Best Nursing Homes in South Dakota

Overview of Rolling Hills Healthcare

Rolling Hills Healthcare is a nursing home in Belle Fourche, South Dakota, providing short-term rehabilitation, long-term residential care, skilled nursing services, and specialized medical support. Administered by Gerald Bosen, this 83-bed community has a Medicare certification to serve Butte County and the surrounding Black Hills region. Both Medicaid and Medicare are accepted, helping make care accessible to residents with a variety of healthcare coverage needs.

Services include rehabilitation therapy, long-term and short-term nursing care, licensed nursing support, pain management, dental care, dialysis services, and podiatry care. Notably, the availability of dialysis, dental, and podiatry services within the community in a rural western South Dakota setting helps reduce the need for residents to travel to larger regional healthcare centers for routine specialty treatment and ongoing clinical management.

Its location near Spearfish and Rapid City also makes the community an important regional care option for families in areas with fewer nearby skilled nursing choices. The surrounding neighborhood has a Walk Score of 47, offering limited walkability with some nearby destinations accessible on foot, while most errands still require transportation.

Rolling Hills Healthcare is well-suited for older adults in Belle Fourche and the broader Butte County region who require skilled nursing care, post-hospital rehabilitation, or long-term residential support. Its wide range of specialized services available on-site is beneficial for older adults managing chronic medical conditions, ongoing pain concerns, or dialysis needs.

Overview of Avantara Norton

Avantara Norton is a nursing home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offering skilled nursing and post-acute rehabilitation. As one of the larger options in the Sioux Falls market, this 110-bed community is one of the larger senior providers in the state. The community also accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, providing access to families from a wide range of financial backgrounds.

The community features a distinct balance of nursing resources and clinical oversight, with 3 hours and 32 minutes of total nursing care per resident per day, which sits 6% below the state average. Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) coverage is a notable operational strength, averaging 44 minutes per day, which is 52% above the state average, indicating solid, hands-on daily bedside support. Conversely, daily RN hours average 35 minutes, and weekend RN coverage stands at 22 minutes per day, both falling below the state average. Additionally, both physical therapist hours and general weekend staffing closely track South Dakota state averages.

Notably, the community currently holds a 1-star overall CMS rating, placing it below state averages for health inspections and quality measures, while its staffing metrics sit approximately 30% below average.

A wide range of specialized nursing capabilities and post-surgical recovery resources is provided, including on-site infrastructure such as dedicated physical therapy equipment, full-time therapists, and standardized home assessments. The care team delivers tailored treatments across multiple fields, including cardiac care, stroke recovery, memory care, orthopedic care, oncology care, wound care, IV therapy, G-tube management, and bariatric care. This extensive clinical reach primarily serves a short-stay population, with Medicare admissions making up roughly 47% of incoming residents and averaging a short-term stay of 27 days.

The community primarily serves short-stay individuals, with an overall average length of stay of 97 days. Located in a moderately walkable Sioux Falls neighborhood, it features a Walk Score of 61. It remains a strong option for local families looking for extensive post-acute rehab and diverse, specialized clinical capabilities in a modern setting.

Providing a wide range of clinical specialties, Avantara Norton is ideal for families in Sioux Falls requiring complex medical nursing care, post-surgical recovery, or specialized rehabilitation. However, families are advised to take into consideration its newer status and CMS rating.

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 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 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 Menno-Olivet Care Center

Menno-Olivet Care Center is a church-operated nonprofit nursing home in Menno, South Dakota, that offers long-term care, assisted living, short-term rehabilitation, respite services, hospice care, and outpatient therapy. The 41-bed community is owned by Lacee Feltman, administered by Aisha Abbink, and accepts Medicaid. Additionally, its occupancy rate is 58.3%, which falls below the state average and suggests availability.

The community maintains a 5-star overall CMS rating and performs substantially above South Dakota averages in both health inspections and staffing measures. Staffing represents the community’s strongest performance area, with total nursing hours reaching nearly double the statewide average. Weekend nursing coverage and registered nurse availability also exceed state benchmarks by significant margins, while licensed practical nurse and nurse aide hours remain above average as well. Quality measure scores, however, fall somewhat below statewide averages, making it worthwhile for families to review specific outcome metrics alongside the community’s staffing strengths.

Amenities and services include private and semi-private rooms, a spa-style whirlpool room, outpatient therapy services, and coordination for Meals on Wheels support. Respite care, hospice, and rehabilitation services are also available to broaden the range of care available within the community.

Menno-Olivet Care Center is especially well-suited for older adults and families in Hutchinson County and rural south-central South Dakota who value exceptionally high staffing levels, faith-based care, and a smaller community-oriented environment focused on personalized support and direct caregiving attention.

Overview of United Living Community

A central part of a downtown Brookings campus, United Living Community is an 81-bed nonprofit nursing home run by administrator Liz DeBerg and United Retirement Center. The facility handles skilled nursing, short-term rehab, respite care, and hydro-therapy. While 80% of new admissions use Medicare for short-term recovery, a smaller group of long-term Medicaid residents (18%) and private-pay clients (2%) shapes the building’s overall population, pushing the average stay to 421 days. The property sits in a highly walkable neighborhood with a Walk Score of 82, though recent financial records report a low occupancy rate of 34.1% alongside an operating deficit of $643.3 thousand on $7.8 million in revenue.

Government health logs show high staffing numbers, led by a daily nursing average of 5 hours and 55 minutes per resident that ranks third across South Dakota. This setup is heavily driven by nurse aides, who provide 3 hours and 48 minutes of direct care daily, helping to cover for below-average hours for registered nurses and LPNs. Clinical summaries reveal a sharp divide between short-term and long-term outcomes.

For temporary rehab residents, the logs show excellent performance, including zero major injuries from falls, zero antipsychotic drug initiations, and zero hospital readmissions. Conversely, tracking files show that permanent residents experienced higher rates of major fall injuries, antipsychotic usage, and daily activity decline than the state average, though the facility’s total federal fines sit low at $13,000.

Interested individuals looking over local care options can use these public tracking reports to see how the building handles different types of stays. Since the state logs verify top-tier daily care hours and flawless physical recovery scores for short-term rehab clients alongside low occupancy and some weak long-term safety numbers, the paperwork fits a building optimized for post-acute recovery.

Overview of Strand-Kjorsvig Community Rest Home

Run by administrator Samuel Van Voorst and owner Shannon Schmidt, Strand-Kjorsvig Community Rest Home handles skilled nursing, short-term rehab, and respite care within a 33-bed private facility that also serves as a VA-qualified provider. Founded in 1957, the downtown building works with a varied payer group comprising 44% private-pay, 34% Medicaid, and 22% Medicare admissions, leading to an average stay of 229 days. The property is located in an area with a Walk Score of 22, maintaining a 64.4% occupancy rate and reporting a 2024 operating profit of $64.3 thousand on $2.8 million in revenue.

Public oversight databases highlight high staffing numbers, with total nursing care averaging 5 hours and 3 minutes per resident daily to rank ninth across South Dakota. Daily records show robust numbers for both registered nurses and LPNs, including strong weekend RN continuity, though contractors make up 28.1% of overall staff hours.

Clinical tracking summaries reveal solid long-term stability, with permanent residents recording favorable rates for major fall prevention, skin integrity, and walking abilities. However, the data points to some specific hurdles, as long-stay resident weight loss and antipsychotic drug use track higher than state benchmarks, and the home has compiled $56,000 in federal fines across eight penalties over the past three years.

Prospective residents weighing regional long-term care or rehab facilities can analyze these government health records to assess daily operational trends. Since the state reports confirm top-tier nursing hours and steady physical health outcomes alongside historical compliance fines and some specific dietary tracking issues, the documentation shows a small, highly staffed environment.

Tieszen Memorial Home INC serves Turner County residents through a full continuum of care that includes skilled care, memory care, assisted living, and independent living. The nonprofit community operates as a 64-bed nursing home in Marion, South Dakota, under administrator Laura Wilson.

Tieszen’s CMS record is strong. Three inspections since 2022 have resulted in 7 citations, well below the South Dakota average of 14.8. There were no critical or serious findings, and all citations were corrected. The facility’s 4-star overall CMS rating reflects above-average performance on both Health Inspections and Staffing. Nurse hours average 4 hours and 33 minutes per resident per day, 21% above the South Dakota mean, placing the facility15th among 57 state SNFs.

Occupancy is 89.2%, notably above the state’s average of 79.9%, which shows consistent local demand. Residents stay at an average of 409 days, indicating a population that trends toward longer-term placement. Rehabilitation services and a Wellness Center support residents with post-acute and ongoing care needs alongside the memory care and assisted living programs.

Tieszen Memorial Home INC fits older adults and families seeking a nonprofit community with a broad care continuum, from independent living through skilled and memory care, in a smaller rural South Dakota setting.

Overview of Sun Dial Manor

Sun Dial Manor operates as a nonprofit skilled nursing and assisted living community in Bristol, South Dakota. The 37-bed facility serves Day County residents through short-term rehabilitation and long-term care programs and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The facility holds a 2-star overall CMS rating. Health Inspection and Quality Measure scores are both roughly 20 to 27% below the South Dakota average, which accounts for the overall standing. Staffing is the counterweight: nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 21 minutes per resident per day, 39% above the state average, ranking Sun Dial Manor 18th of 57 facilities in South Dakota. CMS has recorded two federal penalties over the past three years totaling $30,000, about 24% below the state average for fined facilities, with no payment denials.

Sun Dial Manor offers physical, occupational, and speech therapy, along with 24-hour nursing care and memory care services. Outpatient therapy, transportation to medical appointments, and spiritual support round out the program. The facility’s 77% occupancy rate is in line with the statewide average of 79.9%, indicating capacity is available.

Payer mix reflects the facility’s orientation: 42% of admissions are on Medicare for short-term rehabilitation, with typical stays of 1 to 2 months.

Sun Dial Manor’s combination of above-average nurse staffing and a full therapy suite makes it well-suited to post-acute residents returning home after hospitalization or surgery. Long-term Medicaid residents make up a smaller share of admissions, and families considering that path should weigh the below-average quality measure scores, particularly fall rates, against the facility’s rural location and staffing depth.

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.