Page 5 of Best Nursing Homes in South Dakota

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
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We analyzed These are the facilities in South Dakota our team has analyzed — not a count of every nursing home provider in South Dakota.
71 homes
Other senior care options in South Dakota:

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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 Table 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. 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.
Custer Care and Rehab Center
NH
HOS
RC
SNF
Custer
35
Facility 35
SD AVG 71
Rank #65 / 70
---? --
$0
Facility $0
SD AVG $38.5k
Rank #1 / 67
---27-
49
Facility 49
SD AVG 43
Rank #31 / 73
----43A140
Avantara Norton-
NH
HOS
SNF
Sioux Falls
110
Facility 110
SD AVG 71
Rank #6 / 70
88.9%
Facility 88.9%
SD AVG 84%
Rank #18 / 33
+6%
3.53
Facility 3.53
SD AVG 4.34
Rank #41 / 65
D+---+53%-19%
$153.6k
Facility $153.6k
SD AVG $38.5k
Rank #63 / 67
75
Facility 75
SD AVG 14.8
Rank #64 / 65
4.0
Facility 4.0
SD AVG 3.3
Rank #42 / 65
1998-
61
Facility 61
SD AVG 43
Rank #19 / 73
Jeremy Klinkhammer
$10.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $10.3MFiscal year ending 12/2023
SD AVG $7.1M
Rank #7 / 58
$4.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility $4.4MFiscal year ending 12/2023
SD AVG $4.2M
Rank #19 / 58
42.4%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
Facility 42.4%Fiscal year ending 12/2023
SD AVG 58.6%
Rank #57 / 58
435039
Avantara Huron-
NH
MC
SNF
Sw Huron
80
Facility 80
SD AVG 71
Rank #23 / 70
---?-----------
68
Facility 68
SD AVG 43
Rank #12 / 73
$1.5M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.$1.2M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.80.6%*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.435057

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

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Overview of Custer Care and Rehab Center

Custer Care and Rehab Center provides nursing home care, hospice care, respite care, and skilled nursing in Custer, South Dakota. Skilled nursing means licensed nurses are available on site around the clock, while hospice care supports residents with needs at the end of life. Respite care provides a short stay for someone whose usual caregiver needs time away to travel or recover.

Rehabilitation services are available for residents who need therapy during recovery or as part of ongoing care. The community has 35 beds, creating a smaller setting where staff and residents may become familiar with one another. Opened in 2023, Custer Care and Rehab Center is overseen by administrator Madison Barta and may suit someone who prefers a smaller community with nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, and respite services in one setting.

Contact Custer Care and Rehab Center

Avantara Norton

3600 South Norton Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57105
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.

Contact Avantara Norton

Prairie Heights Healthcare

400 8Th Ave Nw, Aberdeen, SD 57401
Overview of Prairie Heights Healthcare

Prairie Heights Healthcare in Aberdeen, South Dakota, offers top-notch senior living with a focus on individual wellness and recovery. Seniors can enjoy a variety of personalized care services to make their stay as comfortable as possible. Whether it’s skilled nursing, long-term care, short-term stays, or physical therapy, there’s something for everyone to feel at ease and well-cared for in this vibrant community.

Dedicated to providing a nurturing environment where residents can thrive, Prairie Heights Healthcare in Aberdeen offers a range of amenities and programs, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies tailored to each individual. With both long and short-term care options, residents can find support, learn new strategies, and connect with others in similar situations. Prairie Heights Healthcare is dedicated to helping residents achieve their personal health goals and maintain their independence.

Contact Prairie Heights Healthcare

Spearfish Canyon Healthcare

1020 N 10Th St, Spearfish, SD 57783
Overview of Spearfish Canyon Healthcare

Spearfish Canyon Healthcare, located in beautiful Spearfish, South Dakota, offers a range of skilled care services for seniors. With skilled nursing, long term & short term care, and a variety of therapies including physical, occupational, and speech, this community ensures comprehensive care. Seniors can enjoy the serene surroundings and the sense of community as they work on regaining their independence and well-being.

Fostering compassionate, individualized care to each resident, Spearfish Canyon Healthcare offers various amenities and programs designed for residents wellness and healing, such as pain management, wound care, and social services. With specialized therapies for post-surgical recovery, stroke recovery, and cardiac care, residents receive the support they need. Additional services like dental care, dialysis, and hospice care further enhance the quality of life, making Spearfish Canyon Healthcare a place where seniors can thrive.

Contact Spearfish Canyon Healthcare

Overview of Bethany Home Sioux Falls

Bethany Home Sioux Falls stands out as a beacon of exceptional care, firmly rooted in Christian values and boundless love. With a rich heritage of providing outstanding services, this home offers an array of amenities that elevate the senior living experience. Here, residents savor the delights of chef-prepared meals, tantalizing their taste buds and nourishing their bodies. The carefully curated social and recreational programs provide ample opportunities for residents to engage in meaningful interactions, fostering a vibrant community spirit. Safety is paramount, as evidenced by the round-the-clock emergency response system and meticulous medication administration, giving residents and their families peace of mind.

The home proudly extends its heartfelt commitment to serving seniors through their exceptional assisted living services. They diligently uphold all nursing home rules and regulations. They adhere to the highest standards of care and operate with strict compliance to ensure the safety, well-being, and comfort of every resident. By following these comprehensive guidelines, they create an environment where residents can thrive, families can trust, and quality of care remains paramount. Bethany Home Sioux Falls stands as a shining example of a compassionate and well-regulated senior living community. With also a focus on assisted living for veterans and an unwavering commitment to upholding nursing home standards, they ensure that residents receive the utmost care and support they deserve.

Contact Bethany Home Sioux Falls

Dow Rummel Village

1321 W Dow Rummel St, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Overview of Dow Rummel Village

Dow Rummel Village is an extraordinary nonprofit organization in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, dedicated to providing a premier life plan retirement community that encompasses assisted living levels of care. With a remarkable 60-year history of service, they offer a comprehensive range of services under one roof, including independent living, memory care, assisted living, skilled nursing, respite care, and more.
Residents in this assisted living home have the opportunity to choose different levels of care that best suit their needs. Whether they opt for independent living, where they can enjoy the freedom and autonomy of a vibrant community, or require the specialized support and assistance provided in memory care or assisted living, every aspect is thoughtfully tailored to enhance their well-being. Discover a variety of floor plans, including spacious studios, comfortable one-bedroom suites, and inviting two-bedroom options. From personal assistance with daily living to weekly housekeeping and convenient transportation services, residents can truly embrace a worry-free lifestyle.

Contact Dow Rummel Village

Overview of Westhills Village Health Care Facility

Westhills Village Health Care Facility provides independent living, assisted living, home care, and skilled nursing in Rapid City, SD. Independent living offers private living with community services and no daily care, while assisted living provides help with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication while a resident keeps their own living space. Home care supports a resident in their own home, and skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. The range of care may suit someone whose needs change over time because the facility offers both daily living support and skilled nursing.

With 44 beds, Westhills Village Health Care Facility is a smaller community where staff and residents get to know each other. Medicare can help cover short-term skilled care after a hospital stay, while private pay means the resident or family funds care directly. Kelsey Bertsch serves as the administrator.

Rehabilitation services and short-term rehab give residents access to therapy during a time-limited recovery stay. Respite care provides a short stay for someone whose usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

Contact Westhills Village Health Care Facility

Overview of Avantara Redfield

The average length of stay at Avantara Redfield is 229 days. That number separates this facility from a straightforward short-term rehab model and points to something closer to a mixed population: people working through post-acute recovery alongside others with longer-term care needs. The 58-bed nursing home sits on E 3rd St in Redfield, South Dakota, under the administration of Diane Forgey. It opened about a year ago and currently has 38 of its 58 beds filled.

The clinical program list is broad for a facility this size. Residents recovering from cardiac events, orthopedic procedures, pulmonary conditions, oncology treatment, surgery, and stroke or other neurological conditions each have a dedicated recovery track. Full-time therapists are on-site, and a home assessment is completed before discharge. Total nursing coverage is 2 hours and 54 minutes per resident per day; registered nurses account for 38 minutes of that.

Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted, which matters given that stay length: a resident arriving on Medicare short-term benefits may eventually transition to Medicaid, and the facility’s payment structure accommodates that arc. The neighborhood requires a car for most errands (Walk Score 34).

Avantara Redfield serves people who need structured, supervised recovery after a hospital discharge, and its longer-than-average stay data suggests it also holds residents whose care needs extend well past the typical rehab window.

Contact Avantara Redfield

Overview of Avantara Lake Norden

Avantara Lake Norden opened in early 2025 on Park St in Lake Norden, South Dakota, a small Hamlin County town where the nearest hospital sits about 22 miles out. That distance is worth naming plainly: the 50-bed community serves nursing home, memory care, and hospice populations, and families choosing a facility with that clinical range need a clear picture of the geography. The neighborhood scores a 6 on walkability, which in a rural South Dakota town is less a flaw than a given.

Occupancy is 92%, with 46 of the 50 beds currently filled. An average stay of 175 days puts it somewhere between a short-term rehab stop and a longer-term care home, and the program mix backs that up. The specialty tracks are clinically specific: a Secured Memory Care Unit, Cardiac Care, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Pulmonary Care, Oncology Recovery Care, and Stroke and Other Neurological Conditions. Combined with general rehabilitation and short-term rehab services, they point to a facility built for medically complex residents rather than routine post-acute cases.

Nursing coverage totals 3 hours and 20 minutes per resident per day, with registered nurses providing 47 minutes of direct care within that. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are all accepted. Margaret Grimm is the administrator.

For families in rural South Dakota navigating the intersection of nursing care, memory care, and hospice needs, Avantara Lake Norden represents a newly built facility with a genuinely broad clinical program and high occupancy for its size and market.

Contact Avantara Lake Norden

Overview of Avantara Pierre

Avantara Pierre provides nursing home, hospice care, memory care, and skilled nursing services in Pierre, South Dakota. Skilled nursing means licensed nursing care is available on site around the clock. Memory care is provided in a secured setting with supervision for a resident at risk of wandering, while hospice care addresses end of life needs. Having these services together may suit someone whose needs could change over time.

The community has 65 beds, with private and semi private suites. A private suite gives one resident a dedicated living space, while a semi private suite means sharing living arrangements with another resident. Family gatherings can take place in the community spaces. On site salon services also let residents receive salon care without arranging an outside visit.

Short term rehabilitation offers a temporary care setting during recovery. Programs include post surgical care, rehabilitation for stroke and other neurological conditions, cardiac care, oncology recovery care, pulmonary care, and orthopedic rehabilitation. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted.

Chase Watson serves as administrator. With a Walk Score of 57, some errands can be completed on foot, giving a resident who no longer drives limited opportunities to manage errands independently.

Contact Avantara Pierre

Ranking Methodology

How we rank these nursing homes

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.

  • CMS data
  • 5 weighted categories
  • Updated quarterly
Full methodology

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Care Quality
  • 20%
    Staffing
  • 20%
    Regulatory
  • 20%
    Operational
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Care Quality 35%

The largest single share of every ranking. CMS star ratings and quality measures that reflect actual care delivered to residents.

  • Includes
  • Overall Rating
  • Health Inspection
  • QM Rating
  • Long-Stay QM
  • Short-Stay QM
02

Staffing Adequacy 20%

The strongest predictor of resident outcomes. Volume and stability of nursing care, drawn from CMS Payroll-Based Journal.

  • Includes
  • Nurse Hrs/Res/Day
  • RN vs State
  • Total Nurse Staff Hrs vs State
  • RN Turnover
03

Regulatory & Safety Record 20%

Inspection patterns that star ratings can mask. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • Citations
  • Citations/Inspection
  • Severe Citations
  • Fines
  • Accreditations
04

Operational & Financial Stability 20%

Stable operations and sound finances are leading indicators of consistent care over time.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy vs State
  • Avg Length of Stay
  • Revenue
  • Payroll %
  • Years in Operation
  • Admin Tenure
05

Environment & Accessibility 5%

Context that matters to families but doesn't directly measure clinical care. Weighted lower for nursing homes than for assisted or independent living.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • BBB Rating
No paid rankings Facilities cannot pay to influence placement.
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
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Nursing Homes in South Dakota at a glance

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.
National Average: 3.0/ 5
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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.