Bethea Retirement Community sits on over 100 acres in Darlington, South Carolina, and offers a steady place for seniors who need different levels of care and want to keep living in the same place as their needs change, and folks will find independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care, along with a dedicated memory care building for residents with dementia or who tend to wander, and the secured campus has bracelets and alarm systems to help prevent anyone from getting lost or coming to harm if they leave a safe area. The community has cottages, apartments, patio homes, and suites, with 18 newer cottages giving large, barrier-free layouts from 1,600 to over 2,500 square feet, and these come with full kitchens, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, and often cable TV, plus short-term stays are available for things like rehab or respite care. Residents can bring small dogs, enjoy outdoor courtyards, follow walking paths, and share time with friends at swimming pools, a hot tub, fitness rooms, a bistro, country store, chapel, library, and beauty/barber shop, and the privates spaces include bathtubs and larger kitchens for those who want to cook for themselves sometimes.
Meals are made by a professional chef, and folks can eat Southern-style food in restaurant-style dining rooms, in private for special events, or order room service, and the kitchen staff helps with special diets, like no-sugar or low salt meals, guest meals, and even provides a nutritionist or dietician to keep plans on track. There's a wide list of activities both on and off campus-such as stretching and water aerobics, trips to shops and the beach, educational programs, faith-focused services like devotions and Bible study, trivia, Wii bowling, and birthday parties, and residents often go out for excursions or to see local theater, or take part in live well programs aimed at staying healthy and independent longer.
Healthcare support comes with professional nurses 24/7, on-call doctors, a medical director, and visiting staff like podiatrists, therapists for physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and medication is managed by care managers and technicians, so residents get reminders and help as needed, including for diabetics who may need sugar checks or insulin shots and those with high care needs including stand-by help or full assistance for transfers, even with lifts. The memory care center can handle people who tend to wander or act out, with electronic alerts and trained staff who are awake at all hours. Dana Jones, a family nurse practitioner and Certified Dementia Practitioner, is on staff, and HopeHealth operates a primary care office on campus offering women's health, chronic care, annual wellness visits, and other medical services, and the Marian Carey Rehabilitation Center and outpatient rehab services are also available, with resources for Medicare Part B and family caregivers with long-term care needs.
Bethea Retirement Community supports its mission with faith-based activities and community service rooted in the values of the South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging, a non-profit organization, and the friendly feeling is meant to give residents a sense of purpose and belonging with a strong focus on comfort, safety, and the practical things that make every day a little easier, like mail service, all-day staff, and easy access to bus transportation for outings. The campus has a 3.8-star rating from 54 reviews, and the community aims to let residents age in place, so no one has to move again when their health changes, which is something many folks find reassuring as they get older and want to stay close to friends and the familiar faces of staff and neighbors.
