Hamlin County, South Dakota · Nursing home
Estelline Nursing and Care Center
4 of 5 overall from CMS
205 Fjerestad Avenue East, Estelline, SD 57234
At a glance
- Overall rating 4 of 5 Above the state average of 2.9
- Nurse time per resident, per day 2.04 hours Below the state average of 3.79
- Nursing staff who left in a year 28.8% Below the state average of 48.2%
- Health citations, last 3 inspection cycles 2 1 at the harm level or above
- Fines in 3 years $16,826 1 fine
- Certified beds in use 93.5% of 60 beds, on an average day
Arrows only show whether a figure is above or below the state average. They are not a judgment of the home.
Estelline Nursing and Care Center is a 60-bed nursing home in Estelline, South Dakota (Hamlin County). CMS rates it 4 of 5 stars overall as of Sep 2026. It reports 2.04 nurse staffing hours per resident per day, below the South Dakota average of 3.79. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $16,826 in the past three years.
- Certified beds
- 60
- Residents per day (average)
- 56.1
- Certified since
- 1996 (30 yrs)
Government - City Participates in Medicare and Medicaid
Bed use is this site's calculation: average residents per day divided by certified beds. It is an average, so it does not show today's openings.
Terms used on this page
- CMS
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that publishes the ratings, staffing figures, inspection results and penalties shown here.
- Certified beds
- The number of federally certified beds CMS lists for the home.
- Deficiency or citation
- A federal requirement that inspectors found the home did not meet. Each one gets a letter from A to L for how serious it was and how many residents were affected. What the letters mean
- Actual harm
- Letters G, H and I: actual harm to a resident that is not immediate jeopardy.
- Immediate jeopardy
- Letters J, K and L: the problem caused, or was likely to cause, serious injury, harm, impairment or death to a resident.
- Inspection cycle
- A standard inspection plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to it. This page shows the three most recent cycles.
- Special Focus Facility (SFF)
- A home CMS has placed under closer oversight because of its inspection record. More about the program
Questions to ask Estelline Nursing and Care Center
Chosen from this home's public data.
- CMS lists 1 fine totaling $16,826 in the past three years. What changed after the most recent one?Penalties in CMS data
- Reported nurse staffing is 1.62 hours per resident on weekends against 2.04 overall. Who covers Saturdays and Sundays?Weekend staffing in CMS data
- Registered nurse time is 0.45 hours per resident per day; the South Dakota average is 0.80. Is an RN on site overnight?RN staffing in CMS data
More in what to ask on a nursing home tour.
CMS star ratings
- Overall 4 of 5 South Dakota average 2.9
- Health inspections 5 of 5 South Dakota average 2.9
- Staffing 1 of 5 South Dakota average 3.5
- Quality measures 4 of 5 South Dakota average 2.7
The vertical line marks the South Dakota average. Ratings run from 1 to 5. How to read CMS star ratings
Nurse staffing
Hours of care per resident per day, as the home reported to CMS.
What these roles do
Nurse aides give most hands-on daily care, such as help with bathing, dressing and meals. Licensed practical nurses give medications and routine nursing care. Registered nurses assess residents and direct their care.
- All nursing staff 2.04 h South Dakota average 3.79
- Nurse aides 1.38 h South Dakota average 2.52
- Licensed practical nurses 0.21 h South Dakota average 0.47
- Registered nurses 0.45 h South Dakota average 0.80
- All staff, weekends 1.62 h South Dakota average 3.26
How much nurse staffing is enough? All bars share one scale, 0 to 9 hours. The vertical line marks the South Dakota average; the national average for all nursing staff is 3.86 hours.
- Nursing staff turnover28.8%
- South Dakota average48.2%
- Registered nurse turnover27.3%
- South Dakota average34.7%
- Administrators who left0
Quality measures
CMS calculates these from residents' assessments and Medicare claims. They are shown as published, next to the South Dakota and national averages. marks the measures CMS uses in its quality star rating; for those, the rating gives more points for a lower rate.
Long-stay residents
| Measure | This home | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose need for help with daily activities has increased | 11.7% | 21.3% | 13.9% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who lose too much weight | 2.5% | 5.6% | 5.2% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a catheter inserted and left in their bladder | 0.0% | 2.1% | 0.8% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with a urinary tract infection | 1.5% | 2.9% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who have depressive symptoms | 0.0% | 5.7% | 12.8% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who were physically restrained | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents experiencing one or more falls with major injury | 2.4% | 5.5% | 3.2% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 100.0% | 94.9% | 93.6% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents whose ability to walk independently worsened | 10.9% | 19.4% | 14.1% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antianxiety or hypnotic medication | 14.1% | 17.4% | 19.5% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | 100.0% | 96.9% | 95.5% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents with pressure ulcers | 1.4% | 4.6% | 4.6% |
| Percentage of long-stay residents with new or worsened bowel or bladder incontinence | 16.0% | 25.4% | 19.0% |
| ★ Percentage of long-stay residents who received an antipsychotic medication | 16.5% | 24.6% | 15.4% |
| ★ Number of hospitalizations per 1000 long-stay resident days | 1.95 | 1.52 | 1.90 |
| ★ Number of outpatient emergency department visits per 1000 long-stay resident days | 1.19 | 1.75 | 1.78 |
Short-stay residents
| Measure | This home | South Dakota | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of short-stay residents assessed and appropriately given the pneumococcal vaccine | 100.0% | 83.5% | 82.0% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who newly received an antipsychotic medication | 4.8% | 2.0% | 1.6% |
| Percentage of short-stay residents who were assessed and appropriately given the seasonal influenza vaccine | Too few residents or stays to report | 78.2% | 79.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who were rehospitalized after a nursing home admission | 13.7% | 19.9% | 23.8% |
| ★ Percentage of short-stay residents who had an outpatient emergency department visit | 11.5% | 12.0% | 12.0% |
Measure periods: April 2025 to March 2026 for most measures; July 2024 to June 2025 for the flu vaccine measures; January to December 2025 for the hospital and emergency department measures, which CMS risk-adjusts. See the measures on Medicare.gov
Inspection history
Inspectors cited 2 health deficiencies in the three most recent inspection cycles. Of these, 1 was at the immediate jeopardy level; the rest were graded as no actual harm. The most recent citation at the harm level or above was on Dec 14, 2023: Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
| Standard inspection | Health | Fire safety |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2026 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 3, 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 14, 2023 | 1 | 0 |
South Dakota homes averaged 6.7 health deficiencies in the latest cycle; the national average is 9.2. Each cycle's health count covers the standard inspection on that date plus the complaint and infection-control citations CMS assigns to that cycle.
Health citations, three most recent inspection cycles (2)
-
DPotential for more than minimal harm, isolated
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Aug 3, 2026)
-
LImmediate jeopardy, widespread
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
Nutrition and Dietary · Deficient, Provider has date of correction (Jan 12, 2024)
What severity letters A to L mean
Each sentence above is the requirement that was not met, in CMS's wording. For the inspection results as Medicare publishes them, open this home's page on Medicare.gov and look under "Health inspections".
Penalties, past three years
| Date | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 14, 2023 | Fine | $16,826 |
South Dakota homes averaged 1.9 fines and $40,815 in fine amounts; the national averages are 0.9 and $30,972.
Cost
Not in the public data. CMS does not publish what a nursing home charges.
Ask the home for its daily private-pay rate and whether a bed is open for your coverage. See what Medicare covers and how Medicaid pays for a nursing home.
Compared within South Dakota
- Size32 of 96 by certified beds
- South Dakota average residents per day52.1
- ChainNone listed
- Resident or family councilResident
- Homes in Hamlin County2
Common questions
What is the CMS star rating for Estelline Nursing and Care Center?
Estelline Nursing and Care Center has an overall rating of 4 of 5 stars from CMS as of Sep 2026. Its health inspection rating is 5, staffing is 1 and quality measures is 4.
How many beds does Estelline Nursing and Care Center have?
Estelline Nursing and Care Center has 60 certified beds. It averages 56.1 residents per day, about 93.5% of its certified beds.
How much nursing care do residents get at Estelline Nursing and Care Center?
The home reports 2.04 hours of nurse staffing per resident per day, including 0.45 hours from registered nurses. The South Dakota average is 3.79 hours and 0.80 hours from registered nurses.
Has Estelline Nursing and Care Center been fined?
Yes. CMS lists 1 fine totaling $16,826 in the past three years.
Does Estelline Nursing and Care Center accept Medicare or Medicaid?
CMS lists its participation as "Medicare and Medicaid". Ask the home whether a bed is open for your coverage.
Guides for families looking at this home
- Understanding the recordWhat to ask on a nursing home tourQuestions that turn a home's public record into a useful conversation when you tour, plus what to look for yourself.
- Understanding the recordInspection severity letters A to LHow inspectors grade each deficiency by harm and by how many residents were affected.
- Understanding the recordHow to read CMS star ratingsWhat the overall, health inspection, staffing and quality measure ratings cover, and what they leave out.
Nearest nursing homes
- 5 of 5 Avantara Lake Norden 50beds 93.6%in use 3.23nurse hours a day
- 3 of 5 Jenkin's Living Center 110beds 65.5%in use 3.67nurse hours a day
- 1 of 5 Avantara Watertown 51beds 91.4%in use 3.57nurse hours a day
Sorted by straight-line distance. This is not a ranking or a recommendation. Compare all homes in Hamlin County
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, nursing home datasets processed Sep 1, 2026. CMS Certification Number 435099. See this home's official record on Medicare.gov
See something shown incorrectly? Tell us. This site shows each record as CMS publishes it and cannot change the underlying record.