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. Senior living in South Carolina 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 55 independent living communities, also simply called retirement communities, in South Carolina.
The median monthly cost of independent living in South Carolina is about $2,400.
I am a great friend of one of the residents at Emerald Gardens and I enjoy visiting my friend often. Every time I visit I observe how clean and well kept everything is. The staff is attentive to all the...
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...
We recently placed our mother at Ashley Square and are simply amazed with the care that she has received. The staff are super friendly and loving towards my mother and the rest of our family. We could not...
I am a recent resident of Maple Brook Terrace, moving here from a local Over-55 community. As I had just celebrated a major Birthday, my son felt I had earned a more comprehensive lifestyle, including...
Staff is very friendly and helpful Many activities for everyone. Food is pretty good. Cleanliness is excellent. 2 bed room is good size. Bedroom could be a tad larger.
I am very pleased with that. Tara Bella is a well organized place. It seems to be a happy place for most of us. There's always a few that complain, but the food is good. Management is good. If you have a...
It is a beautiful place--always clean and attractive inside and out when I visit my sister. She enjoys the meals most of the time, has assistance when needed, and enjoys a variety of fun and entertaining...
I am so happy to be here. People are so friendly. The managers make sure our every need is meet..The actives are wonderful. Never a dull moment! Love having someone to play cards with! Have made many new...
The staff is professional and caring. The building is very clean, and the grounds are well kept. My two-bedroom apartment is spacious and well laid out. The amenities are wonderful, and the activities...
Terra Bella is a very attractive home for both long- as well as short term care. The staff is friendly and accommodating, but they appear to be slightly understaffed. The executive staff is eager to make...
I am a recent resident of Maple Brook Terrace, moving here from a local Over-55 community. As I had just celebrated a major Birthday, my son felt I had earned a more comprehensive lifestyle, including...
It's great for how well the staff cares for the clients. The process to move her in was great, and communication is great. Evidently the food needs some attention. According to my mother. But she is having...
The staff are very kind and polite. I was there this week and the residents were saying how incredible [name removed](the activities director) is.
The food was good and the dining experience was great. The staff takes the time to encourage each resident to eat. I would highly recommend them. Our family's experience was supportive and encouraging. The...
The staff were incredibly friendly and always willing to help. The food was delicious, and the apartments were both comfortable and inviting—a truly enjoyable stay.
South Carolina’s independent living communities can operate as stand-alone facilities, and they aren’t licensed by the state in this case. They can also operate as part of larger, combined assisted living communities known as community residential care facilities. These facilities are licensed by the Board of Health and Environmental Control’s Division of Health Licensing.[01]
Some of the regulations that govern South Carolina’s community residential care facilities may impact your future independent living community. We outline some of these details below, and you can also review South Carolina assisted living laws and regulations for more information.
In most cases, you’ll rent your independent living unit similar to how you’d rent a traditional apartment. To respect your rights as a renter in South Carolina, the owner of your independent living community must follow the rules below:[02]
Seniors with disabilities have additional rights under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These rights include making reasonable accommodations and modifications to the independent living community and your individual unit.
Reasonable accommodations are changes to the facility’s policies that allow seniors with disabilities to better participate in and enjoy their community. Accommodations include assigning accessible parking spaces, making rent due date adjustments, and allowing a service animal to live with you regardless of a no-pet policy.[03]
Reasonable modifications are physical changes that make the building easier to navigate and access. Examples include installing ramps, altering doorways to fit wheelchairs, and installing grab bars in bathrooms.[03]
The building requirements below may apply to your South Carolina independent living community if it’s part of a community residential care facility:[01]
South Carolina Department of Public Health
2100 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 26201
Phone: 803-898-3301
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Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.
South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services inspects all community residential care facilities before they’re licensed.[01] If your independent living community is part of a community residential care facility, their inspection reports may give you peace of mind. They illustrate any past issues and how the community responded to them.
Contact the South Carolina Department of Public Health’s Freedom of Information Office at 803-898-7503 or make a Freedom of Information Act request to review the inspection reports of a community you’re interested in.
South Carolina Compendium of Residential Care and Assisted Living Regulations and Policy. 2015 ed. Community residential care facilities.
Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, South Carolina Code of Laws § 27-40-10 – 27-40-940. (1986 & rev. 1999).
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Reasonable accommodations and modifications.
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.
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