In-Home Care for Veterans in Brookings, SD

Local figures

Veterans’ Home Care in Brookings, SD: the local picture

507

veterans aged 65 or older (18% of residents 65+)

2,888

residents 65 or older (12% of Brookings)

33%

of residents 65+ report a disability (29% in Brookings County)

40%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (32% in Brookings County)

About 507 Brookings residents aged 65 or older are veterans (18% of that age group; 17% in Brookings County), out of 742 veterans of all adult ages in town.

33% of all residents 65 and older report a disability (29% in Brookings County); ask the VA whether a veteran’s needs qualify for its home care programs before you hire privately.

Brookings compared with Brookings County and South Dakota

Census figure	Brookings	Brookings County	South Dakota
Residents 65+ who are veterans	18%	17%	17%
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+ with serious difficulty walking	17%	16%	18%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	8.8%	10%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,482	$57,114	—

Older residents in towns around Brookings

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Veterans (65+)
Madison, SD	26 mi	1,384	15%
Pipestone, MN	32 mi	812	15%
Dell Rapids, SD	33 mi	703	19%
Watertown, SD	46 mi	4,553	15%
Hartford, SD	48 mi	614	32%
Brandon, SD	50 mi	1,627	16%

Hospitals near Brookings

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Brookings Health System	Brookings, SD	0.3 mi	4 of 5	(605) 696-9000
Avera Flandreau Hospital - Cah	Flandreau, SD	18 mi	not rated	(605) 997-2433
Hendricks Community Hospital	Hendricks, MN	23 mi	not rated	(507) 275-3134

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 caregiver for a veteran can help with

Company and help around the house
Personal care: bathing, dressing, toileting
Rides to VA and other appointments
Meals and medication reminders

Cost

What veterans’ home care 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 caregiver for a veteran

The VA’s Homemaker and Home Health Aide program sends a trained aide, supervised by a registered nurse, to help eligible veterans with daily activities at home. The Aid and Attendance benefit adds monthly payments to a VA pension for veterans who need help with daily activities. The VA Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274.

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for veterans before? Can you drive to the VA medical center or clinic? Are you comfortable with the paperwork VA programs need? More in our veterans’ home care guide.

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

Questions

Veterans’ Home Care in Brookings: common questions

How much does veterans’ home care 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).

Does the VA pay for in-home care?

For eligible veterans, VA programs such as Homemaker and Home Health Aide care can provide help at home, and Aid and Attendance can add to a VA pension. Ask the VA about eligibility; the Caregiver Support Line is 1-855-260-3274 (caregiver.va.gov).

More near Brookings

More senior care near Brookings

Veterans’ Home Care 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.