VA Benefits for Memory Care in South Dakota

Care Planning and Dementia Unit Requirements

Before a facility can offer dementia care, the Department of Health verifies that the program meets state standards for resident care and life safety.

• Facilities must create individualized plans of care for each resident.
• Therapeutic programming must be provided and documented within the resident’s care plan.
• Locked doors used in dementia care settings must comply with the applicable life safety code.
• Memory care units must be located on the ground floor.
• Residents must have access to a secure outdoor area enclosed by a fence.

Confinement Rules and Resident Protection

South Dakota places limits on the use of confinement and requires facilities to justify and monitor it carefully when it is used for safety reasons.

• The need for confinement must be based on a comprehensive assessment of the resident’s physical, cognitive, and psychosocial condition.
• Families must be informed about the potential risks and benefits of confinement.
• A physician’s order is required before confinement may be used.
• The resident’s condition must be reviewed regularly after confinement is ordered.
• Confinement may not be used as punishment or for the convenience of staff.

Resident Assessment and Continued Placement

Facilities must assess cognitive status both at admission and after move-in to determine whether the assisted living setting remains appropriate.

• A potential resident’s cognitive status must be evaluated at the time of admission.
• After admission, cognitive reassessments must be completed annually or sooner if the resident’s condition changes significantly.
• A physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner must determine whether the facility remains an appropriate placement for the resident.
• If the facility can no longer meet the resident’s needs, it must arrange for discharge and help secure a more suitable care setting.

Staffing, Direct Care, and Ongoing Education

South Dakota does not impose a fixed staff-to-resident ratio for memory care units, but facilities must maintain enough staff to safely serve residents’ needs.

• At least one caregiver must always be present in the facility.
• Each resident must be offered a minimum of 48 minutes of direct care per day.
• Every memory care facility must have a licensed administrator who meets state requirements for education and management experience.
• Ongoing staff education must include residents’ rights, confidentiality of resident information, meal planning, and dementia care practices.

Surveys, Complaint Investigations, and Public Reports

The Office of Health Care Facilities Licensure and Certification surveys assisted living facilities in South Dakota on a recurring basis and investigates complaints when warranted.

• Recertification surveys are conducted on average once each year, typically within 9- to 15-month intervals.
• These inspection findings are documented on the state’s Statement of Deficiencies (Form 2567).
• The survey includes both health compliance and life safety code review, along with any required correction plans.
• Complaint surveys may also be conducted when the Department determines that an online or written complaint warrants investigation.
• The person who filed the complaint and the facility receive a copy of the resulting report after investigation.

Health surveys may include interviews with residents, family members, caregivers, and administrators, as well as clinical record reviews. Life safety code surveys examine fire protection standards, smoke and toxic fume safeguards, and clearly marked exit routes.

Families can review assisted living survey reports through South Dakota’s online database, which includes recertification and complaint survey reports from the prior three years.