Empowering South Dakota families to care for their loved ones through state personal care and waiver programs. Family caregivers are welcome and compensated.
Help someone you know get started with family caregiving services in South Dakota. We'll reach out within 24 hours.
Prefer to call? Speak with our South Dakota team directly
Atlas Community Care specializes in HOPE Waiver services in South Dakota, offering two ways for families to get paid to care for their loved ones.
Family Members Can Be Hired!
All PCA services can be provided by a family member or friend as a W-2 employee of Atlas Community Care.
What does W-2 mean?
Your family caregiver is hired as an official employee, receives a
regular paycheck with taxes withheld, and earns Social Security
credits—just like any other job.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Instrumental ADLs (IADLs)
Requires: HOPE Waiver approval from South Dakota Medicaid
Daily Stipend Model
Receive a daily stipend for caring for a family member or friend in your home.
Who qualifies: Family members or friends caring for someone with a HOPE Waiver
Care location: The individual must be living in the caregiver's home
Payment structure: Receive a fixed daily stipend (not hourly wages)
Services provided: Full-time care including ADLs, IADLs, supervision, and companionship
Requires: HOPE Waiver approval + care recipient lives in caregiver's home
Choose PCA (W-2 Employee) if:
Choose SFC (Daily Stipend) if:
Both PCA and SFC require HOPE Waiver approval. Here's what you need to know about the HOPE Waiver process.
The HOPE (Home and Community-Based Options and Person-Centered Excellence) Waiver is a South Dakota Medicaid program that helps individuals who need long-term care services stay in their home or community instead of going to a nursing facility. HOPE serves two populations: seniors aged 65 or older, and adults aged 18 or older who have a qualifying disability.
Once approved for HOPE Waiver, the individual can access:
Age 65 or older, OR age 18 or older with a qualifying disability
HOPE serves seniors 65+ and adults 18+ who have qualifying disabilities (such as physical disabilities, cognitive impairment, chronic illness, or conditions requiring long-term care)
Enrolled in South Dakota Medicaid
Must meet Medicaid financial and medical eligibility
Nursing facility level of care
Requires assistance with multiple ADLs or significant supervision needs
Can be safely cared for in the community
With appropriate services and supports in place
Total Timeline: 30–90 Days (Average: 60 days)
The HOPE Waiver approval process takes time. Plan ahead and start early!
Apply for South Dakota Medicaid
If not already enrolled, submit a Medicaid application.
Timeline: 30–45 days for approval
Request HOPE Waiver Assessment
Contact South Dakota Department of Social Services or your case manager to request a waiver assessment.
Timeline: 7–14 days to schedule assessment
Complete Level of Care Assessment
A state assessor will evaluate ADL needs, cognitive status, and medical conditions to determine if the individual meets nursing facility level of care.
Timeline: Assessment completed in 1 visit
Wait for HOPE Waiver Approval
The state reviews the assessment and determines eligibility. If there's a waitlist, you may need to wait for an available slot (though HOPE typically has shorter waits).
Timeline: 14–30 days for approval decision
HOPE Waiver Approved – Contact Atlas Community Care!
Once approved, we can onboard your family caregiver and start services quickly.
Timeline: Services begin in 7–14 days after approval
Important Note:
Atlas Community Care does NOT process or determine HOPE Waiver eligibility. The waiver is managed by South Dakota Department of Social Services. Once your loved one is approved for HOPE Waiver, we handle all the caregiving services (PCA or SFC).
The Hard Part is Getting HOPE Waiver – We Make the Rest Easy!
Once your loved one has HOPE Waiver approval, Atlas Community Care can onboard your family caregiver and begin services in as little as 7–14 days.
Contact Atlas Community Care – Call or fill out our Get Started form
Choose PCA or SFC – We'll help you decide which program fits your situation
Complete caregiver onboarding – Background checks, training, and paperwork (we handle it all)
Start receiving care and payment – Family caregiver begins providing care and gets paid!
Whether you already have HOPE Waiver or are just starting the process, Atlas Community Care is here to guide you every step of the way.
Understanding what's required to qualify for family caregiving programs in South Dakota
PCS or Waiver Programs
To qualify for South Dakota PCS or Waiver Programs:
Programs this applies to:
Family caregivers are allowed in most programs when conflicts of interest are managed. Approval averages: 30–60 days depending on waiver.
Atlas Community Care supports Self-Directed Family Caregiving in all states we serve. Hours, rates, and eligibility are determined by each state's Medicaid rules and assessment processes.
Becoming a family caregiver through Medicaid gives you the opportunity to care for your loved one at home while receiving agency-administered compensation. Let Atlas Community Care handle all the paperwork, training, and compliance.
24-Hour Response
100% Medicaid Approved
Nurse-Supervised
Licensed & Certified Provider in South Dakota
Four simple steps to start caring for your loved one and getting paid for it
Call or fill out our enrollment form. Tell us you want to be a family caregiver—we'll respond within 24 hours.
Your loved one receives a needs assessment to determine HOPE Waiver eligibility and authorize service hours.
Complete background check, receive PCA training and certification, and get set up with timesheets and EVV.
Begin caring for your loved one at home and receive payment for the care you provide.
You focus on caring—we handle everything else
We handle all background checks, credentialing, and enrollment paperwork with South Dakota DSS
We provide required PCA training and ensure you meet South Dakota certification requirements
We provide simple timesheet systems and EVV (Electronic Visit Verification) for compliance
We handle all Medicaid billing and process your payroll—you get paid on time, every time
Our registered nurses provide ongoing supervision, care plan updates, and clinical oversight
Our team is always available to answer questions and ensure you stay compliant with South Dakota regulations
Most families begin services within 2-4 weeks
Common questions about becoming a paid family caregiver in South Dakota
Our South Dakota team is here to help. Contact us today to discuss your specific situation.
Fill out the form below and we'll contact you within 24 hours to discuss your eligibility for South Dakota family caregiving programs
Speak directly with our South Dakota team about your caregiving needs
101 S Reid Street, Suite 307, Sioux Falls, SD 57103