David M Dorsett Health Care in Spearfish, SD

Pros

• The staff at Spearfish Canyon Healthcare are incredibly compassionate.
• Families say residents are treated like family and receive friendly, helpful care.
• Spearfish Canyon is described as a wonderful place for long-term care with kind and dedicated staff.
• The physical therapy department is outstanding.
• The nurses and aides are professional, caring, and dedicated.
• The facility is clean, well-kept, and welcoming.
• Families express gratitude for the care and support provided during difficult times.
• The atmosphere is warm and uplifting, with staff going above and beyond for residents.
• Many reviewers would highly recommend Spearfish Canyon to others.

Cons

• The facility is described as the worst care ever.
• The patient had to empty the trash several times and sit in the hall for long periods.
• The rehab was limited to about one hour of treatment over a two-week stay.
• Beds were rarely made and the bedding was never changed during the two weeks.
• Bathrooms were cleaned only three times in two weeks.
• A resident next to the patient was left on the toilet for 35 minutes.
• Gloves used on another patient were left on the floor for two days.
• A wheelchair provided was dirty and had to be cleaned with wipes.
• Understaffing caused delays in care, missed meals, and poor communication.

Review

David M Dorsett Health Care in Spearfish is best suited for families seeking a long-term, compassionate residential option where daily routines center on steady, respectful care and where staff are willing to engage with loved ones. The community earns consistently strong praise for warmth and personal attention, with particular strength in memory care and end-of-life support. Families report caregivers who treat residents with dignity and who help them stay connected to loved ones, while therapy services and daily routines provide a supportive framework that can make a difficult transition feel manageable. For seniors who need ongoing assistance with daily tasks, mobility support, and a steady therapeutic presence, Spearfish Canyon often delivers a reliable, homelike rhythm that many families value deeply.

Those who should consider alternatives are families with the highest expectations for rehab intensity or for flawless daily operations. A recurring theme in reviews is staffing shortfalls that affect response times, meal service, and timely medication administration, alongside reports of inconsistent cleanliness and housekeeping. When a loved one requires aggressive, around-the-clock supervision, rapid communication, and an unimpeachable safety record, other facilities with stronger staffing and tighter governance may provide more peace of mind. For residents needing highly specialized dementia programming or rigorous risk management, it is prudent to compare options where leadership visibility and staffing continuity are more consistently evident.

On the upside, the strongest appeal centers on the human side of care. Many families celebrate staff who exhibit genuine compassion, patient listening, and a sense that residents are treated like family. The therapy and nursing teams are repeatedly described as capable and attentive, with caregivers going the extra mile in tough moments. Visitors often note a welcoming environment, clean common areas, and a culture of kindness that helps families stay engaged without feeling overwhelmed. For long-term residents who settle in and for those in memory care who respond to individualized attention, the experience can feel consistently reassuring, especially when families are involved in care planning and daily routines.

Still, the mix of experiences cannot be ignored. A sizable portion of reviews recount serious concerns about neglect, housekeeping shortcomings, and inconsistent staffing that left residents waiting for assistance. Some accounts describe outdated facilities or sanitation issues, while others allege miscommunication about care plans or delays in essential services. A number of reviews touch on safety and oversight worries, including equipment mishandling or disruptions tied to staffing gaps. The takeaway is that the operation can deliver quality care for many residents, yet the risks associated with staffing instability and leadership gaps persist and must be addressed proactively.

Viewed as a decision point, the pros offset the cons only when staffing reliability and leadership oversight are visible and ongoing. When a resident benefits from steady, compassionate care and a robust therapy program - and when families can participate actively in care planning - the Spearfish Canyon experience can be deeply reassuring. The warning signs are unmistakable: inconsistent staffing, turnover, and lapses in cleanliness or communication can quickly erode that stability. Prospective families should insist on current staffing metrics, schedule unannounced visits during peak hours, meet the administrator or director of nursing, and request a clear, written care plan with explicit accountability. Clarity here is the differentiator between a comforting home and a facility whose flaws undermine confidence.

The bottom line: Spearfish Canyon Healthcare is worth a careful, thorough look for families who value warmth, dignity, and steady therapy support in a memory-care and long-term setting. It may not be the right fit for those who demand strict rehab intensity, flawless daily operations, and pristine cleanliness without exception. The decisive step is due diligence: visit, observe, and ask pointed questions about staffing, safety oversight, and housekeeping practices; talk with current residents' families and with leadership about concrete improvement plans. With clear expectations and vigilant follow-through, this community can function as a compassionate, human-centered home where a loved one can maintain comfort, connection, and respect.

Restaurants

• Millstone Family Restaurant (0.1 miles)
• Leones' Creamery (0.4 miles)
• Antunez (0.4 miles)
• Spearfish Brewing (0.5 miles)
• Jade Palace (0.5 miles)
• Green Oven Bakery (0.5 miles)
• Common Grounds (0.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Spearfish Regional Surgery Center (0.3 miles)
• Spearfish hospital (0.5 miles)

Physicians

• Queen City Regional Medical Center (0.3 miles)
• Christi A. Childers, DO (0.4 miles)
• Black Hills Dermatology & Laser Surgery Centre (0.5 miles)
• Family Medical Center (0.5 miles)
• Spearfish Regional Medical Clinic (0.5 miles)
• Black Hills Dermatology Center (0.5 miles)
• Spearfish Eye Care Center (0.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Monument Health Home+ Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Medicap Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• Safeway Number 583 (0.5 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• White Drug (10.6 miles)
• Thrifty White Pharmacy (10.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Foundation for Christian Discipleship Campus Ventu (0.4 miles)
• All Angels Episcopal Church (0.5 miles)
• United Methodist Church (1.5 miles)
• The Basin (2.1 miles)
• General Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists (2.1 miles)
• Spearfish Adventist Church (2.3 miles)
• North Point Christian Church (2.5 miles)

Parks

• Lions Memorial Park (0.4 miles)
• Salem Park (0.8 miles)
• Spearfish City Park (0.9 miles)
• Evans Park (1.3 miles)
• Heritage Park (2.8 miles)
• City Of Lead Dog Park (10.7 miles)

Cafes

• Blackbird Espresso (0.6 miles)
• Queen City Coffee (0.6 miles)
• Creekside Bean & V (1.4 miles)
• Mercantile (2.2 miles)
• Soul Food (2.2 miles)
• Starbucks (10.1 miles)
• Lee Street Station Cafe (10.2 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (0.8 miles)
• Canyon Cab Co. (1.8 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (2.4 miles)
• Black Hills Transportation Services (2.9 miles)
• Black Hills Airport (SPF) (3.4 miles)
• Black Hills Airport-Clyde Ice Field (3.5 miles)
• Dakota Car Rental (3.5 miles)