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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.
HOS (Hospice Care):
Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over 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.
$10.4M*Fiscal year ending 08/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
$4.2M*Fiscal year ending 08/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
40.8%*Fiscal year ending 08/2022These 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
Avantara Pierre is a 65 bed nursing home in Pierre, South Dakota, offering skilled nursing, hospice care, and memory care. Licensed nurses provide care on site around the clock, while hospice focuses on comfort and support at the end of life. Memory care is secured and supervised, which can suit someone living with dementia who may be at risk of wandering.
Total nurse staffing is 2 hours and 55 minutes per resident each day, representing the daily nursing time assigned to each resident. Rehabilitation includes short term rehab and programs for postsurgical recovery, stroke and other neurological conditions, cardiac care, oncology recovery, pulmonary care, and orthopedic rehabilitation. These services support residents recovering from surgery or managing specific medical and physical needs.
Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted. Medicare can cover short term skilled care after a hospital stay, while Medicaid may help when savings do not cover a long stay. Chase Watson serves as the administrator, and a Walk Score of 63 places the area in the somewhat walkable band, so some errands can be done on foot and a resident who no longer drives may be able to complete certain outings independently.
Bethesda of Beresford provides nursing home and skilled nursing care in Beresford, South Dakota. Licensed nursing care is available on site around the clock, while therapy and rehabilitation services support treatment and recovery needs. The community may be a good fit for someone who needs ongoing nursing support in a smaller setting.
With 39 beds, Bethesda of Beresford is a smaller community where staff and residents can get to know each other. Total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 45 minutes per resident each day, representing the daily hands-on nursing time allocated to each resident. The community has provided care since opening in 1986.
Medicare, Medicaid and private pay are accepted, giving families several ways to cover a nursing stay based on the resident’s eligibility and resources. Britney Senger serves as the administrator.
Avantara Groton is a nursing home in Groton, SD that offers hospice care and skilled nursing. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while hospice care supports residents receiving end-of-life care.
The community offers rehabilitation services and short-term rehabilitation, which can suit someone recovering from an illness, injury, or procedure who needs a temporary stay for recovery. Its healthcare services include orthopedic care, stroke and neurological care, cardiac care, and oncology recovery care, giving residents access to treatment for these documented needs.
Avantara Groton has 45 beds, placing it among smaller communities where staff and residents can get to know each other. Total nurse staffing is 3h 28m per resident per day, representing the daily nursing time allocated per resident. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, and Chloe Brand serves as the administrator.
Sun Dial Manor is a nursing home in Bristol, SD, offering skilled nursing and assisted living care. Skilled nursing provides nursing care on site around the clock, while assisted living helps with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication management.
With 37 beds, Sun Dial Manor may be a good fit for someone who prefers a smaller community where staff and residents can get to know each other. Assisted living rooms are private or shared, so a resident can choose a room for one person or living space with a companion.
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are available. These services support movement, daily activities, and communication needs, while transportation to medical appointments helps residents attend necessary visits.
Weekly religious services provide spiritual support and an opportunity to participate in religious activities at the community. Sun Dial Manor accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.
Total nurse staffing is 5 hours and 32 minutes per resident per day, representing the amount of nursing staff time assigned to each resident across a day. Joy Voss serves as administrator.
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.
Strand-Kjorsvig Community Rest Home offers nursing home and skilled nursing care, assisted living, hospice care, and respite care in Roslyn, SD. Assisted living includes help with bathing, dressing, and medication management, while nursing and skilled nursing provide licensed nursing support. Hospice care is available for residents needing end of life care, and respite care offers a short stay when a usual caregiver needs time away or recovery.
The home has served the community since 1957 and has 33 beds. Its smaller size may suit someone who prefers a setting where staff and residents can get to know each other. Families can also consider ongoing and short term support within one community.
Private rooms and couples’ suites give one resident a private room or allow two people to move in together. Rehabilitation and short term rehabilitation are available for residents needing therapy during a recovery focused stay, and transportation is provided for medical appointments. Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay are accepted: Medicaid may help when savings will not cover a long stay, while Medicare generally applies to short term skilled care after a hospital stay rather than long term residence. Total nurse staffing is 4 hours 13 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily nurse time allocated to each resident, and Samuel Van Voorst serves as administrator.
Assisted living, skilled nursing, and nursing home care are the three names attached to Centerville Care and Rehab Center in Centerville, SD. Assisted living handles the daily tasks and stops short of nursing oversight. Skilled nursing brings licensed care indoors at any hour, so the two levels differ in how much help arrives, not in whether it is there. Nursing home care is for a resident needing that oversight and daily support together.
Rehabilitation services put therapy in the same building. Forty-two beds keep the community small, and staff and residents may come to know one another. One resident’s day here uses 3 hours and 40 minutes of nursing.
The area scores 43 for walking, which is car-dependent, so an errand is a trip somebody has to plan rather than a walk somebody takes. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay all work here, and the choice is between coverage somebody grants and payment a family makes. Raigan Schmidt is named administrator.
Overview of Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Care Center
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Care Center is a nursing home in Flandreau, South Dakota, offering memory care and skilled nursing. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for a resident who may be at risk of wandering, while skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. These services can suit someone who needs ongoing nursing support or a supervised setting for dementia related needs.
The center has 42 beds, creating a smaller community where staff and residents can get to know one another. It opened in 2022. Personal grooming and relaxation are supported by a salon and spa, while a courtyard offers outdoor time and a private family dining area provides space for meals with visiting relatives.
A doctor is on staff, and transportation is available for resident needs. The administrator is AnnMarie Kutzke. The area has a Walk Score of 59, described as somewhat walkable, so some errands can be completed on foot while others may require transportation.
Some residents at Avantara Saint Cloud have a dementia diagnosis, and memory care covers them on the license. There comes a time when explaining something to a person with dementia stops working, and memory care starts there. Nursing home care and skilled nursing round out the license in Rapid City, South Dakota.
At home, one family member is usually already working the night shift, unpaid and untrained. The night shift here is staffed the same as every other shift. Rehabilitation services are there for residents whose care includes therapy.
The end date is the point of a respite stay. What comes up most is not a caregiver who’s left, but one still there and in need of rest.
This home has 78 beds, and each resident is given, on average, 2 hours and 58 minutes of nursing care a day.
A salon operates on site, with community spaces set aside for family gatherings. Three routes cover the bill here: Medicaid, Medicare, and private funds. Whichever one applies shifts at different points.
Ashley Altena is the administrator. The resident this suits has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and needs supervision throughout the day and night.
United Living Community offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing in Brookings, SD. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care; assisted living adds help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while a resident keeps an apartment; memory care provides a secured setting with supervision; and skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock.
The community has 81 beds. Respite care provides a short stay for a family whose usual caregiver needs to travel or recover, while short-term rehabilitation supports a temporary stay focused on rehabilitation needs. Rehabilitation services include hydrotherapy, giving residents an additional therapy option within the community.
A Walk Score of 82 means the area is very walkable, with most errands possible on foot, so a resident who no longer drives can still reach nearby destinations independently. Total nurse staffing is 5 hours and 17 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily hands-on nursing time allocated to each resident. Payment options are Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay; Medicare applies to short-term skilled care after a hospital stay rather than long-term residence, while Medicaid may help when savings do not cover a long stay. Liz DeBerg serves as the administrator, and the combination of several care levels may suit a resident whose needs could grow over time without leaving the community.
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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