Respite Care in Rapid City, SD: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Rapid City, SD: the local picture

16,108

residents 65 or older (21% of Rapid City)

67%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

33%

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

8

Medicare-certified hospices serve Rapid City ZIP codes

Most older adults in Rapid City live with someone: 67% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 5,084 Rapid City residents aged 65 or older report a disability (33%) (33% in Pennington County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 8 hospices serving Rapid City ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Rapid City compared with Pennington County and South Dakota

Census figure	Rapid City	Pennington County	South Dakota
Residents 65+ with a disability	33%	33%	31%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	29%	30%
Residents 65 or older	21%	20%	18%
Residents 85 or older	2.7%	2.2%	2.1%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.9%	8.9%	10%
Households with no vehicle	7.0%	5.6%	5.2%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$54,297	$56,451	—

Older residents in towns around Rapid City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Rapid Valley, SD	4.8 mi	1,292	37%
Colonial Pine Hills, SD	6.2 mi	793	42%
Box Elder, SD	7.3 mi	963	45%
Blackhawk, SD	8.0 mi	550	41%
Summerset, SD	10 mi	248	29%
Sturgis, SD	27 mi	1,375	42%

Hospices serving Rapid City

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Monument Health Home Plus Hospice	Rapid City, SD	4.9 mi	(605) 755-7710
Stillwater Hospice Of South Dakota	Rapid City, SD	8.4 mi	(605) 745-4967
Monument Health Home Plus Hospice	Spearfish, SD	43 mi	(605) 644-4444
Heartland Home Health & Hospice LLC	Belle Fourche, SD	52 mi	(605) 723-4663
Avera @ Home	Pierre, SD	145 mi	(605) 224-3218

Nursing homes near Rapid City (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Avantara Saint Cloud	Rapid City, SD	0.6 mi	2 of 5	78	(605) 343-4738
Westhills Village Health Care Facility	Rapid City, SD	1.5 mi	5 of 5	44	(605) 342-0255
Avantara Mountain View	Rapid City, SD	1.6 mi	2 of 5	101	(605) 343-8577
Avantara North	Rapid City, SD	2.1 mi	3 of 5	68	(605) 343-4958

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 respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite 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 respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

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

Questions

Respite Care in Rapid City: common questions

Which hospices serve Rapid City?

Medicare lists 8 hospices for Rapid City ZIP codes, including Monument Health Home Plus Hospice, Stillwater Hospice Of South Dakota, Monument Health Home Plus Hospice.

How much does respite 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).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Rapid City. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers South Dakota.

More near Rapid City

More senior care near Rapid City

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.

Respite Care in Rapid City, SD