Hospice Support in Rapid Valley, SD: Caregivers at Home

Local figures

Hospice Support in Rapid Valley, SD: the local picture

4

Medicare-certified hospices serve Rapid Valley ZIP codes

118

residents 85 or older (1.7% of all residents)

29%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Pennington County)

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (33% in Pennington County)

Medicare lists 4 hospices whose service area includes Rapid Valley ZIP codes, the nearest offices being Monument Health Home Plus Hospice in Rapid City (9.7 mi) and Stillwater Hospice Of South Dakota in Rapid City (13 mi).

379 Rapid Valley residents 65 or older live alone (29% of those in households). Someone on hospice who lives alone usually needs added hours of help between the hospice team’s visits.

Rapid Valley compared with Pennington County and South Dakota

Census figure	Rapid Valley	Pennington County	South Dakota
Residents 85 or older	1.7%	2.2%	2.1%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.5%	5.8%	5.4%
Residents 65 or older	19%	20%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.6%	8.9%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$78,358	$56,451	—

Older residents in towns around Rapid Valley

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Box Elder, SD	3.6 mi	963	22%
Rapid City, SD	4.8 mi	16,108	33%
Colonial Pine Hills, SD	10 mi	793	6.4%
Blackhawk, SD	12 mi	550	40%
Summerset, SD	14 mi	248	24%
Sturgis, SD	30 mi	1,375	41%

Hospices serving Rapid Valley

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Monument Health Home Plus Hospice	Rapid City, SD	9.7 mi	(605) 755-7710
Stillwater Hospice Of South Dakota	Rapid City, SD	13 mi	(605) 745-4967
Heartland Home Health & Hospice LLC	Belle Fourche, SD	55 mi	(605) 723-4663
Avera @ Home	Pierre, SD	140 mi	(605) 224-3218

Straight-line miles from the center of Rapid Valley. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a caregiver for hospice support can help with

Comfort, company and a calm presence
Gentle personal care and repositioning
Small meals and fluids as the person wants
Telling the hospice nurse about changes

Cost

What hospice support costs in Rapid Valley

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $6,530 monthly median income of Rapid Valley households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a caregiver for hospice support

Under Medicare, hospice is for someone whose doctors certify a life expectancy of six months or less and who chooses comfort care instead of treatment to cure the illness. Medicare does not cover room and board for hospice care at home (Medicare.gov).

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone at the end of life? How do you work with a hospice nurse? Can you sit overnight in the last days if needed? More in our hospice support guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Hospice Support in Rapid Valley: common questions

How much does hospice support cost in Rapid Valley?

At the South Dakota median aide wage of $18.15 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,573 a month in wages, which is 24% of the $6,530 monthly median income of Rapid Valley households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Who qualifies for hospice under Medicare?

Someone whose hospice doctor (and regular doctor, if they have one) certifies a life expectancy of six months or less, and who accepts comfort care instead of curative treatment (Medicare.gov).

More near Rapid Valley

More senior care near Rapid Valley

Hospice Support in nearby cities

Other care in Rapid Valley

More for Rapid Valley families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

In-Home Hospice Support in Rapid Valley, SD