717 East Dakota, Pierre, SD 57501
For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318
Overall Review of Avera Maryhouse Long Term Care
Pros
The transitional care unit at Avera Mary house provides excellent care.
There is no better place for transitional care than Maryhouse in Pierre, SD.
Amanda, the occupational therapist, and Brittney, the physical therapist, are amazing.
Nora is fantastic.
Nurses Jane and Lori are incredible.
Andy, Edzel, Miguel, James, Giavanni, Avery, Natasha and Christian are great.
The staff members were genuinely and wholeheartedly impressive.
The family expresses heartfelt thanks for the staff's challenging work each day.
The staff make a positive difference in the mom's life daily through kindness, knowledge, skills, and empathy.
The gentleman was very polite.
Cons
The facility was unclean and staffed with unprofessional, rude personnel.
Their experience with Maryhouse was so bad that they hired an attorney to address a long list of issues.
They faced problems such as staff forgetting to feed residents, forgetting to provide medications, and frequent arguments with their family over the care provided.
Review
Avera Maryhouse Long Term Care in Pierre, SD is best suited for families seeking strong rehabilitative support and hands-on transitional care for a loved one who benefits from skilled therapy, daily routine, and a genuinely responsive caregiving team. The facility’s transitional care unit stands out as its core strength, with a rehabilitation focus that aligns well with short- to medium-term needs. The environment rewards consistency in routine, clear communication, and attentive attention from the therapy staff, nurses, and aides. This is a place where the goal is to move a resident toward greater independence, with a pronounced emphasis on practical daily progress rather than a purely custodial experience.
The most compelling advantage comes from the rehab-forward staff and the practical, daily touchpoints that shape the resident’s experience. Observations from families highlight standout therapists and nurses who bring energy, skill, and empathy to sessions, meals, and hallway encounters. The OT and PT teams, along with bedside nurses, are repeatedly praised for their dedication, responsiveness, and the kind, steady presence that translates into real momentum for recovery or functional maintenance. For families prioritizing meaningful rehabilitation and consistent personal attention, these strengths can create a durable, confidence-building path through a likely challenging phase of care.
However, the community does carry significant red flags that cannot be overlooked. One highly critical account centers on uncleanliness and unprofessional, rude staff, describing ongoing issues that escalated to legal action. Other families report serious gaps in care coordination, including missed meals and medication administration lapses, along with frequent disputes with family members over the care provided. Such reports raise questions about operational consistency, accountability, and the reliability of daily care routines that are essential for both safety and peace of mind. These concerns are not incidental; they touch core expectations for any long-term or transitional setting.
To weigh pros against cons, the rehab strengths and compassionate demeanor of many staff members can offset some daily irritants, particularly for families focused on meaningful progress in a relatively短 stay. When a resident’s priority is skilled therapy and structured days, Maryhouse offers a credible, practical option with potential for tangible improvement. Yet the concerns around cleanliness, medication management, and professional conduct cannot be dismissed. For families or residents who require rock-solid reliability in every shift, or who place a premium on spotless environments and friction-free communication, the negatives may outweigh the positives, even with strong therapy.
Explicitly, those who should consider alternatives include families whose top priorities are pristine facilities, flawless medication safety, and consistently professional interactions across all staff. Other skilled nursing or long-term care options in the region may deliver more uniform environments, stricter adherence to protocols, and fewer reports of care friction. Conducting a thorough comparison, site tours, reviewing state inspections, calling current residents or families for candid experiences, and asking pointed questions about med-pass processes and housekeeping, will clarify whether Maryhouse meets the non-negotiables of care quality and facility ambiance.
For a decision that centers on practical outcomes, Maryhouse can be a solid choice for transitional care enthusiasts who value therapy-driven progress and personal warmth from caregivers. Prospective families should approach with clear expectations and active oversight: request to shadow a therapy session, meet the care coordination team, verify med-pass routines, and understand housekeeping standards firsthand. If such oversight is feasible and the rehab focus remains the priority, Maryhouse delivers meaningful upside. If not, alternatives with more consistently clean environments and steadier staffing may better align with long-term safety, comfort, and trust.




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