Page 4 of Best Nursing Homes in South Dakota

Overview of Avantara Pierre

Avantara Pierre is a nursing home in Pierre, South Dakota, that provides a specialized clinical setting tailored to high-acuity therapeutic recovery, memory care, and extended skilled nursing. The community serves Hughes County under the leadership of Chase Watson. With a 65-bed capacity, the community maintains an operational occupancy rate of 79%, matching South Dakota state averages and reflecting stable local demand.

Nutritious meals, daily housekeeping, laundry, and facility maintenance are among the confirmed services, along with a calendar of recreational activities, stretching exercises, and interactive social hours. The care framework also delivers round-the-clock clinical supervision, physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and structured dementia management programs.

Operating under federal CMS certification, the community utilizes an interdisciplinary care model to manage complex health transitions. The clinical pipeline specializes in short-term post-hospitalization recovery, with Medicare-covered short-stays averaging two to three months and accounting for 53% of new admissions. While baseline direct nursing hours track below state benchmarks at 2 hours and 36 minutes per resident daily, the community’s quality measures score roughly 10% above the state average, indicating that clinical outcomes and preventative benchmarks for current residents remain highly competitive.

The community holds a 2-star overall CMS rating, with performance metrics tracking below state baselines in the staffing and health inspection categories. To accommodate diverse financial setups, Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and VA contracts are accepted.

For families in Pierre and broader Central South Dakota seeking a therapy-focused environment for post-acute recovery, Avantara Pierre provides specialized short-term rehabilitation and dedicated memory care services within an accessible urban location.

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 Custer Care and Rehab Center

Custer Care and Rehab Center is a government-operated nursing home in Custer, South Dakota, providing skilled nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, and respite care. Operated through a subsidized community district and maintaining Medicare certification, this community is administered by Madison Barta. With a 35-bed capacity, its smaller size and rural location allow it to serve as one of the few local skilled nursing care options available within Custer County.

The community currently holds a 1-star overall CMS rating, with health inspection scores and quality measures both ranking below the state average. Staffing scores are roughly 65% lower than statewide benchmarks, representing the most significant area of concern among the available performance metrics. Families evaluating care options may want to review these indicators carefully alongside more detailed inspection findings and current staffing information.

Since 2025, the community has undergone two health inspections, with the most recent completed in August 2025. Across those inspections, 20 health citations have been recorded, exceeding the South Dakota average of 14.8. This places the community at the bottom statewide for citations per inspection, averaging 10 citations per visit compared with the state average of 3.34.

However, all identified deficiencies were classified as moderate in severity, with no critical or serious citations reported, meaning inspectors did not identify situations involving immediate jeopardy or findings associated with severe resident harm. Citation categories included administration, infection control, quality of care and quality of life, resident rights, pharmacy services, environmental concerns, and abuse prevention. All of which were documented as corrected.

Confirmed amenities and services include 24-hour nursing support, high-speed Wi-Fi, mounted televisions with cable service in resident rooms, a daily snack cart, and three meals per day with alternate menu selections available. Respite care services are also offered, providing temporary care options for caregivers and families who need short-term support placements. 24-hour staffing coverage is also confirmed.

Its location in Custer has a Walk Score of 49, suggesting moderate walkability with some nearby services available within walking distance, while transportation may still be needed for many daily errands and appointments.

Custer Care and Rehab Center is most appropriate for older adults in Custer and the surrounding Southern Black Hills area who require local access to skilled nursing or respite care, particularly in a region where alternative care communities may be limited.

Overview of Five Counties Nursing Home

Five Counties Nursing Home is a 37-bed skilled nursing facility in Lemmon, South Dakota, operated as a voluntary nonprofit. The facility offers short- and long-term care, rehabilitation services, memory care, and assisted living and independent living options for residents in Perkins County.

Five Counties holds a 1-star CMS overall rating, driven primarily by its Health Inspection record, which ranks the facility 53rd out of 59 South Dakota skilled nursing facilities and is 60.8% below the state average. It has accumulated $32,000 in federal fines, which is 20% below the South Dakota average among facilities that received penalties.

Staffing is the clear counterweight: total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 9 minutes per resident per day, 4.5% above the state average, placing the facility 19th in South Dakota on that measure.

The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Occupancy rate is 87%, above the state average of 79.9%, reflecting sustained local demand in a rural market with limited alternatives.

Five Counties serves long-term and post-acute residents in the Lemmon area who require accessible skilled nursing care and accept a smaller, rural facility with a nonprofit governance model.

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 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.