Palisade Manor & Assisted Lvng

Pros

• The staff are very friendly and genuinely care about residents.
• The rehab therapy team is excellent and supportive.
• The food is excellent, warm, and home-cooked.
• The facility is spotless and well-maintained.
• Management listens to concerns and responds quickly.
• The care provided by nurses, CNAs, and therapists is compassionate and professional.
• The activities program offers engaging options for residents.

Cons

• The social worker is rude and has zero empathy, and the facility is described as dark and dingy.
• A reviewer warns not to send a loved one to this facility.
• A mother's two-week rehab allegedly ended with a concussion and spinal fracture due to neglect, with no ice pack and a prolonged delay before hospitalization.
• A resident suffered multiple falls under care, with neglect of basic hygiene.
• The management, specifically the director of nursing and Lourdes, is described as the worst the reviewer has seen and not recommended.
• The director is accused of being rude and condescending, with care that did not meet needs and blame-shifting for medical issues.
• The facility is described as severely understaffed and the food as poor.
• Families are said to have been never called and an ambulance delayed until the last moment.
• It is alleged that infections recurred with every admission, and meals were forgotten or neglected.

Review

The collection of reviews about the Palisade facility in Garretson, South Dakota reveals a broad range of experiences, from glowing praise to troubling allegations. Several reviewers focus on the warmth and dedication of the staff, emphasizing that clinicians, therapists, and aides often go above and beyond to support residents. For some families, the rehabilitation process is described as successful, with residents gaining strength and recovering mobility under attentive care. In these accounts, the therapy department is frequently highlighted as a strength, with therapists and aides forming meaningful relationships with residents and their families. The overall tone in these entries suggests that when care is well-coordinated and the staff feels supported, the experience can be deeply positive.

On the other hand, a number of reviews raise serious concerns about the quality of care and the management structure. Several reviewers recount episodes they view as dangerous or neglectful, such as long delays in transferring a patient to hospital, missed symptoms, or inadequate response to medical needs. One account describes a fall resulting in a concussion and spine fracture, and a failure to provide timely care, including not receiving an ice pack or prompt hospital transfer. Others allege more routine lapses, such as failures to address basic hygiene, unaddressed infections, or insufficient attention to a resident's daily needs. These narratives emphasize that lapses in supervision, communication, or follow-through can have serious consequences for residents.

The leadership and administrative staff are a focal point for both praise and critique. A number of reviews express high regard for the executive director Lourdes and the director of nursing, Megan, noting that management is capable, responsive, and committed to addressing concerns when they arise. Some families recount immediate improvements after bringing issues to management, suggesting a culture that values accountability. Yet other reviewers are far less forgiving, labeling specific administrators as rude or condescending and describing a sense of disorganization at the top. The divergence in experiences here underscores how perceptions of leadership can dramatically shape the day-to-day experience of residents and their families.

Within the positive testimonials, individual staff members frequently stand out by name, underscoring the personal connections that can form in long-term care settings. Reviewers mention enthusiastic and capable CNAs like Marin, Tina, Taylor, and Mosama, as well as nursing staff such as J.C. and Stephanie. The therapy team also receives repeated commendations, with Kelly in physical therapy and Dianne in occupational therapy singled out for their care. Behind these accolades is a broader sense that when residents feel seen and valued by the people delivering day-to-day care, their confidence and well-being tend to improve. Even housekeeping and support staff, such as Marcella, are recognized for contributing to a respectful atmosphere.

However, negative experiences sometimes center on the social and emotional climate of the facility as much as on medical outcomes. One reviewer describes a social worker as rude and lacking empathy, while another mentions a director who was perceived as condescending. The impression given by these comments is that interpersonal dynamics can significantly color the experience of care, sometimes overshadowing the technical quality of the medical or rehabilitative services. The tension between compassionate, person-centered care and rigid administrative expectations appears to be a recurring thread in several accounts, with residents and families feeling either heard and empowered or dismissed and frustrated.

Facility conditions themselves receive mixed treatment in the reviews. Some stories describe a clean, well-kept environment where meals feel homelike and the atmosphere is welcoming, with references to warm, home-style food and a facility that is spotless despite its age. Food quality receives mixed feedback, ranging from praise for home-cooked flavors to complaints that meals are not very good. There are also comments about outdated equipment and a building that feels old but maintained, which suggests a potential mismatch between the physical environment and evolving expectations for modern long-term care facilities. These physical and culinary impressions color how families assess the overall quality of care and daily life for their loved ones.

Care experiences around rehabilitation and transition home also show a split picture. Some families report that their loved ones made meaningful progress during rehab stays, with therapists and aides providing attentive, respectful guidance. In these cases, families feel grateful for the opportunity to improve function and regain independence, and they often speak highly of the staff who supported them through the process. Others recount rapid declines or a sense that care did not sufficiently prepare a resident for discharge, with concerns about follow-up instructions, safety at home, or ongoing medical needs. The breadth of these experiences suggests that the quality of rehab and the adequacy of discharge planning can vary substantially within the same facility.

Finally, the reviews collectively echo a common caveat: readers should do their own due diligence before forming an opinion about the facility. Many comments urge families to visit in person, talk to current residents and staff, and consider their own expectations for care quality, empathy, and safety. The articles and local coverage cited by some reviewers underscore the idea that there are at least two sides to every story, and that one should seek a balanced understanding rather than relying on a single account. In sum, Palisade appears to be a place where compassionate care and strong relationships can shine, yet where concerns about safety, communication, and leadership have also left lasting impressions on families.

Garretson, South Dakota offers a peaceful and serene environment for senior living, with a variety of amenities and services nearby. The community boasts several places of worship for spiritual fulfillment, as well as cafes and restaurants for socializing and enjoying meals with friends. Residents can also take advantage of the parks in the area, such as Palisades State Park and Dell Rapids City Park, for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Additionally, there are pharmacies, hospitals, and physicians within close proximity for convenient access to healthcare services. The presence of theaters like Century East at Dawley Farm provides entertainment options for seniors looking to enjoy movies and cultural experiences. Overall, Garretson offers a welcoming and supportive community for seniors seeking a tranquil retirement lifestyle.

Places of Worship

• Palisades Church (0.3 miles)
• Umstead, Julie (0.6 miles)
• Palisade Church (2.2 miles)
• Risen Savior Catholic Church (9.2 miles)
• Celebrate Community Church (9.6 miles)
• Living Springs Church (10 miles)
• East Nidaros Lutheran Church (10.2 miles)

Cafes

• Annies Coffeehouse & Wine Cafe (0.3 miles)
• Scotters Coffee (9.7 miles)
• Coffea Roasterie (14.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (14.6 miles)

Restaurants

• O So Good (0.3 miles)
• The Bullet (3.1 miles)
• Wilde Prairie Winery (7.9 miles)
• McDonald's (8.6 miles)
• Subway (9.2 miles)
• 212 The Boiling Point (9.5 miles)
• B&G Milkyway Brandon (9.6 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (1 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (13.5 miles)
• River Valley Taxidermy (14.2 miles)
• U-Haul (15 miles)

Parks

• Palisades State Park (2.2 miles)
• Bucher Prairie (7.9 miles)
• Split Rock Creek State Park (10.4 miles)
• Baltic Ball Fields (12 miles)
• Dell Rapids Park (12.6 miles)
• Dell Rapids City Park (12.7 miles)
• Mary Jo Wegner Arboretum (14.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Lewis (9.2 miles)
• Lewis Express Pharmacy (9.3 miles)
• Lewis Drug (9.3 miles)
• Brandon Health Mart Pharmacy (10.4 miles)
• Lewis Family Drug Dell Rapids (13 miles)
• Medvantx (13.1 miles)
• Lewis Family Drug (13.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Sanford Health (9.3 miles)
• Sanford Brandon Acute Care & Orthopedic Fast Track Clinic (9.4 miles)
• Jasper Clinic (10.4 miles)
• Dells Area Health Center (13.3 miles)
• Minnesota Veterans Home (14.7 miles)
• Boehm Shereck, Lori (14.8 miles)

Physicians

• Sanford Brandon Acute Care (9.4 miles)
• Ag PhD (10.5 miles)
• Dell Rapids Medical Clinic (13.4 miles)
• Avera Medical Group McGreevy Dawley Farm (14.7 miles)

Theaters

• Century East at Dawley Farm (14.8 miles)