South Carolina assisted living facilities and personal care communities

South Carolina Assisted Living Communities

Under South Carolina law, an assisted living home or personal care is referred to as a community residential care facility. A community residential care facility is defined by law as a building, which provides room, board, and personal care services to a resident population of two more adults over the age of 18 who are unrelated to the administration by blood or marriage.

There are approximately 500 residential care facilities operating in South Carolina.

Assisted Living Homes in South Carolina – Cost Comparison

City	Monthly Minimum	Monthly Maximum	Monthly Median
Anderson	$1,450	$4,610	$3,094
Charleston	$1,500	$4,500	$3,100
Columbia	$1,150	$5,775	$2,650
Greenville	$1,300	$4,717	$3,271
Myrtle Beach	$3,900	$4,100	$3,973
Spartanburg	$1,200	$3,395	$1,850

The average cost of assisted living in South Carolina is $3,125 per month. Compared to the remainder of the United States, South Carolina is ranked as the 9^th cheapest state for long-term senior care. Within the state, average area costs for assisted living or personal care fall in the same low price range.

For more information about assisted living costs in South Carolina, check out Genworth’s 2015 Cost of Care Survey.

Recreation & Attractions in South Carolina

Apart of the original 13 colonies of the United States, South Carolina combines the natural beauty of the Atlantic coastline with the historical architecture remaining from America’s past. Exploring downtown Charleston is a trip through living history. With colonial architecture as the main structure of downtown, visitors can roam through cobblestone streets and wander into amazing shopping and restaurants.

Tours through well-preserved and historically important buildings, including ghost tours, are a highlight. For those outdoor lovers, Myrtle Beach offers 60 miles of sand and surf available to the public. With designated places for fishing, boating, and other watersports, anyone can find the right way to enjoy South Carolina’s beaches!

South Carolina’s Climate, Geography, & Culture

Located on the eastern seaboard of the United States, South Carolina experiences a humid subtropical climate with influence from the neighboring Atlantic Ocean. Typical of a humid subtropical climate, summers tend to be wet, humid and hot. Average summer temperatures will rise in the 90-degree range commonly. Beginning in June, the tropical cyclone season will last until November.

Like all states with shoreline boundaries, South Carolina is prone to tropical storms each summer. Winters are mild with average daytime temperatures never falling below 50 degrees. However, nighttime temperatures will drop into the high 30-degree range. South Carolina accumulates an average of 47 inches of rainfall annually.

South Carolina’s Assisted Living Centers Regulations & Laws

Assisted Living homes are regulated by a state-to-state basis. Every state has a publicly accessible legal document outlining the regulations, licensing, operation and other rules for assisted living. The document will also outline any differences, if any, between assisted living homes and personal care communities. The official regulations for assisted senior living communities operating in South Carolina can be viewed online via the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Public records concerning citations, violations, inspections and the like pertaining to individual homes operating in South Carolina cannot be obtained online. These records must be released upon request under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. To request these records, please contact the South Carolina Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging.

Crime & Safety in South Carolina

Crime rates in South Carolina are higher than the national average rates, but this doesn’t mean that there are not safe communities in the state. Look at some of these cities when you start your search for living in South Carolina.

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Edgefield	0.85	11.47
Tega Cay	0.46	13.57
Burnettown	1.45	15.57

(Source: safewise.com)

Payment Options for South Carolina Assisted Living Residences

Community Choices Medicaid Waiver

South Carolina provides a Community Choices Medicaid Waiver provided by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This waiver is to help seniors with Medicaid stay at home longer instead of going to a nursing home. This waiver can pay for supplies, equipment, or personal care services. There is a waiting list for this waiver, however.

Assisted Living Family Loans

Alternate payment options are available. Families can apply for an assisted living family loan. This provides temporary or long-term financial assistance when paying for assisted senior care. The program allows multiple people to contribute to payment.

Senior & Elderly Rights for Personal Care Communities in South Carolina

While residing in the home, a resident retains constitutional civil rights, rights of privacy, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion. The resident also retains the right to personal possessions, autonomy over personal finances, bodily autonomy, and power of attorney. The resident has a right to be informed of the process to file a complaint of unsatisfactory living situations, abuse, neglect and the like. The complete list of resident rights as guaranteed by the state of South Carolina can be viewed within the official community residential care home regulations beginning on page 34.

South Carolina Assisted Living Homes: Medical Record Rules & Regulations

Assisted living communities in South Carolina are required to provide appropriate health services that are ordered by an attending physician, as well as keep all medical information confidential, accurate, and complete. Medical records shall be kept for a period up to 6 years from death or discharge date.

Residents in South Carolina personal care homes have access to their medical records and can request a copy of all or a portion of their medical records. They can also request a copy of some or all of the information, and it is to be provided at a cost not to exceed the community standard for photocopies.