CNA Home Care in Brookings, SD: Nursing Assistants

Local figures

Nursing Assistants in Brookings, SD: the local picture

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

363

certified beds in the 6 nearest nursing homes

$18.15

median hourly wage of home care aides in South Dakota (BLS, May 2025)

$11.85

South Dakota minimum wage per hour

The nearest Medicare-certified nursing homes to Brookings are United Living Community in Brookings (0.9 mi), The Neighborhoods At Brookview in Brookings (1.2 mi), Riverview Healthcare Center in Flandreau (20 mi). Nursing homes employ many of the area’s CNAs, and CNAs who want home care work often come from them.

Aides in South Dakota earn a median $18.15 an hour (BLS, May 2025, home health and personal care aides). South Dakota's minimum wage is $11.85 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Brookings has about 282 residents aged 85 or older, the group most likely to need hands-on help with bathing, transfers and toileting.

Brookings compared with Brookings County and South Dakota

Census figure	Brookings	Brookings County	South Dakota
Residents 85 or older	1.2%	1.5%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	29%	31%
Residents 65 or older	12%	13%	18%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	40%	32%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	10%
Households with no vehicle	6.5%	5.2%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,482	$57,114	—

Older residents in towns around Brookings

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Madison, SD	26 mi	1,384	308
Pipestone, MN	32 mi	812	154
Dell Rapids, SD	33 mi	703	65
Watertown, SD	46 mi	4,553	615
Hartford, SD	48 mi	614	20
Brandon, SD	50 mi	1,627	228

Nursing homes near Brookings

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
United Living Community	Brookings, SD	0.9 mi	2 of 5	67	(605) 692-5351
The Neighborhoods At Brookview	Brookings, SD	1.2 mi	5 of 5	79	(605) 696-8700
Riverview Healthcare Center	Flandreau, SD	20 mi	1 of 5	63	(605) 997-2481
Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe Care Center	Flandreau, SD	20 mi	3 of 5	42	(605) 573-2100
Hendricks Community Hospital	Hendricks, MN	23 mi	1 of 5	52	(507) 275-3134
Estelline Nursing And Care Center	Estelline, SD	24 mi	4 of 5	60	(605) 873-2278

Home health agencies serving Brookings

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Brookings Health System	Brookings, SD	0.3 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(605) 696-7700

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

What it covers

What a nursing assistant can help with

Bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting
Safe transfers, repositioning and walking
Help with eating and fluids
Taking and noting vital signs if asked

Cost

What CNAs costs in Brookings

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 35% of the $4,457 monthly median income of Brookings 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 nursing assistant

To be certified, a nurse aide completes a state-approved training program of at least 75 hours, including 16 hours of supervised practical training, and passes a competency exam (42 CFR 483.152). The state then lists them on its nurse aide registry, which you can search online in most states.

Questions worth asking: Which state certified you, and is it current? Where have you worked as a CNA? Are you comfortable with lifts, catheters and incontinence care? More in our nursing assistants guide.

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

Questions

Nursing Assistants in Brookings: common questions

What nursing homes are near Brookings?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are United Living Community in Brookings (0.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall); The Neighborhoods At Brookview in Brookings (1.2 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Riverview Healthcare Center in Flandreau (20 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does CNAs cost in Brookings?

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 35% of the $4,457 monthly median income of Brookings 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).

Can a CNA give medication?

Generally no. A CNA can remind someone to take medication. Giving medication is usually reserved for licensed nurses, or for aides with a separate state medication certification.

More near Brookings

More senior care near Brookings

Nursing Assistants in nearby cities

Other care in Brookings

More for Brookings 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.

Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) for Home Care in Brookings, SD