Golden LivingCenter - Meadowbrook in Rapid City, SD

Pros

• The facility is fabulous and keeps families informed every step of the way.
• The staff are kind and respectful and genuinely care about the people they help.
• The facility is organized, responsive, and professional, making it a strong choice for short-term rehab.
• The rehab team is incredibly responsive and uplifting, helping with recovery and morale.
• The therapy team is top-tier, and the nurses are attentive and compassionate.
• The staff are wonderful - kind, professional, and attentive from the moment of arrival.
• Avantara Arrowhead provides crucial support and takes action when needed, including arranging transportation.
• The rooms are clean and comfortable, and daily activities and meals help residents socialize.

Cons

• Inadequate supervision of residents to prevent falls and accidents.
• Personal belongings went missing and were never recovered.
• There was a lack of standards for incontinence; residents waited for toileting and often smelled of urine.
• Wheelchair-bound residents were found sleeping in the dining area or in the hallway.
• A resident wore the same soiled clothes for two days, while fresh clothes were available but not used.
• A pillowcase wasn't placed on a plastic-covered pillow.
• A resident's bed was found with a wet spot, and dry bedding had to be requested.
• There was a discrepancy in how medications were dispensed to residents.
• A breakfast meal intake ticket was left in a resident's room for two days.
• A CNA brought her child to work and did not return to take residents' oxygen levels.

Review

Golden LivingCenter Meadowbrook in Rapid City is best suited for families looking for a post?acute, rehabilitation?focused stay where the emphasis is on recovery, clear communication, and hands?on therapeutic work. It is especially well?matched for short?term rehab after surgery or illness, where a structured therapy plan and attentive nursing support can drive solid progress and a smoother discharge home. The community earns trust through consistently responsive staff, professional conduct, and an atmosphere that feels welcoming to families visiting or coordinating care from afar. Those seeking deep, long?term memory care, rigorous oversight, or highly specialized clinical management may want alternatives that focus more on custodial care and constant risk monitoring.

On the strength side, the most cited advantages are the caliber of the therapy team and the front?line caregiving. Reviewers repeatedly praise organized, responsive staff and a rehabilitation program that feels direct and results?oriented. Nurses are described as attentive and compassionate, and social workers are noted for going above and beyond to coordinate transitions home and keep families in the loop. The atmosphere is described as warm and welcoming, with dining and activity staff contributing to a sense of normalcy and engagement. For families prioritizing discharge readiness and morale boosting during recovery, these positives often translate into real, tangible gains in independence after discharge.

Those strengths offset most concerns when rehabilitation outcomes and reliable communication are the top criteria. The ability to keep families informed at every step, the sense that the therapy team is the primary engine of recovery, and the general professionalism of staff collectively mitigate many frustrating realities found in other facilities. When a loved one's goal is to regain function quickly and safely, Meadowbrook's organized approach, combined with attentive bedside care and proactive discharge planning, tends to deliver above?average results. The overall impression for many families is that a well?coordinated rehab stay can make the difference between a difficult post?op period and a confident return home.

However, the review landscape includes cautions that cannot be ignored. A subset of comments, drawn from the broader brand family, highlights serious management and safety concerns such as inconsistent supervision, delays in responding to needs, and reports of dignity?related issues. These observations stress the importance of verifying current leadership stability, daily staffing levels, and the facility's specific safety culture before choosing Meadowbrook for someone who requires near?continuous oversight. Potential residents with a history of frequent falls, fragile skin integrity, or complex medication regimens may want to scrutinize how the facility audits and mitigates risk, and to request recent objective quality data during tours.

For families weighing options, Meadowbrook's rehab prowess and compassionate caregiving are compelling when the goal is a strong return?to?home trajectory. But the decision should balance those advantages against any lingering doubts about management consistency and responsive care across shifts. Prospective residents who prize a predictable, safety?first environment, especially for long?term needs or for residents with dementia or high care demands, may prefer facilities with a longer track record of unwavering supervision and fewer reports of care lapses. In short, Meadowbrook is a sound choice for recovery?focused care with excellent therapy and communication, provided a careful, in?person evaluation confirms current safety, staffing, and leadership performance.

To decide with confidence, perform deliberate due diligence: arrange a face?to?face tour and speak with the director of nursing and the social worker about discharge planning, staff staffing ratios, and how call lights are managed across shifts. Review the most recent state survey results for Meadowbrook and ask current families about overnight staffing consistency, meal and hygiene routines, and how quickly aides respond to needs. Observe the environment for cleanliness, dignity in care, and the cadence of therapy sessions alongside daily activities. If the answers align with strong rehab outcomes, clear communication, and steady supervision, Meadowbrook stands out as a practical, capable solution for short?term recovery; if risk signals persist or leadership reliability feels uncertain, exploring alternatives will be prudent.

This area of Rapid City, South Dakota offers a convenient and diverse array of amenities for seniors considering living in the area. With multiple physicians and hospitals located within a short distance, residents can easily access medical care when needed. Additionally, there are several parks nearby, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Pharmacies are also readily available for prescription needs. Places of worship offer spiritual fulfillment, while a variety of restaurants cater to different culinary preferences. Transportation options like U-Haul Moving & Storage provide convenience for any moving or storage needs. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded community with essential services and activities to support a comfortable senior lifestyle.

Physicians

• Creekside Family Practice (0.7 miles)
• Rapid City Medical Center (0.7 miles)
• Rushmore Ob-Gyn PC (0.9 miles)
• RCMH Rapid City Mental Health (0.9 miles)
• Emergiclinic (1 miles)
• Rapid City Medical Center (1 miles)
• Native Womens Health Care (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Storybook Island (0.9 miles)
• Canyon Lake Park (1 miles)
• Sioux Park (1.2 miles)
• Hall Park (1.3 miles)
• Dinosaur Park (1.7 miles)
• Wilson Park (1.8 miles)
• The Greenway x Capital Street (2.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Rapid City Indian Hospital , Pharmacy Refills (1 miles)
• Rapid City Indian Hospital Sioux San (1 miles)
• Rushmore Ambulatory Surgery Center (1.4 miles)
• Rapid City Regional Hospital (2 miles)
• Labor and Delivery (2.1 miles)
• Rapid City Regional Hospital (2.1 miles)
• Black Hills Surgical Hospital (2.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Medicap Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Boyds Drug Mart (1.6 miles)
• Safeway Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Monument Health Home+ Specialty Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Boyd's Drug Rx Express (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Westminster Presbyterian Church (1.2 miles)
• Blessed Sacrament Church (1.3 miles)
• Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (2 miles)
• First United Methodist Church (2.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Golden Phoenix (1.5 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.5 miles)
• McDonald's (1.6 miles)
• Culver's (1.6 miles)
• Jimmy John's (1.6 miles)
• Blaze Pizza (1.7 miles)
• Culver's (1.8 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (1.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Scotters Coffee (2.1 miles)
• Essence Of Coffee (2.3 miles)