializes in high-acuity post-surgical care, stroke and neurological recovery, cardiac rehabilitation, and orthopedic stabilization. A defining structural strength of the community is its physical therapy staffing ratio, which tracks 33% above the South Dakota state average. While average nursing hours sit slightly below state benchmarks at 3 hours and 25 minutes per resident daily, the overall care matrix successfully minimizes long-stay risks, achieving a major injury fall rate that is 66% lower than the state average and maintaining exceptionally low indicators for resident depressive symptoms.

The community consistently maintains an above-average performance track, with a 3-star overall CMS rating, where quality measures and health inspection scores outperform the state average. In its past inspection cycles, a localized cluster of moderate citations tied to routine pharmacy services and infection control protocols has been identified, which resulted in a single minor federal fine in mid-2024 that is 77% below regional averages. However, all findings were systematically resolved under approved plans of correction.

Positioned in a well-established neighborhood pocket, the community achieves a walk score of 83, ranking eighth highest among similar communities statewide, giving visiting families and ambulatory residents excellent pedestrian access to local pharmacies, retail centers, and restaurants.

Avantara Mountain View’s unique combination of high physical therapy concentration, strong short-term rehabilitation metrics, and an exceptionally walkable urban location makes it a practical option for post-hospitalization care in Rapid City and the broader Black Hills.

Overview of Aurora Brule Nursing Home

Located on Johnston Street in White Lake, South Dakota, Aurora Brule Nursing Home is a 50-bed skilled nursing facility. The home accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families several ways to cover short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care. The facility has an occupancy rate of 62%. Residents stay an average of 176 days, including those receiving post-acute rehabilitation and needing longer-term care.

Rehabilitation is a key part of the facility’s services. Inpatient and outpatient therapy are available. There’s also respite care for families needing temporary support. A doctor is on staff, and the home provides 24-hour nursing care.

Residents receive an average of 3 hours and 27 minutes of nursing care each day. Registered nurses provide 30 minutes of that daily care. This level of staffing supports residents recovering from surgery, illness, or a hospital stay and provides their ongoing medical needs.

White Lake is a rural community with a Walk Score of 17, so the area is car-dependent. Most errands and visits require transportation. Some families may appreciate the quieter small-town setting and slower pace of the area.

Families considering Aurora Brule Nursing Home should ask about rehabilitation services, daily care routines, and recent resident experiences to determine whether the facility’s services match a loved one’s care and recovery needs.

Overview of Highmore Health

Highmore Health has served Hyde County for more than 50 years as a nursing home in Highmore, South Dakota. Caring Professionals operates the facility under administrator Kim Knox. The 39-bed community provides skilled nursing, rehabilitation, memory care, long-term care, and palliative support and accepts Medicare and Medicaid.

The facility holds a 3-star CMS overall rating. Its Health Inspection rating is above the South Dakota average, but its Quality Measures rating is below average, pulling the overall rating down.

Across three inspections since 2023, Highmore Health recorded 23 citations, averaging 7.67 per inspection, compared with a statewide mean of 3.34. One citation was classified as critical and three as serious. A $13,000 federal fine appears in the record, 67% below the South Dakota average for fined facilities, with no penalties issued in the past three years.

Occupancy runs at 90%, notably above South Dakota’s 79.9% average and ranks 15th among 54 state facilities, a signal of consistent local demand in a rural county. Physical therapist staffing is double the state average at 6 minutes per resident per day, a standout figure for a short-stay rehabilitation population. Total nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 35 minutes per resident per day, modestly below the state’s 3 hours and 46 minutes. CNA and LPN staffing are below state averages, while RN staffing is 10% above.

The facility has an active resident council to round out the care model alongside its on-site rehabilitation services.

With a payer mix weighted toward Medicare admissions and an average length of stay of 440 days, Highmore Health is structured for both short-term post-acute rehabilitation and longer-term care in a small, rural community setting.