In-Home Personal Care in Rapid City, SD

Local figures

Personal Care in Rapid City, SD: the local picture

6.5%

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

20%

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

2,099

residents 85 or older (2.7% of all residents)

7

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Rapid City ZIP codes in their service area

About 992 Rapid City residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (6.5%; 5.8% in Pennington County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

3,105 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (20%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

2,099 of the 16,108 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Rapid City compared with Pennington County and South Dakota

Census figure	Rapid City	Pennington County	South Dakota
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	6.5%	5.8%	5.4%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	20%	19%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.2%	2.1%
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	29%	30%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.9%	8.9%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,297	$56,451	—

Older residents in towns around Rapid City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Rapid Valley, SD	4.8 mi	1,292	4.5%
Colonial Pine Hills, SD	6.2 mi	793	12%
Box Elder, SD	7.3 mi	963	4.2%
Blackhawk, SD	8.0 mi	550	9.6%
Summerset, SD	10 mi	248	3.2%
Sturgis, SD	27 mi	1,375	3.4%

Home health agencies with aides serving Rapid City

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Monument Health Home Plus Home Health	Rapid City, SD	4.9 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	8.4 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	4.9 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(605) 718-5004
Heartland Home Health LLC	Belle Fourche, SD	52 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	4.9 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	4.9 mi	3 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, home health aides	(605) 348-5885

Straight-line miles from the center of Rapid City. 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 Rapid City

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 $4,525 monthly median income of Rapid City 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 Rapid City: common questions

How much does personal care cost in Rapid City?

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 $4,525 monthly median income of Rapid City 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 Rapid City

More senior care near Rapid City

Personal Care in nearby cities

Other care in Rapid City

More for Rapid City 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.