Page 4 of Best Nursing Homes in South Dakota

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 Sun Dial Manor

Located in Bristol, South Dakota, Sun Dial Manor is a nursing home in a small Day County community. It offers nursing home, skilled nursing, and assisted living care under one roof. Joy Voss serves as administrator. Families can choose from Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay to cover short-term rehabilitation and longer-term stays.

The 37-bed community has been operating for about 1 year. It currently has an occupancy rate of roughly 58%, so space is available for new residents. Residents stay an average of around 373 days, which reflects shorter post-acute rehabilitation admissions and residents receiving extended nursing care.

Total nursing coverage averages about 4 hours and 21 minutes per resident daily. This includes registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, and nurse aide time. Residents receive steady hands-on support throughout the day. State health inspections have often focused on resident rights and quality-of-care practices, while other areas include infection control and administrative recordkeeping.

Clinical services include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. The home also provides 24-hour nursing care and memory care services. Outpatient therapy supports residents continuing their recovery after hospitalization. Transportation to medical appointments and weekly spiritual support are also available, and residents have access to in-room cable and personalized living spaces. Families considering this smaller, rural setting may ask how staff organize social activities and programming within the town.

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 Aberdeen Health and Rehab

Aberdeen Health and Rehab has proven an efficient rehabilitative approach to skilled nursing and rehab in order to enhance their quality of life. They have a team of well-trained care staff who deliver a multidisciplinary approach to nursing when providing tailored care– ensuring service with compassion, kindness, and professionalism.

Aberdeen specializes in long-term care, outpatient rehabilitation, and transitional/post-acute care; along with services such as transportation, housekeeping, and laundry– to name a few of the features that residents from both living options get unlimited access to.

Overview of Avantara Norton

At 92% occupancy less than a year after opening, Avantara Norton has moved quickly from new construction to near-full capacity. The 110-bed nursing home at 3600 South Norton Ave in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is administered by Ashley Nickel and sits in a moderately walkable part of the city (Walk Score 61), where the nearest hospital is just over a mile away.

The average resident stay of 97 days tells you something useful about how this place functions. This is not a long-term residency setting for most people who come through. It is a structured recovery environment, built around a specific clinical menu: post-surgical care, orthopedic rehabilitation, cardiac care, pulmonary care, oncology recovery, and stroke and other neurological conditions. Respite care is also available for families who need a temporary placement.

Staffing data reported to CMS shows total nursing time at 3 hours and 32 minutes per resident per day. Registered nurses account for 39 minutes of that figure; nurse aides account for 2 hours and 21 minutes. Avantara Norton accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, which means residents arriving on Medicare for short-term rehab and those transitioning to Medicaid for longer stays both have a coverage path here.

The facility opened recently, and we see a nursing home that filled fast and built its programming around complex post-acute cases rather than general long-term care. Avantara Norton is a reasonable fit for adults who need a defined, clinically supervised recovery period after a major medical event and plan to return home when that period ends.

Overview of Avantara Arrowhead

Seventy-five percent occupancy, or 51 of 68 beds, at a nursing home positioned in Rapid City’s Broadmoor Subdivision, about 2.3 miles from the city center and less than a mile from the nearest hospital. The address is 2500 Arrowhead Dr, and the surrounding area is car-dependent (Walk Score 12). Sharon Martin administers the facility, which operates within the Avantara network.

The average length of stay is 174 days. That number places Avantara Arrowhead in a middle zone: not a pure short-stay rehab operation, but not configured primarily around indefinite long-term residence either. Rehabilitation services and short-term rehab are the confirmed service lines, with orthopedic care listed as a clinical program.

Staffing reported to CMS totals 2 hours and 48 minutes of nursing care per resident per day. Registered nurses account for 47 minutes; nurse aides account for 2 hours and 2 minutes. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted.

Avantara Arrowhead is a mid-sized nursing home serving residents in post-acute and transitional care, with orthopedic rehabilitation among its confirmed clinical offerings and full coverage across Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

Overview of Rolling Hills Healthcare

Situated in the gorgeous town of Belle Fourche, South Dakota, Rolling Hills Healthcare offers a wide range of care options for seniors, including long term & short term care and rehab therapies. Whether you need physical, occupational, or speech therapy, their dedicated team is there to help. Seniors can enjoy the peaceful surroundings and friendly atmosphere of the community, making it a great place to relax and focus on wellness.

Rolling Hills Healthcare goes above and beyond in providing high-quality care with a personal touch. They aim to make every resident feel respected and well-cared-for by offering tailored care plans. The community features a variety of programs and amenities, including advanced therapies, pain management, dental care, dialysis, hospice services, and more. With a focus on individual wellness and rehabilitation, Rolling Hills Healthcare ensures that each resident receives the best possible care in a supportive and compassionate environment.

Overview of Jenkin`s Living Center

Jenkin’s Living Center is a nonprofit nursing home in Watertown, South Dakota, that focuses on short-term rehabilitation and post-acute recovery services. This relatively new community also accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Confirmed services also include transportation, 24-hour skilled nursing support, individualized care planning, therapy programs, and restaurant-style dining.

The community currently holds a 1-star overall CMS rating, reflecting ongoing challenges related to regulatory compliance and quality oversight. Over the past four years, six inspections resulted in 25 health citations, significantly exceeding the South Dakota average. These include one critical citation and two serious deficiencies, while complaint investigations identified incidents involving inadequate supervision related to a fatal fall and medication administration errors. Between October 2023 and April 2024, the community received two federal fines.

Inspection reports also documented recurring concerns in areas such as infection control, resident care planning, environmental safety, fall prevention, and pressure ulcer management. Although corrective actions were implemented, several issues reappeared across multiple inspection cycles.

Staffing performance presents a more favorable picture and represents one of the community’s stronger operational areas. Nursing care is provided more than four hours daily on average, exceeding South Dakota benchmarks and earning the community a 4-star CMS staffing rating. Licensed practical nurse coverage is especially strong, which is above state averages and supports routine hands-on care and medication management.

The resident population is also heavily oriented toward short-term rehabilitation, with Medicare admissions accounting for the majority of new residents and typical rehabilitation stays averaging just over three weeks. Additionally, current occupancy levels remain below the state average, suggesting availability for immediate placement.

Jenkin’s Living Center is best suited for older adults seeking short-term rehabilitation or skilled nursing support in the Watertown area, particularly those who value stronger staffing coverage. However, careful review of the community’s inspection history and compliance record is advised.

Overview of Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Village

Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Village is a nonprofit nursing home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering assisted living, independent living, memory care, rehabilitation therapy, and long-term nursing support. With 177 licensed beds, this church-operated community is one of the largest senior care campuses in South Dakota and operates under the Good Samaritan Society’s faith-based nonprofit mission. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay are also accepted.

The community currently holds a 1-star overall CMS rating, with health inspection and quality measure scores falling below South Dakota averages. On the other hand, staffing levels compare more favorably and are among the community’s stronger operational areas. Nursing care per day is recorded at over four hours on average, placing the community above statewide benchmarks. Licensed practical nurse coverage and weekend nursing hours also exceed state averages, while registered nurse and nurse aide staffing remain modestly below benchmark levels.

Occupancy remains high at nearly 90%, reflecting stable demand and an established reputation within the region. Additionally, the resident population includes a mix of short-term rehabilitation patients, private-pay residents, and Medicaid-supported long-term care residents. Medicare residents typically stay for shorter rehabilitation-focused periods, while private-pay and Medicaid residents often remain for several months. The broad continuum of care available, ranging from independent living to memory care, allows residents to transition between care levels as needs evolve.

Good Samaritan Society Sioux Falls Village is ideal for older adults and families seeking a large nonprofit community with multiple living and care options, strong overall staffing investment, and the ability to support both short-term rehabilitation and long-term residential care under one roof.

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.