10 Best Assisted Living Facilities in Columbia, SC

Seniors looking to move into an assisted living facility in Columbia have a variety of ways to cover their monthly fees. Some might choose to pay out of their own pocket while others seek out additional assistance — but many seniors opt for a combination of both.

In this section, A Place for Mom will detail all of the options you have when it comes to payment, including private payment, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, Medicaid, and Medicare. We’ll also share resources relevant to each payment option.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is responsible for regulating the state’s assisted living communities, which are referred to as Community Residential Care Facilities (CRCF), according to the South Carolina Code of Regulations’ chapter 61-84. This outlines the licensing requirements and guidelines all of South Carolina’s assisted living facilities must adhere to:

• Licensing: South Carolina’s assisted living facilities are required to secure licenses from the DHEC. Licenses are valid for one year, meaning they’re renewed annually.
• Staffing: In South Carolina, assisted living facilities are required to have a staff-to-patient ratio that ensures adequate care for residents. This includes licensed nurses and staffers who are available 24/7.
• Care: Residents in assisted living facilities must receive personal care. This includes assistance with activities of daily living, such as using the restroom or eating. Medication management and nursing care should be provided as needed.
• Physical spaces: Assisted living facilities should have appropriate physical spaces for residents. This involves providing adequate space and furnishings, enough lighting and ventilation, and a secure environment.
• Admissions and discharges: Facilities must have clear guidelines related to admissions and discharges that are employed consistently across residents. Discharge must only be provided in specific cases (such as nonpayment).
• Resident rights: Residents in assisted living facilities have rights, including the right to privacy and the right to be present during care discussions and planning. They can also file complaints if these rights are infringed upon. These rights are outlined in the South Carolina Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities.
• Reporting: Assisted living facilities must report specific types of incidents — resident deaths, severe injuries, and infectious outbreaks among them — to the DHEC.

Additionally, Columbia’s assisted living facilities must be inspected by the DHEC at least once every two years. However, these inspections may be more frequent if there are concerns about the conditions inside a facility. Inspections ensure facilities are up to code with the state regulations outlined above and will include interviews with facility staff, residents, and family members. If an assisted living facility is deemed not compliant following an inspection, the facility itself could be subject to enforcement actions. These might include fines, suspended or revoked licenses, or corrective action.

You can search here to see if a facility is licensed, but inspection reports aren’t online. You’ll have to contact the DHEC using the information below to request records.

South Carolina Department of Health contact information

2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 855-472-3432
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Columbia assisted living facilities

Columbia’s Department of Health and Environmental Control’s does provide guidance specific to COVID-19 for community residential care facilities, which includes assisted living communities.

Some of DHEC’s guidelines as of September 2021 are listed below, but all guidelines are available on this page.

Columbia is a fast-growing city, and it’s easy to see why. With a relatively low cost of living when it comes to housing, a wonderful climate, and a friendly and charming atmosphere, Columbia is a stellar place for seniors to spend their golden years.

Better yet, Columbia’s assisted living communities offer their senior residents a chance to live independently while still receiving assistance whenever necessary. They also provide an array of attractive amenities and services so residents can relax and truly enjoy themselves.

A chance for independence with highly personalized care

Seniors who are somewhat active, but still might require assistance with certain tasks enjoy assisted living for the level of independence it provides. Unlike more in-depth types of care, residents in assisted living aren’t under 24-hour supervision — but they do have access to a variety of care-related services that help them live their lives with ease. These include help with personal care or activities of daily living (think getting dressed, bathing, or using the restroom). Certain facilities may also offer convenient services such as laundry, dry cleaning, housekeeping, and beauticians.

Besides the basic care assisted living facilities provide, Columbia’s communities also offer a well-rounded array of health services to ensure residents are healthy and taken care of. The services provided will depend on the individual facility, but Columbia’s assisted living facilities generally offer:

• Full medication management
• Incontinence care
• On-site nursing
• On-site hospice care
• At least some degree of memory care
• On-call doctors
• Specialized memory care training for staffers
• Visiting occupational, physical, or speech therapists
• Visiting podiatrist

In short, seniors at Columbia’s assisted living facilities will be well taken care of, no matter their health needs.

Opportunities to increase care

Many of Columbia’s assisted living facilities also provide other types of care, meaning seniors who want a facility that can adapt to them no matter their care needs are in luck. One A Place for Mom partner assisted living facility offers this care type alone, but five other facilities offer more varied care:

• Two facilities combine assisted living with memory care.
• One facility merges assisted living with independent living.
• One facility offers assisted living, senior apartments, independent living, and memory care.
• One facility offers assisted living, independent living, and memory care: a highly progressive offering when it comes to senior care.

With this in mind, seniors who aren’t quite sure of their care needs — or are simply concerned about the degree of care they could need in the future — might consider residing in an assisted living facility in Columbia that also provides other types of senior care.

Something to do — no matter your interests

When it comes to playful amenities and services, assisted living facilities in Columbia certainly go the extra mile. Opportunities for social butterflies will include things like religious study groups, wine tastings, book clubs, intergenerational programs, barbecues, picnics, holiday parties, and more, depending on the individual facilities.

Looking for opportunities to learn something new or get out and about? Don’t fret: Some assisted living communities in the area offer up art classes, live dance or theater performances, Tai Chi, yoga (or chair yoga), day trips and outings, and complimentary transportation.

Homebodies or seniors who just want to kick back and relax are also accounted for. At Columbia’s assisted living communities, seniors can simply choose to enjoy the array of amenities available on-site. Depending on the facility, these might include (but aren’t limited to) libraries, TV lounges, arts and crafts centers, movie or theater rooms, raised gardens, butterfly or hummingbird gardens, barber shops and beauty salons, patios, and more.

Seniors in Columbia have access to two great hospitals that will cover all medical needs.

The five independent living facilities we partner with all offer free transportation to residents. But if you’re looking for broader options or want to go out with a friend, a car is the best way to get around. Even though walking in Columbia isn’t impossible, it’s not the easiest method of transportation — Walk Score gave Columbia a 35 out of 100 for its walkability.

Columbia’s public transportation options are more limited, with Walk Score giving the city a 0 out of 100 score for this transportation method. Nevertheless, the city does offer bus lines to its residents. Residents without cars can still ride the Comet bus system. The Comet runs 34 routes around the Columbia area each day. Lucky for seniors, it also offers special discounts to individuals 65 and above, people with disabilities, and veterans.

Those who aren’t able to board a Comet bus due to disability can opt to use the city’s Dial-A-Ride Transit (DART) Service in its place. DART’s buses are highly accessible, as each one has wheelchair lifts and includes a personal attendant. Better yet, it doesn’t place restrictions on where passengers can travel to or how much they use the service. DART fares are $4, and the service runs Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Another public transportation option could be more useful to those checking out downtown Columbia: The Soda Cap Connector runs to interesting destinations in this area, and it costs $1 to ride. Although it’s not the most wide-ranging transportation option, it might prove helpful when visitors come to town.

As a decently sized city with a laid-back feel, Columbia offers plenty to enjoy for people of all interests and abilities.

Retirement is a great time to start fine-tuning your golf game, for instance. Luckily, you’ll have plenty of gorgeous courses in the Columbia area, including Cobblestone Park Golf Club and Oak Hills Golf Club. These are both highly rated golf courses that offer discounts to seniors as well as senior-friendly tee times.

If playing golf isn’t relaxing enough, maybe a day out fishing would do the trick! Sesquicentennial State Park — or “Sesqui,” as it’s known by locals — is a great park to go and spend a day by yourself or to bring family and friends. It features trails, fishing and boating opportunities, and a large lake for swimming and picnicking. Those looking for a world-class nature experience, however, should check out Congaree National Park. Located about a 25-minute drive from Columbia’s city center, Congaree is home to intact old-growth hardwood forest and features a variety of activities visitors can enjoy. The park itself is also accessibility-minded and has accessible trails and all-terrain wheelchairs available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Looking for a nature experience that’s a little more buttoned-up, though? Riverbanks Zoo and Garden is home to more than 3,000 animals living in lush exhibits. This is another great place for family fun or to spend the day by yourself.

Although Columbia doesn’t have any professional sports teams, sports fans can still have their fun. Why not check out budding baseball stars at a Columbia Fireflies game while enjoying a hot dog and a beer? The Fireflies offer senior-friendly games and promotions, and the stadium they plan in has accessibility accommodations for those with mobility limitations.

Art lovers will find that this is another area in which Columbia’s attractions do not disappoint! The Columbia Museum of Art boasts over 7,000 works, but if you are looking for a performance — whether it be a concert, a play, or a musical — check out the Trustus Theatre and the Koger Center for the Arts. Film buffs can even enjoy movies of all types, ranging from classic to foreign or independent, at the Nickelodeon Theater.

The art museum isn’t the only museum you’ll find in Columbia, though. If the grandkids are in town, why not treat them to a day at the EdVenture Children’s Museum? The South Carolina State Museum can also quench your thirst for knowledge when it comes to science and history. For a more regional flavor, check out the South Carolina Military Museum.

And of course, we can’t forget about the food and the shopping! If you want to be surrounded by awesome architecture while you’re enjoying a meal, Congaree Vista is the district for you. Devine Street is arguably the most popular shopping district in the Columbia area, however, with more great options for shopping and dining. And if you pop down to Five Points, you just might run into a festival.

Speaking of festivals, Columbia has a few fan favorites. The big winner is the South Carolina State Fair, but equally fun is the jubilant Greek Festival.