The South Dakota Medicaid answer, verified
Yes - South Dakota Medicaid's HOPE Waiver (Home and Community-Based Options and Person Centered Excellence) covers assisted living services in licensed assisted living centers - personal care, homemaker, chore, meal preparation, medication assistance and 24-hour on-site response - but 'room and board, items of comfort or convenience... are not covered' and remain the participant's responsibility, collected directly from the participant by the facility. Here is what that means in practice for Hoven families - eligibility, what waivers cover, and what stays out of pocket.
Assisted living near Hoven compares against a national median of $6,200 a month - and South Dakota's own median of $4,900, ranked #46 of 50 states.
A semi-private nursing home room runs $9,581 a month at the 2025 national median - the number Hoven families weighing skilled care start from.
In-home care averages $35 an hour nationally - about $80,080 a year at 44 hours a week for Hoven households.
Medicaid is the payer of last resort for long-term care, and whether it helps with assisted living depends entirely on your state. Yes - South Dakota Medicaid's HOPE Waiver (Home and Community-Based Options and Person Centered Excellence) covers assisted living services in licensed assisted living centers - personal care, homemaker, chore, meal preparation, medication assistance and 24-hour on-site response - but 'room and board, items of comfort or convenience... are not covered' and remain the participant's responsibility, collected directly from the participant by the facility. Nursing home care is covered in every state for those who qualify financially - assisted living is the state-by-state question.
The honest South Dakota answer, verified against official sources: Yes - South Dakota Medicaid's HOPE Waiver (Home and Community-Based Options and Person Centered Excellence) covers assisted living services in licensed assisted living centers - personal care, homemaker, chore, meal preparation, medication assistance and 24-hour on-site response - but 'room and board, items of comfort or convenience... are not covered' and remain the participant's responsibility, collected directly from the participant by the facility. Eligibility is strict - income and asset limits apply, and there is typically a five-year look-back on gifts and transfers - so families planning a Medicaid path should talk to an elder law attorney early.
The 2026 numbers
| Care type | 2025 national median | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| In-home care | $35/hour | Non-medical help at home - meals, bathing, companionship |
| Adult day care | $95/day | Daytime supervision and activities, evenings at home |
| Assisted living | $6,200/month | Housing plus daily-living help; care-level fees extra |
| Memory care | typically 20-40% above assisted living | Secured dementia care with higher staffing |
| Nursing home (semi-private) | $9,581/month | 24/7 skilled medical care |
| Nursing home (private room) | $355/day | Same care, private room |
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South Dakota: Medicaid, prices and the inspection file
| Question | South Dakota answer |
|---|---|
| Medicaid & assisted living | Yes - South Dakota Medicaid's HOPE Waiver (Home and Community-Based Options and Person Centered Excellence) covers assisted living services in licensed assisted living centers - personal care, homemaker, chore, meal preparation, medication assistance and 24-hour on-site response - but 'room and board, items of comfort or convenience... are not covered' and remain the participant's responsibility, collected directly from the participant by the facility. |
| State median, assisted living | $4,900/month (#46 of 50 states) |
| Licensing & inspection records | South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Licensure and Certification |
Alongside the Medicaid HOPE Waiver, South Dakota runs a separate State Optional Supplemental Assisted Living Program (referred to in state policy as the 'Regular Assisted Living Program'), which can cover a person before or between periods of HOPE Waiver eligibility - so a family may be moved between two different funding programs without changing facilities.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published costs and state rules. It is not a care provider, placement agency, law firm or financial advisor - care and Medicaid decisions deserve professional advice for your family's situation.
What this means for Hoven families
Home care keeps your parent in familiar surroundings and costs less at low hours; communities win on 24/7 coverage, social contact and predictable pricing. The wrong choice is usually the one made in a crisis - which is why running these numbers early matters more than getting them perfect.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published costs and state rules. It is not a care provider, placement agency, law firm or financial advisor - care and Medicaid decisions deserve professional advice for your family's situation.
Common questions
Can a facility evict my parent?
Yes - discharge policies allow it for reasons like funds running out, care needs exceeding what the license covers, or behavior issues. Read the discharge clause before signing and get the funds-run-out answer in writing; involuntary moves are the outcome families regret most.
How much does assisted living cost?
The U.S. median is $6,200 a month ($74,400 a year) per the 2025 CareScout Cost of Care Survey - before care-level fees, which add hundreds more at higher need levels. State medians vary widely; this guide shows your state's number and rank on every page.
What is memory care and why does it cost more?
Memory care is assisted living specialized for dementia - secured areas, higher staffing, trained caregivers - and typically prices 20-40% above standard assisted living in the same market. If dementia is in the picture, ask specifically about memory-care rates and staff training, not the general rate.
Does long-term care insurance actually help?
If your parent bought a policy years ago, yes - claim it early, as most policies have elimination periods before benefits start. Buying new coverage in one's 80s is generally not realistic. Check old files: policies bought decades ago are routinely forgotten and unclaimed.
Should my parent stay home with help or move to assisted living?
Run the hours math first: in-home care at about $35 an hour serves people who need help, not round-the-clock supervision. Below about 30-40 hours a week, home usually costs less; past that - or when safety needs someone always present - assisted living's $6,200 median often buys more coverage. The right answer follows the care needs, not the buildings.
Find senior care options near Hoven
These platforms show communities and home-care agencies near you with pricing guidance. Advisors are free to families - providers pay them, as they do this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you connect with a provider through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your price - and it never changes what the inspection records say.