All states › South Dakota › Watertown › Avantara Watertown
415 Fourth Ave NE Watertown, SD 57201 · Codington County
All 2 nursing homes in Watertown, SD (2 take Medicaid)
CMS certification number 435068 · See this home on Medicare Care Compare
Is Avantara Watertown 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 Avantara Watertown as of October 2026.
CMS rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall, about the same as 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 3.63 hours per resident per day at Avantara Watertown, about the same as the South Dakota median of 3.69 (US median: 3.72). About 1.04 of those hours are from registered nurses. On weekends it falls to 3.14 hours, 14% below its all-week average. 54.2% of nursing staff left within a year (South Dakota median 46.5%). 2 administrators left in the past year.
About this nursing home
Paying for care at Avantara Watertown: Medicare and Medicaid
Avantara Watertown 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 December 5, 2024 and found 2 deficiencies, plus 2 from complaint inspections in the same period. In total, inspectors issued 8 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 8 citations at Avantara Watertown across 6 inspection dates, 4 of them from complaint investigations. 1 was at the actual-harm level (G–I), most recently on March 6, 2025. The most common areas cited were pharmacy service (4) and quality of life and care (2). The most serious was cited under the CMS rule to "ensure that residents are free from significant medication errors" (tag F0760, level G, March 6, 2025).
June 17, 2026 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProvide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, resident’s preferences and goals.
March 6, 2025 · 1 citation, includes actual harm · includes complaint inspection
GEnsure that residents are free from significant medication errors.
December 5, 2024 · 3 citations · includes complaint inspection
EHonor the resident's right to a dignified existence, self-determination, communication, and to exercise his or her rights.
EProvide pharmaceutical services to meet the needs of each resident and employ or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist.
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.
March 19, 2024 · 1 citation · includes complaint inspection
EProvide care and assistance to perform activities of daily living for any resident who is unable.
September 28, 2023 · 1 citation
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.
July 20, 2022 · 1 citation
DHonor the resident's right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment, including but not limited to receiving treatment and supports for daily living safely.
Questions to ask on a tour of Avantara Watertown
- Inspectors cited the home at the actual-harm level on March 6, 2025 under the rule on pharmacy service. What changed afterwards, and can I see the plan of correction?
- CMS rates staffing 2 out of 5. How many residents does each nurse aide care for on day, evening and night shifts?
- Several administrators left in the past year. What has changed for residents since then?
- 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
3 penalties in the last three years, including $71,591 in fines.
| Date | Type | Amount or length |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 29, 2026 | Fine | $27,378 |
| Apr 29, 2026 | Fine | $37,845 |
| Mar 6, 2025 | Fine | $6,368 |
Rating history
| CMS month | Overall | Inspection | Staffing | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| August 2026 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 |
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Location
Hospitals near Avantara Watertown
The Medicare-certified hospitals closest to this nursing home, with their CMS data. Ask the home which hospital it usually sends residents to.
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0.8 mi
Prairie Lakes Hosp & Care Ctr WatertownEmergency room ★★★☆☆ Medicare overall 3 of 5Median ER visit 1h 57m for patients treated and sent home
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23.3 mi
Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center Clear LakeEmergency roomMedian ER visit 1h 33m 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 Avantara Watertown › All nursing homes in Watertown ›
Compare Avantara Watertown with the 3 closest homes side by side ›
Other Legacy Healthcare nursing homes in South Dakota
- Avantara Lake Norden · Lake Norden · 5 stars
- Avantara Clark City · Clark · 4 stars
- Avantara Groton · Groton · 3 stars
- Avantara North · Rapid City · 3 stars
- Avantara Mountain View · Rapid City · 2 stars
- Avantara Redfield · Redfield · 2 stars
Affiliation comes from CMS's affiliated-entity data, October 2026. All 96 Legacy Healthcare nursing homes ›
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.