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Wakonda Heritage Manor
515 Ohio Street, Wakonda, SD 57073 · Clay County · (605) 267-2081
38 certified beds, about 36 residents a day · Non profit - Corporation · Medicare and Medicaid since 1996
CMS Care Compare ratings, data as of September 1, 2026 · CCN 435094 · See it on Medicare.gov · Compare with other homes
The record in brief
At its most recent standard inspection, on May 7, 2026, inspectors cited 4 health deficiencies (the South Dakota average is 6.7, the national average 9.2).
Of 8 health citations since October 2023, 1 was rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy to residents.
CMS lists 1 fine totaling $12,675 in the last three years; the largest was $12,675, and the latest is dated February 13, 2025.
Nurses and nurse aides worked 3.85 hours per resident per day, against 3.79 across South Dakota and 3.86 nationally. Registered nurses accounted for 0.66 of those hours.
33.3% of nursing staff left within the year CMS measured (South Dakota average 48.2%).
CMS links it to Avera Health, an affiliated group of 13 nursing homes.
Health inspections
Federal rules call for a standard inspection at least every 15 months, plus a visit whenever a complaint is filed. Each mark below is one citation, colored by how serious inspectors rated it. How to read a citation.
Under each citation, the quoted text is the inspector's own summary from the federal statement of deficiencies (CMS form 2567), word for word apart from a privacy scrub; CMS removes residents' and staff names before it publishes the text. The full notes are on Medicare.gov.
Where its citations fall on CMS's grid
CMS rates every citation by how much harm it caused (rows) and how many residents it touched (columns). The count in each box is this home's, across all 8 health citations on file.
May 7, 2026Standard inspection · 4 citations
- D Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, record review, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure there was documentation to support if one of one sampled resident (6) was a candidate for a restraint (a device, material, or medication used to restrict a resident's movement or access to their body to ensure safety or prevent harmful behavior) reduction, a less restrictive method, or for a restraint elimination.
- D Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment.
Inspectors wroteBased on record review, interview, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) 3.0 User's Manual Version 1.20.1 October 2025 review, the provider failed to ensure one of one sampled residents' (1) Minimum Data Set (MDS) (a tool used to evaluate a resident's health status and to develop an individualized care plan to manage the resident's care needs) assessment was accurately coded for the area of active diagnoses.
- D Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, record review, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure infection control practices were followed regarding one of two sampled resident (34) who used a nebulizer (a device that converts liquid medication into an inhalable mist) machine that was not cleaned after each use by the nursing staff.
- D Make sure that the nursing home area is safe, easy to use, clean and comfortable for residents, staff and the public.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure chemicals were stored safely away from the residents in one of two bathing rooms.
February 13, 2025Standard inspection, Complaint inspection · 2 citations
- G Ensure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
Inspectors wroteBased on South Dakota Department of Health (SD DOH) facility-reported incident (FRI), record review, observation, interview, and policy review the provider failed to ensure two of two sampled residents (3 and 21) who were assessed and determined unable to safely use electronic lift chairs independently did not have access to the lift chair control or the chairs' power cords were unplugged or removed as directed in their assessments.
- F Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure appropriate hand hygiene and glove use was performed to prevent contamination of resident foods by two of two dietary staff (dietary manager J and medical secretary K) during one of one observed meal service in the kitchen and dining room.
June 24, 2024Complaint inspection · 1 citation
- D Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, record review, and policy review, the provider failed to ensure menu substitutions for special events were reviewed and approved by a registered dietitian.
October 19, 2023Standard inspection · 1 citation
- D Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program.
Inspectors wroteBased on observation, interview, and policy review the provider failed to ensure infection control policies were adhered to with the following: *Appropriate hand hygiene and glove use by two of two certified nursing assistants (CNAs) E and F during the provision of personal care for one of one sampled resident (24). *Appropriate sanitization of an EZ stand mechanical lift by CNAs E and F between care for two of two sampled residents ( 24 and 85).
Fire safety inspections
3 fire safety citations on file: 1 on May 7, 2026, 1 on February 13, 2025, 1 on October 19, 2023.
Every fire safety citation3 citations
- D Have simulated fire drills held at unexpected times.
- D Meet requirements for sections of health care facilities separated by fire resistive construction.
- D Meet requirements for sections of health care facilities separated by fire resistive construction.
Fines and payment denials
| Date | Penalty | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| February 13, 2025 | Fine | $12,675 |
A payment denial means Medicare and Medicaid stopped paying for new admissions for that period.
Staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, from the payroll records every home sends CMS. Higher means more staff time with each resident.
| Measure | This home | South Dakota | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| All nursing staff (RN, LPN and aides) | 3.85 | 3.79 | 3.86 |
| Registered nurses | 0.66 | 0.80 | 0.69 |
| All nursing staff on weekends | 3.12 | 3.26 | 3.42 |
| Nurse aides | 2.59 | ||
| Licensed practical nurses | 0.60 | ||
| Nursing staff turnover (share who left in a year) | 33.3% | 48.2% | 45.8% |
| Registered nurse turnover | 33.3% | 34.7% | 42.9% |
| Administrators who left | 0 |
CMS expects 3.20 hours a day for residents as sick as this home's (its case-mix figure). The staffing star compares the two.
Staffing by quarter, from daily payroll records
Every nursing home sends CMS its staff hours for each day (the Payroll Based Journal). Here they are added up by quarter. The latest quarter is the one behind the figures above. In January to March 2026, nursing staff hours per resident were 4.14 on weekdays and 3.12 on weekends, 25% lower on weekends (nationally, weekends ran 15% lower). Contract or agency staff worked 17.4% of nursing hours, against 5.3% nationally. Total nursing hours per resident went from 3.58 in April to June 2025 to 3.85 in January to March 2026.
| Quarter | All nursing staff | Registered nurses | Weekdays | Weekends | Contract staff share | Days with no RN hours | Residents a day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.85 | 0.66 | 4.14 | 3.12 | 17.4% | 0 of 90 | 36 |
| Oct to Dec 2025 | 3.68 | 0.72 | 3.99 | 2.89 | 15.5% | 0 of 92 | 34 |
| Jul to Sep 2025 | 3.83 | 0.79 | 4.17 | 2.98 | 14.1% | 0 of 92 | 33 |
| Apr to Jun 2025 | 3.58 | 0.83 | 3.92 | 2.74 | 5.5% | 0 of 91 | 31 |
| United States, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.75 | 0.62 | 3.92 | 3.33 | 5.3% | 0.5% of days | |
| South Dakota, Jan to Mar 2026 | 3.76 | 0.79 | 3.97 | 3.25 | 9.1% | 1.1% of days |
Hours per resident per day: staff hours in the quarter divided by resident days (the daily census CMS derives from resident assessments). Registered nurses include the director of nursing and RNs with administrative duties; aides include nurse aides in training and medication aides, as in CMS's own staffing measure. How these are calculated.
Staff pay reports
Staff pay at this home
No staff pay figure for this home has passed review yet. A figure appears only after at least 5 reports from at least 3 different people, sent over at least 60 days, have passed review.
Official wage estimates for South Dakota
| Job | Median | Middle half | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota, all employers | |||
| CNAs (nursing assistants) | $18.65 | $17.71 to $21.12 | 6,860 |
| LPNs and LVNs | $25.36 | $23.88 to $29.47 | 2,050 |
| Registered nurses | $37.53 | $31.29 to $40.52 | 14,710 |
| United States, nursing care facilities | |||
| CNAs (nursing assistants) | $20.67 | $17.91 to $22.55 | 534,270 |
| LPNs and LVNs | $33.86 | $30.05 to $37.40 | 188,210 |
| Registered nurses | $41.11 | $37.85 to $47.68 | 142,270 |
Hourly wages; the middle half runs from the 25th to the 75th percentile. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. BLS has no separate estimate for medication aides. These are survey estimates for whole occupations, not figures for any one home.
Quality measures
The measures CMS uses for the quality star. Lower is better for every one of them.
| Measure | This home | South Dakota | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 14.4 | 21.4 | 13.9 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 0.8 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 2.4 | 2.9 | 1.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 7.0 | 5.5 | 3.2 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 20.4 | 19.4 | 14.1 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 0.9 | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication Long Stay residents, 2025Q2-2026Q1 | 40.0 | 24.6 | 15.4 |
| Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days Long Stay residents, 20250101-20251231 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
Owners and operators
Legal business name: WAKONDA HERITAGE MANOR. CMS links this home to Avera Health, a group of 13 nursing homes averaging 3.8 stars overall.
| Name | Role | Type | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis, Brittani | Corporate officer | Individual | 11/02/2015 | |
| Fitzgerald, Helen | Corporate officer | Individual | 05/25/2025 | |
| Ganschow, Darby | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2014 | |
| Girard, Ken | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2012 | |
| Henriksen, Donna | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2013 | |
| Huot, Ron | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2013 | |
| Johnsen, Jill | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2012 | |
| Knudson, Cheryl | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2011 | |
| McCue, Margo | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2009 | |
| Nelsen, Julie | Corporate officer | Individual | 04/26/2017 | |
| Peterson, Ronald | Corporate officer | Individual | 01/01/2008 | |
| Stockland, Robin | Corporate officer | Individual | 11/30/2017 | |
| Sacred Heart Health Services | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 01/17/1994 | |
| Wakonda Heritage Manor | Operational/managerial control | Organization | 01/17/1994 | |
| Stockland, Robin | Operational/managerial control | Individual | 11/30/2017 | |
| Sacred Heart Health Services | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 09/04/2025 | |
| Wakonda Heritage Manor | Adp of the SNF | Organization | 07/17/2025 | |
| Davis, Brittani | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 11/02/2015 | |
| Stockland, Robin | Adp of the SNF | Individual | 11/30/2017 |
As listed in the CMS ownership file, which names owners with a 5% or greater stake and the people and companies with operational or managerial control.
Questions to ask on a visit
Chosen from this home's own inspection record.
- How do you prevent falls and pressure injuries, and how are families told when one happens?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on May 7, 2026: "Provide safe and appropriate respiratory care for a resident when needed."
- Can we see a week of menus and the kitchen, and how are special diets handled?Inspectors cited 2 problems in this area, most recently on February 13, 2025: "Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards."
- How are allegations of abuse or neglect reported and investigated, and who tells the family?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on May 7, 2026: "Ensure that each resident is free from the use of physical restraints, unless needed for medical treatment."
- When is the care plan meeting, and can family attend it?Inspectors cited 1 problem in this area, most recently on May 7, 2026: "Ensure each resident receives an accurate assessment."
- Who is on the floor on Saturday and Sunday, and how many residents does each aide care for?Weekend nurse staffing here was 3.12 hours per resident per day, below the South Dakota average of 3.26.
Other nursing homes nearby
- Sunset Manor Avera Health Irene, 6 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 17 citations
- Centerville Care and Rehab Center Inc Centerville, 10.8 mi · 1 of 5 stars · 20 citations
- Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home Viborg, 11.7 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 3 citations
- Sd Human Services Center - Geriatric Program Yankton, 16.2 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 5 citations
- Bethesda of Beresford Beresford, 17 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 27 citations
- Sanford Care Center Vermillion Vermillion, 18.3 mi · 2 of 5 stars · 11 citations
- Avera Sister James Care Center Yankton, 18.6 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 9 citations
- Alcester Care and Rehab Center, Inc Alcester, 24.1 mi · 5 of 5 stars · 10 citations
South Dakota contacts for a concern about a nursing home
These are the official offices in South Dakota. NursingHomeClear cannot take or act on complaints.
- Inspections and complaints: South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Health Facilities Licensure and Certification, the state agency that inspects nursing homes for CMS and takes complaints about care.
- Resident advocate: South Dakota Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, Department of Human Services. The long-term care ombudsman is a free, confidential advocate for residents and families, set up under the federal Older Americans Act.
- State inspection reports: South Dakota Department of Health Nursing Facility Reports, where South Dakota publishes its own records on licensed homes.
Common questions
- What is Wakonda Heritage Manor's Medicare star rating?
- CMS rates Wakonda Heritage Manor 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 4 for health inspections, 5 for staffing and 3 for quality measures (CMS data as of September 1, 2026).
- How many deficiencies did Wakonda Heritage Manor get at its last inspection?
- 4 health deficiencies at the standard inspection on May 7, 2026. The South Dakota average is 6.7.
- Has Wakonda Heritage Manor been fined?
- Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $12,675 in the last three years.
- Does Wakonda Heritage Manor accept Medicaid?
- It is certified to take Medicaid (CMS lists it as "Medicare and Medicaid"). Certification does not mean a Medicaid bed is open: ask the admissions office.
- Who owns Wakonda Heritage Manor?
- CMS lists 19 owners and managers, and links the home to Avera Health. Legal business name: WAKONDA HERITAGE MANOR.
Sources
- Ratings, staffing and fines: CMS Provider Information, released September 30, 2026, data as of September 1, 2026.
- Citations: CMS Health Deficiencies and Fire Safety Deficiencies.
- Owners: CMS Ownership. Penalties: CMS Penalties.
- Staffing by quarter: CMS Payroll Based Journal Daily Nurse Staffing, April 2025 to March 2026, summed by NursingHomeClear.
- Inspector summaries: CMS Full Statement of Deficiencies (CMS-2567 text), data as of September 1, 2026. Each quote is the part of the statement before the detailed findings.
- Inspection reports with the inspectors' full notes are on this home's Medicare.gov page.
- Something wrong on this page? Ask for a correction. We fix errors in our copy of the data; findings themselves can only be changed by CMS and the state.
- NursingHomeClear is independent and not affiliated with CMS, Medicare or any state agency. This page reports federal records; it does not rate, recommend or endorse any home, and it is not medical or legal advice.