Still Hopes is a non-profit, Episcopal-sponsored Continuing Care Retirement Community set on 44 acres of peaceful, wooded land in West Columbia and is the only one of its kind in the greater Columbia area, so you've got independent living apartments for active seniors who want to downsize, plus free-standing cottages with two-car garages and nice landscaping if you prefer more space, and there are also assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services, which means folks can get the care they need as life changes. The community offers furnished rooms and open floor plans, and there are neighborhoods with names like Cypress, Dogwood, Bradford Pear, Magnolia, Juniper, Live Oak, and Sycamore, with private studios and one-bedroom apartments also available for those who need assisted living. There's a household model of care, and residents get individualized help from a large team of trained nursing staff, and folks can get medication management and in-home care through Solutions for Living at Home or move to different levels of support right on campus, where you'll also find the Greenway at Still Hopes if you want supportive living.
The campus features walking paths, a garden, lush outdoor spaces, and things like an arts room, a community lounge, spacious meeting rooms, and a Wellness Center called the Marshall A. Shearouse Center for Wellness, which is open to both residents and the public and runs health and wellness programs, classes, and fairs. There are plenty of activities including trolley rides, bus tours, Wii bowling, brain games, painting, bingo, happy hour, Bible study, and more, plus regular movie nights and creative writing groups, so there's always something going on if you feel like joining in. Socialization is encouraged with both community-sponsored and resident-run activities, and there are special dining venues, a gourmet coffee shop, and things like a private kitchen and dining room so you can have family over, with three restaurant-style meals a day and food options for special diets, including allergies and diabetes.
For memory care, Still Hopes runs secured neighborhoods tailored for people living with dementia, aiming to keep them safe and engaged, and there's therapeutic programming focusing on physical, cognitive, spiritual, and emotional well-being, with certified professionals leading those sessions. Seniors in assisted living get help with daily tasks, laundry, meals, and regular housekeeping, and there's an emergency alert and call system throughout the community along with 24-hour support, so help is there if it's needed. Onsite there are also therapy and rehabilitation services, beauty and barber suites for mani/pedi care, and a health and wellness studio, so folks have options for staying healthy and comfortable.
Staff at Still Hopes number over 600, and the community offers employee support like paid time off, retirement benefits with a 401(k), tuition assistance, wellness programs, and annual reviews, all to help attract and keep good folks working there, which probably helps with the recognition they've received as one of Columbia's top places to work and for having one of North America's Top 20 Senior Living Wellness Programs. There are around 400 folks living independently, plus more in other levels of care. Parking and transportation make it easier to get to appointments, and the campus is home to a range of modern conveniences, such as coffee shops, beauty salons, barber shops, and open access to walking trails. If you're looking for a middle market, wellness-focused option, they've added Brookland Commons, and the HopeWell apartments and other supportive living options give even more ways to meet different needs as people age. The focus really seems to be on keeping folks comfortable, active, engaged, and supported, with enough variety and help around to make life simpler and more manageable for seniors and their families.
