South Dakota

What is it called?

• Assisted Living Centers

What services are provided?

• Provides personal care and services that meet some need beyond basic provision of food, shelter, and laundry to five or more persons in a free-standing, physically separated facility.
• Facilities must provide supportive services, activities, and services to meet the spiritual needs of residents. Facilities must also provide for the availability of physician services. 

Who is inappropriate?

• Facilities may not admit or retain residents who require more than intermittent nursing care or rehabilitation services. 

Is nurse staffing required?

• Not specified.

What training is required for direct care staff?

• All assisted living centers must maintain one staff person on duty at all time and a minimum of 0.8 hours of direct resident care by personnel of the center for each resident for each 24 hour period.
• All staff members must complete an orientation along with continuing education.  The continuing education annually must include at least fire prevention and response, emergency procedures and preparedness, infection control and prevention, accident prevention and safety procedures, proper use of restraints, resident rights, confidentiality of resident information, incidents and diseases subject to mandatory reporting and the facility’s reporting mechanism, care of residents with unique needs, and residents’ nutrition and hydration needs. 
• If the facility has cognitively impaired residents, each staff member within one month of initial employment must complete training on the care of residents with unique needs.

Is public payment available?

• A broad Medicaid Home and Community Based Services Waiver coupled with state funds covers services in assisted living.

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