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Memory Care in South Carolina

Overview of Memory Care in South Carolina

With mild temperatures throughout the state and beaches along its Atlantic shoreline, South Carolina has much to offer as a retirement destination. The Greenville-Spartanburg area in the northwest corner of the state is an affordable, thriving metropolitan area for all ages. Along its Atlantic shorelines to the east, the Palmetto State earns its nickname with popular coastal cities like Myrtle Beach, Charleston, and Savannah. South Carolina living is filled with Southern hospitality and charm, which may explain why the state has a higher-than-average senior population.

Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 100 senior living communities in South Carolina that provide memory care.

The median monthly cost of memory care in South Carolina is about $4,600.

Top-rated Memory Care facilities in South Carolina

10
10 Photos available

Helena Square

1624 Paris Ave, Port Royal, SC 29935
10
Review Score
78 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Lucy G - I'm a current/former resident or client

I moved to Helena Square in July. I started with a two week respite stay just to give it trial run. After a couple of days, I decided to stay permanently. I feel safe here. I feel part of a community. I...

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Top-rated Memory Care facilities in Greenville

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9
9 Photos available

The Blake at Hollingsworth Park

360 Woodruff Rd, Greenville, SC 29607
8.9
Review Score
16 reviews
Rachael H - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Dad is comfortable and receiving the help he needs. Nutritious food and helpful staff make my dad’s life pleasant and safe. His blood sugar is in therapeutic range and is being tested regularly. He is...

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19
19 Photos available

Kauhale Pettigru

12 Boyce Avenue, Greenville, SC 29601
8.9
Review Score
62 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
John F - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

They were a huge help and moved fast to help us in a time of need. Our relative loves it there and is making friends. Room is nice and beautiful residents. Great food and service. We are grateful for their...

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Top-rated Memory Care facilities in Spartanburg

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28
28 Photos available

Summit Hills

100 Summit Hills Dr, Spartanburg, SC 29307
8.0
Review Score
86 reviews
Hellen - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Summit Hills has been wonderful! They are a very sweet community and the freedom they give my parents and the assurance of them being well taken care of is priceless. They have welcomed our whole family and...

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11
11 Photos available

TerraBella Spartanburg

104 Dillon Dr, Spartanburg, SC 29307
8.3
Review Score
67 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

The facility is clean. Bit short staffed but the staff that's there seem to care about care. Activity level is a bit low. Room sizes are good. Set up like hospital rooms.

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9
9 Photos available

The Pearl at Five Forks

15 Five Forks Road, Simpsonville, SC 29681
9.5
Review Score
36 reviews
Laura C - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

We have love The Pearl from the moment we found them. We had other friends who had used them for their loved ones and loved them as well. Management and really any of the staff is always available and easy...

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Top-rated Memory Care facilities in Columbia

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9
9 Floor plans available

Forest Lake Manor

4405 Forest Dr, Columbia, SC 29206
8.7
Review Score
77 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Everyone was very nice and helpful! The man at the desk was wonderful. I think he mostly works nights. The financial lady was very helpful. The medication man was great. Really everyone I dealt with was...

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9
9 Photos available
32
32 Floor plans available

Harmony at Columbia

2300 Clemson Rd, Columbia, SC 29229
8.7
Review Score
64 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Anonymous - I'm a current/former resident or client

I found the staff overly invasive but I much younger than the rest of the residents. Not terrible but it made me a bit uncomfortable. It was also difficult to get assistance later in the evening. Again,...

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16
16 Photos available
3
3 Floor plans available

Merrill Gardens at Columbia

2205 Gregg St, Columbia, SC 29201
9.1
Review Score
38 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Brett - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

It is great to be close to baseball field and other restaurants within walking distance. My mom is an active 90 year old that likes to walk the park. And we walk up to baseball game and publico restaurant....

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Top-rated Memory Care facilities in Charleston

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18
18 Photos available

Wellmore of Daniel Island

580 Robert Daniel Dr, Charleston, SC 29492
anonymous - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

All of the interactions we had with the staff were very positive, they know all the residents by name and they were very caring towards our loved one. Even though our loved one did not participate in the...

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9
9 Photos available
1
1 Floor plans available

Ashley Gardens Transitional Assisted Living and Memory Care

2290 Henry Tecklenburg Dr, Charleston, SC 29414
9.2
Review Score
34 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Bob R - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

I wish I had found this place earlier. This is by far the best place for my wife. The staff is exceptionally kind and takes excellent care of her. I no longer have to look for assistance, which is a relief....

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15
15 Photos available
2
2 Floor plans available

Brookdale West Ashley

2030 Charlie Hall Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29414
9.3
Review Score
97 reviews
Starting at
$X,XXX/mo
Abby - I'm a loved one of a resident or client

Brookdale, Mellisa Sills and nurse Sherri have gone above and beyond for my dad and I. I can't say enough good things about them. I didn't even tour any others bc Brookdale's response time was quickest and...

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South Carolina laws and regulations for memory care facilities

Families may find comfort in understanding what they can legally expect from South Carolina’s memory care facilities. Memory care is provided in Alzheimer’s special care programs that operate in licensed facilities known as community residential care facilities. These facilities are licensed by the Board of Health and Environmental Control’s Division of Health Licensing, and they can provide memory care services, assisted living services, or a combination of both.[01]

Because these programs operate in facilities that may also offer assisted living services, there may be some overlap with the regulations outlined below. You can read more about South Carolina assisted living laws and regulations for more detailed information.

Memory care staff requirements

South Carolina has specific requirements for memory care staff so your loved one can receive high quality care:[01]

  • Staff training must include communication techniques, behaviors related to dementia, appropriate activities, and safety.
  • All staff must complete their training before working with seniors.
  • Training must be repeated at least once a year.
  • There must be enough staff so that all seniors can receive their services and be properly supervised.
  • There must always be at least one awake staff member if there are seniors with dementia and fewer than eight beds.

In addition to these training requirements, all memory care staff and community residential care facility staff are required to pass a criminal background check.[01]

Building requirements

Because South Carolina’s Alzheimer’s special care programs provide memory care in community residential care facilities, they must follow certain standards for housing units and other building requirements:[01]

  • Memory care must be provided in a separate, secure area of the building.
  • Senior’s units aren’t required to be apartment-style units.
  • Units can’t house more than three seniors.
  • There must be at least one toilet for every six seniors
  • There must be at least one tub or shower for every eight seniors.

South Carolina Department of Health contact information

South Carolina Department of Public Health
2100 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 26201
Phone: 803-898-3301

Why do licensure and inspection reports matter to families?

State regulations — and a community’s track record with inspections and licensing — offer important insights into safety and quality of care in senior living communities.

Download the Guide to Senior Living Licensure and Inspection Reports to learn what to look for in inspection reports and what questions to ask when touring communities. This resource explains how to use state licensure and inspection information to evaluate a community’s compliance, care standards, and responsiveness to issues.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

Inspections

All community residential care facilities are inspected by South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services before they receive a license.[01] Reading through a facility’s inspection report can give families an idea of how they’ve handled complaints and violations in the past, if there are any. Contact the South Carolina Department of Public Health’s Freedom of Information Office at 803-898-7503 to inquire about a specific facility, or make a Freedom of Information Act request to review available inspection reports.

References

  1. South Carolina Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy. 2015 ed. Community residential care facilities.

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.