Ava‘s House
Hospice Home, Hospice Care & Palliative Care · Sioux Falls, SD

Overview of Ava‘s House

Ava’s House is an inpatient multigenerational hospice facility on West 17th Street in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Operated by Sanford Health, the 20-bed facility includes 16 adult rooms and 4 pediatric suites, making it one of only a few centers in the United States to provide specialized inpatient pediatric hospice care. The medical team offers 24-hour nursing supervision and complex pain management when a patient’s symptoms require care beyond what can be managed at home or in a standard long-term care setting.

The care model integrates physical comfort with emotional and spiritual support through music enrichment, aromatherapy, pet therapy, and bereavement counseling. Staff utilize pass-through supply cabinets to restock medical items without interrupting patients. For family convenience, the facility features a fully stocked guest kitchen with seating for up to ten people, a dedicated 24-hour patient room service menu, an indoor children’s playroom, a community room, and a wrap-around front porch with a bench swing. Every patient suite opens directly onto an outdoor patio space and includes a built-in sleeper sofa or Murphy bed so family members can stay overnight free of charge.

The local neighborhood carries a walkability score of 55 out of 100, making the area moderately walkable for visitors. Out front, the building features secure entryways and an open parking lot for guests. Families are welcome to stop by the facility to tour the physical spaces, see the room setups firsthand, or speak directly with the coordinators about the intake process.

Walk Score
Walk Score: 55 / 100 Rank #48 / 159Walk Score — State benchmarkedThis home is ranked 48th out of 159 homes in South Dakota. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average Walk Score across South Dakota facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff.Rankings are based only on facilities in South Dakota that report data for that category. Facilities without available data are excluded from the ranking.Click the rank badge to see the full State ranking.Click here to see the full State ranking.
Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

Safety & Compliance

Safety FeaturesSecure entry, Patient lift for mobility, Room darkening shades

Staffing & Medical

2 services
Licensed Nurses/CNAs
24-Hour Staffing

Additional Services

2 services
Hospice
Pediatric Hospice & Palliative Medicine

Additional Policies & Features

Visitor PolicyFamilies are encouraged to stay overnight free of charge.
Overnight GuestsFamilies can stay overnight at no cost.

Amenities & Lifestyle

24-Hour Room Service Menu
Access To Outdoor Patio
Adjacent Family Space With Sleeping Options
Bathing Area
Pass Through Cabinets
Wi-Fi Access
Front Wrap-Around Porch
Guest Kitchen
Community Room
Designated Children’s Playroom
Activitiesmovie nights, community events
Wellness Program
Specific ProgramsBereavement counseling, music enrichment, pain management, pet therapy, spiritual and social support
Volunteer Program
Operating HoursOpen 24/7

Contact Ava‘s House

Financial Assistance for
Hospice Home in South Dakota

Ava‘s House is located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Here are the financial assistance programs available to residents in South Dakota.

Get Financial aid guidance

Home and Community Based Services Waiver

SD Medicaid HCBS Waiver

Age 65+ or disabled
General South Dakota resident, Medicaid-eligible, nursing home-level care need.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,829/month 300% FBR, individual
Asset Limits $2,000 (individual), $3,000 (couple).
SD

Sparse population aids rural access; limited providers.

Benefits
Personal care (5-7 hours/day) Respite (240 hours/year) Adult day care (~$60/day) Home aides

South Dakota Elderly Services Program

SD ESP

Age 60+
General South Dakota resident, at risk of decline.
Income Limits ~$1,732/month individual, varies
Asset Limits $5,000 individual
SD

Limited funding; rural focus.

Benefits
In-home care (2-4 hours/week) Respite (up to 5 days/year) Transportation (~5 trips/month)

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

South Dakota Medicare Savings Program

Age 65+ or disabled
General SD resident, Medicare Part A/B.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,510/month (QMB), ~$3,380/month (SLMB), ~$3,598/month (QI)—individual.
Asset Limits $9,430 (individual), $14,130 (couple).
SD

Three tiers; includes Extra Help for Part D; no waitlist.

Benefits
Covers Part B premiums ($174.70/month) Deductibles ($240/year) Copays (~20%)

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP)

South Dakota LIEAP

Age 60+ prioritized
General SD resident, low-income household.
Income Limits (2025) ~$3,970/month individual, 185% FPL
Asset Limits Not assessed; income-focused.
SD

Covers gas, electric, propane; weatherization add-on available.

Benefits
Heating/cooling aid ($300-$1,000/season) Emergency aid ($500 max)

Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP)

South Dakota Family Caregiver Support Program

Age
General Caregivers of 60+ needing care or 55+ caregivers of others; SD resident; functional needs (2+ ADLs).
Income Limits (2025) No strict cap; prioritizes low-income ~$24,980/year
Asset Limits Not assessed; need-based.
SD

Rural emphasis; includes grandparent caregivers.

Benefits
Respite (4-6 hours/week or 5 days/year) Adult day care ($60/day) Training Supplies (~$500/year)

VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Benefits

South Dakota VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound

Age 65+ or disabled veteran/spouse
General SD resident, wartime service, need for ADL help (A&A) or homebound.
Income Limits (2025) Net income < ~$1,984/month (veteran with dependent, A&A); pension offsets income.
Asset Limits ~$155,356 net worth limit
SD

Supports rural veterans; high demand near Sioux Falls VA.

Benefits
Cash (~$1,433-$2,642/month veteran, ~$951-$1,318 spouse) for care costs (e.g., in-home, assisted living)

Property Tax Reduction Program

South Dakota Property Tax Reduction from Municipal Taxes

Age 65+ (or disabled) by Jan 1
General SD resident entire prior year, homeowner/renter.
Income Limits (2025) ~$20,192/year (single), ~$24,679/year (multiple-member household).
Asset Limits Not assessed; income-focused.
SD

Refunds up to $575; ~10,000 seniors benefit annually.

Benefits
Tax refund (~$250-$575/year based on income)

Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)

South Dakota SFMNP

Age 60+
General SD resident, low-income.
Income Limits (2025) ~$2,322/month individual, 185% FPL
Asset Limits Not assessed.
SD

Vouchers (~$50/season); serves ~5,000 annually via 6 AAAs.

Benefits
Vouchers (~$50/season) for fresh produce at approved markets

Freeze on Assessments for Dwellings of Disabled and Senior Citizens

South Dakota Property Tax Freeze

Age 65+ (or disabled)
General SD resident 200+ days prior year, homeowner.
Income Limits (2025) ~$35,000/year (single), ~$45,000/year (multiple-member household).
Asset Limits Property value < $250,000 (single), $300,000 (multiple).
SD

Saves ~$300-$600/year avg.; applies to primary residence.

Benefits
Assessment freeze (~$300-$600/year savings)

Older Americans Act (OAA) Services

South Dakota OAA Services

Age 60+
General SD resident (or spouse of any age); no income/asset limits.
Income Limits (2025) None; donations encouraged for some services.
Asset Limits Not assessed.
SD

6 AAAs; rural focus due to sparse population.

Benefits
Meals (home-delivered or congregate, ~$5-$7/meal value) Transportation Homemaker services (~4 hours/week) Respite (~5 days/year) Legal aid

Frequently Asked Questions about Ava‘s House

Is Ava‘s House in a walkable area?

Ava‘s House has a walk score of 55. Moderately walkable. Some errands can be accomplished on foot, with a mix of nearby amenities.

Are there photos of Ava‘s House?

Yes — there are 2 photos of Ava‘s House in the photo gallery on this page.

What is the phone number of Ava‘s House?

(605) 404-4800 will put you in contact with the team at Ava‘s House.

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