Officially nicknamed “The Mount Rushmore State” for its top tourist attraction, South Dakota stands out geographically from other states in the Great Plains. It has its share of wide-open grasslands, particularly in the central and eastern areas of the state. But the farther west you go, South Dakota starts to look more like the American West. Badlands National Park resembles a miniature desert mountain range with peaks you can traverse in just a few minutes. In the southwestern corner of the state are the more wooded Black Hills — a small, isolated mountain range that’s home to the gigantic granite monuments of Mount Rushmore and the work-in-progress Crazy Horse Memorial. South Dakota’s cities like Sioux Falls and Rapid City are quaint and inviting with a rustic charm. Between its natural beauty, wide-open spaces, and relatively inexpensive living costs, South Dakota is an ideal retirement destination.
Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 10 South Dakota retirement communities.
The median monthly cost of independent living in South Dakota is about $2,300.
Mom loved Holiday Hills and yes we would recommend this community to other families. I wish my mom could've stayed longer in your facility.
Nice facilities, good food, engaging activities and caring staff--Ponderosa has it all. I'm grateful for everything that I found here. I recommend Ponderosa without reservation.
The building itself. The atrium is a great center piece and focal point for activities and mom was fortunate to land a spot w an atrium balcony! The glass roof room, the activity room, a piano to play, the...
Nice facilities, good food, engaging activities and caring staff--Ponderosa has it all. I'm grateful for everything that I found here. I recommend Ponderosa without reservation.
The building itself. The atrium is a great center piece and focal point for activities and mom was fortunate to land a spot w an atrium balcony! The glass roof room, the activity room, a piano to play, the...
Prices are in line with other places. It is a nice neighborhood. The staff communicate very well, which is extremely important.
I would rate all of those a 4 with the exception of the administrative staff who I would give a 5. I liked the openness and light of the facility. It seemed livable.
We picked this community because, staff, having her own bathroom in her room, amenities and the pleasant welcome we had from the community! Definitely would recommend to others.
Mom loved Holiday Hills and yes we would recommend this community to other families. I wish my mom could've stayed longer in your facility.
It's a blessing to not have to cook two different meals since my husband doesn't want to eat what I want to eat.. he has to eat what is served, and I don't hear any complaints from him. I am gluten...
What's great about Arrowhead is, if you have to go from independent living to assisted living, you do NOT have to move; you stay in the same apartment. The apartments are somewhat spacious, but come with a...
South Dakota doesn’t license or regulate independent living communities unless they share a building or campus with an assisted living or memory care facility. Because of this, only general housing and rental regulations apply to stand-alone independent living facilities. Many communities do require residents to be at least 55 years old, and they typically offer senior-focused amenities, such as off-site transportation.
Many independent living communities in South Dakota share a campus with an assisted living and/or memory care unit. When this is the case, they must follow the regulations set by the South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Health Care Facilities Licensure and Certification.
Stand-alone independent living communities only need to comply with housing and apartment regulations, meaning the rental responsibilities lie with the landlord and tenant. A landlord is expected to:[01]
Likewise, tenants’ responsibilities include:
Federal nondiscrimination laws like the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) exist to protect tenants from discrimination in South Dakota. Additionally, Statute 20-13-20 shields people from discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, ancestry, disability, familial status, or national origin.
Landlords also can’t refuse a disabled person’s request for reasonable modifications to the property if it allows them to fully enjoy it. Similarly, a landlord can ask that a renter remove the alterations to the property when they move out as part of the renter’s agreement.
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South Dakota doesn’t make inspection reports available at the state level. Nonetheless, many cities and counties do have their own standards and regulations regarding inspections. For example, Vermillion, South Dakota, registers all rental housing and inspects rentals once every two years. The city publishes these inspections online, so it’s worth checking your local housing authority to see if they do as well.
When independent living communities share a building or campus with an assisted living or memory care unit, they undergo recertification surveys once a year on average by the South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Health Care Facilities Licensure and Certification. Known as a Statement of Deficiency report (or Form 2567), the recertification survey consists of a health and life safety code survey. These two surveys require interviews of residents, staff, and family members, and ensure buildings adhere to regulations regarding fire, smoke, and toxic fume emergencies. Complaint surveys can also occur if the Department of Health determines a complaint filed online or in writing warrants investigating. Once a professional surveyor examines the issue(s), the person who filed the complaint and the facility will receive a copy of the report.[02]
Results from both inspection reports and complaint survey reports can be found using the South Dakota Department of Health’s online database of assisted living center survey reports. The South Dakota Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program can be reached by email at DakotaAtHome@state.sd.us or by calling 833-663-9673.
South Dakota Department of Health
600 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501-2536
Phone: (605) 773-3361
Email:DOH.info@state.sd.us
South Dakota Consumer Protection Office of Attorney General. (2024). Landlord/Tenant.
South Dakota Department of Health. (2025, July 1). Nursing Facility Health & Life Safety Code.
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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