All states › South Dakota › Lemmon › Five Counties Nursing Home
405 6th Avenue West Lemmon, SD 57638 · Perkins County
CMS certification number 435090 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Five Counties Nursing Home a good nursing home? Reviews, ratings and inspection record
There are no official resident reviews of nursing homes: Medicare's Care Compare publishes inspections, staffing and quality data instead. Here is what that record shows for Five Counties Nursing Home as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 1 out of 5 stars overall, below the South Dakota average of 3.0.
Online reviews from families and residents are on Google Maps and other sites; they reflect individual experiences and aren't checked by CMS. The full inspection reports, including what inspectors observed, are on Medicare Care Compare.
Staffing
Nursing staff spend about 2.88 hours per resident per day at Five Counties Nursing Home, below the South Dakota median of 3.69 (US median: 3.72). About 0.75 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 2.46 hours, 15% below its all-week average.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Five Counties Nursing Home: Medicare and Medicaid
Five Counties Nursing Home is certified for both Medicare and Medicaid. Medicare Part A can cover a short skilled-nursing or rehab stay here after a qualifying hospital stay of at least three inpatient days (observation days don't count), for up to 100 days per benefit period. Medicaid can pay for long-term care for residents who meet South Dakota's income and asset rules. Being certified doesn't guarantee a Medicaid bed is open, so ask whether the home accepts residents whose Medicaid application is still pending.
In 2026 Medicare covers days 1–20 in full after the Part A deductible ($1,736 per benefit period); for days 21–100 you pay $217 a day; after day 100 you pay all costs. Medicare doesn't pay for long-term custodial care. Medicare's coverage rules.
Health inspections
The most recent standard inspection was on May 7, 2026 and found 4 deficiencies. In total, inspectors issued 37 citations in the last three years.
Each citation has a scope and severity letter from A to L. A–C: potential for minimal harm. D–F: potential for more than minimal harm. G–I: actual harm. J–L: immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety.
What the inspections found
Over the last three years, inspectors issued 37 citations at Five Counties Nursing Home across 6 inspection dates, 7 of them from complaint investigations. 2 were at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on April 9, 2025. The most common areas cited were quality of life and care (8) and administration (6). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "provide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing" (tag F0686, level G, April 9, 2025). 2 citations were under CMS's abuse, neglect and exploitation rules.
May 7, 2026 · 4 citations
EProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
DHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
DAllow residents to self-administer drugs if determined clinically appropriate.
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
May 15, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
DEnsure that a nursing home area is free from accident hazards and provides adequate supervision to prevent accidents.
April 9, 2025 · 5 citations, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GProvide appropriate pressure ulcer care and prevent new ulcers from developing.
GEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
DEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
March 12, 2025 · 21 citations
FProvide enough nursing staff every day to meet the needs of every resident; and have a licensed nurse in charge on each shift.
FHave a registered nurse on duty 8 hours a day; and select a registered nurse to be the director of nurses on a full time basis.
FPost nurse staffing information every day.
FProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
FProcure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve food in accordance with professional standards.
FAdminister the facility in a manner that enables it to use its resources effectively and efficiently.
FEstablish a governing body that is legally responsible for establishing and implementing policies for managing and operating the facility and appoints a properly licensed administrator responsible for managing the facility.
FInform resident or representatives choice to enter into binding arbitration agreement and right to refuse.
FProvide a neutral and fair arbitration process and agree to arbitrator and venue.
FElectronically submit to CMS complete and accurate direct care staffing information, based on payroll and other verifiable and auditable data.
FHave a plan that describes the process for conducting QAPI and QAA activities.
EGive residents notice of Medicaid/Medicare coverage and potential liability for services not covered.
EKeep residents' personal and medical records private and confidential.
ECreate and put into place a plan for meeting the resident's most immediate needs within 48 hours of being admitted
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
EProvide care or services that was trauma informed and/or culturally competent.
ETry different approaches before using a bed rail. If a bed rail is needed, the facility must (1) assess a resident for safety risk; (2) review these risks and benefits with the resident/representative; (3) get informed consent; and (4) Correctly install and maintain the bed rail.
EEnsure drugs and biologicals used in the facility are labeled in accordance with currently accepted professional principles; and all drugs and biologicals must be stored in locked compartments, separately locked, compartments for controlled drugs.
ERegularly inspect all bed frames, mattresses, and bed rails (if any) for safety; and all bed rails and mattresses must attach safely to the bed frame.
DRespond appropriately to all alleged violations.
DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
January 22, 2025 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
December 6, 2023 · 5 citations
EEnsure services provided by the nursing facility meet professional standards of quality.
EProvide basic life support, including CPR, prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel , subject to physician orders and the resident’s advance directives.
EProvide enough food/fluids to maintain a resident's health.
DNotify the resident or the resident’s representative in writing how long the nursing home will hold the resident’s bed in cases of transfer to a hospital or therapeutic leave.
DImplement gradual dose reductions(GDR) and non-pharmacological interventions, unless contraindicated, prior to initiating or instead of continuing psychotropic medication; and PRN orders for psychotropic medications are only used when the medication is necessary and PRN use is limited.
Questions to ask on a tour of Five Counties Nursing Home
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on April 9, 2025 under the rule on quality of life and care. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS cited the home under its abuse and neglect rules on April 9, 2025. How are staff trained, and how are concerns reported?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Do you have a Medicaid bed open now, and will you admit someone whose Medicaid application is still pending?
- When is the first care-plan meeting, and can family attend?
Questions come from this home's CMS data: its inspections, staffing and ownership record.
Fines and payment denials
1 penalty in the last three years, including $20,703 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 12, 2025 | Fine | $20,703 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 2/5 | 1/5 |
Add this rating badge to your websiteFree. Shows Five Counties Nursing Home's Medicare star rating and updates itself.
Size and colour
Preview
Paste it where the badge should appear: in WordPress, a Custom HTML block or a footer widget; on other sites, any spot that accepts HTML. The badge updates itself when CMS publishes new ratings.
Location
Hospitals near Five Counties Nursing Home
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
-
22.4 mi
West River Regional Medical Center-CAH HettingerEmergency room ★★★★☆ Medicare overall 4 of 5Median ER visit 2h 2m for patients treated and sent home
Hospital ratings, ER visit times and more at Hospitals In Each State
Source: CMS Care Compare. Distances are approximate.
Nearby nursing homes
More nursing homes near Five Counties Nursing Home › All nursing homes in Lemmon ›
Compare Five Counties Nursing Home with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (provider information, health deficiencies, penalties), October 2026. Inspection citations and penalties cover the last three years. Nursing Homes In Each State is independent and not affiliated with CMS or Medicare. About the data · Report a problem with this listing. Is this your nursing home? Feature it here.