Assisted Living in South Carolina

It can help with the care portion, not the housing. Through the Community Choices Waiver, Healthy Connections Medicaid may cover personal care and support services for someone living in an assisted living community (CRCF). It never pays for room and board, and the resident must meet a nursing facility level of care plus Medicaid's income and asset limits. Not every community accepts the waiver, so ask before you commit.

Costs vary widely depending on the community, the level of care a resident needs, and the region of the state. Communities in larger metro areas often price differently than those in smaller towns. The pricing tables below show current rates for communities near you so you can compare options side by side.

Assisted living communities, licensed as Community Residential Care Facilities, provide housing, meals, and help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medications for people who are largely independent. Nursing homes provide round-the-clock skilled nursing care for people with more complex medical needs. Assisted living is a lower level of care, and the two are licensed and regulated separately.

To get help through the Community Choices Waiver, a person generally must be a South Carolina resident enrolled in Healthy Connections Medicaid, meet a nursing facility level of care, and fall within Medicaid's income and asset limits. You apply for Medicaid first, then contact Community Long Term Care about the waiver. A SHIP counselor or your local Area Agency on Aging can help you through the process.

Use the South Carolina Department of Public Health's Find a Facility tool to confirm a community holds a current Community Residential Care Facility license and to review its details. Inspection and complaint records are public, and you can contact DPH's Healthcare Quality office directly for more information or to file a complaint.

No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living room and board or for ongoing custodial care. It may still cover related medical needs like doctor visits, hospital stays, and a limited period of skilled care or rehab after a qualifying hospital stay. For free help understanding your coverage, contact South Carolina's SHIP / I-CARE program through the Department on Aging at 800-868-9095.