Personal Care in Box Elder, SD: Help With Bathing & Dressing

Local figures

Personal Care in Box Elder, SD: the local picture

4.2%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.8% in Pennington County)

22%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in Pennington County)

19

residents 85 or older (0.1% of all residents)

6

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Box Elder ZIP codes in their service area

About 40 Box Elder residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.2%; 5.8% in Pennington County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

209 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (22%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

19 of the 963 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Box Elder compared with Pennington County and South Dakota

Census figure	Box Elder	Pennington County	South Dakota
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	4.2%	5.8%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	22%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	0.1%	2.2%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	45%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	22%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	8.9%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$47,727	$56,451	—

Older residents in towns around Box Elder

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Rapid Valley, SD	3.6 mi	1,292	4.5%
Rapid City, SD	7.3 mi	16,108	6.5%
Blackhawk, SD	13 mi	550	9.6%
Colonial Pine Hills, SD	13 mi	793	12%
Summerset, SD	14 mi	248	3.2%
Sturgis, SD	29 mi	1,375	3.4%

Home health agencies with aides serving Box Elder

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Monument Health Home Plus Home Health	Rapid City, SD	12 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(605) 755-7710
Good Samaritan Soc-Home Health Of The Black Hills	Rapid City, SD	16 mi	5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(605) 342-0529
State Home Care Services, Inc	Rapid City, SD	6.5 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(605) 718-5004
Heartland Home Health LLC	Belle Fourche, SD	54 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aides	(605) 723-4663
Westhills Village Home Health	Rapid City, SD	6.5 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(605) 342-3594
Interim Healthcare	Rapid City, SD	6.5 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(605) 348-5885

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

What it covers

What a personal care aide can help with

Bathing or showering, with a shower chair if needed
Dressing and undressing
Toileting and incontinence care
Grooming: hair, shaving and oral care

Cost

What personal care costs in Box Elder

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 40% of the $3,977 monthly median income of Box Elder 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 personal care aide

The Census Bureau asks whether a person has difficulty dressing or bathing, which it calls a self-care difficulty; it is the clearest sign that someone needs personal care. Medicare does not pay for personal care when it is the only care needed (Medicare.gov), but many state Medicaid programs do for people who qualify.

Questions worth asking: How do you protect a client’s dignity during bathing and toileting? Are you trained in safe transfers? Can you keep the same morning or evening hours each day? More in our personal care guide.

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

Questions

Personal Care in Box Elder: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Box Elder?

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 40% of the $3,977 monthly median income of Box Elder 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).

What is the difference between personal care and companion care?

Companion care is company and help around the house. Personal care is hands-on help with the body: bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. Many caregivers offer both; say in your posting which you need.

More near Box Elder

More senior care near Box Elder

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Box Elder

More for Box Elder 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 Personal Care in Box Elder, SD