Find Independent Living Communities Near Columbia, SC

Many seniors pay for their independent living costs out of pocket, but seniors do have some options to save on living costs. For instance, veterans can utilize funds from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to cover independent living or turn to Medicaid or Medicare to save on some health care costs.

Please note that if you’re a Medicaid or Medicare recipient or have long-term care insurance, these programs won’t cover independent living costs given that these facilities don’t provide senior care. However, Medicaid, Medicare, and long-term care insurance do cover qualifying in-home health care services for seniors in independent living communities. You’ll learn more about private and public payment options for independent living below.

Independent living communities are not regulated at the state level in South Carolina unless they’re part of an assisted living or memory care facility. In that case, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is the responsible body for regulating and licensing. If a senior in an independent living facility is getting care from a home health agency or an independent in-home care provider, those providers have to be licensed by the state.

Independent living communities are subject to federal, state, and local laws pertaining to building code requirements, accessibility standards, safety, and zoning. They may also be required to undergo occasional inspections by local authorities or organizations providing accreditation to safeguard compliance and ensure safety.

Rental laws and regulations for independent living in Columbia, SC

Because independent living facilities aren’t considered care facilities, they’re regulated the same as any ordinary apartment complex. Therefore, Columbia independent living communities must comply with the following laws and regulations:

• Fair Housing Act. A landlord cannot refuse rental or financing due to discrimination. This law protects residents from discrimination against their race, color, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability.
• South Carolina Landlord-Tenant Act. This act enforces requirements from landlords, protects residents’ rights, and highlights responsibilities surrounding elements such as rent, security deposits, maintenance and repairs, and evictions.
• Adult Protection Laws. These laws protect vulnerable aging adults from neglect, abuse, and exploitation.

The state of South Carolina also enforces more rental-specific regulations to protect tenants:

• Rent. Landlords must provide a rental agreement outlining the cost of rent, the due date, and the penalty for late payments.
• Security deposits. Security deposits cannot exceed the cost of two months of rent.
• Repairs and maintenance. Properties must be kept in safe and habitable conditions.
• Evictions. Landlords must follow specific procedures during evictions.

Access independent living community inspections in Columbia, SC

Columbia’s Code Enforcement Division enforces local ordinances related to property management in the city. Residents can access a community’s code violations that are in violation, open, or resolved from the past two months online. To request more information on public inspections of independent living facilities in Columbia, residents can file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. However, requesting these fees may incur additional fees.

South Carolina Department of Health contact information
2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201

Phone: 1-855-472-3432
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Columbia independent living communities

Due to the overall decline of COVID-19, Columbia doesn’t mandate any regulations specific to COVID-19. If you’re searching for general information regarding COVID-19, you can visit the COVID-19 resource page on the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental website. You can also find more local information like emergency updates, the latest ordinances, and more on the COVID-19 resource guide page on Richland County’s website.

Columbia is continuously working on efforts to enhance the aging experience within the city. As a matter of fact, Richland County has enacted an Area Agency on Aging Plan for 2023-2025. It aims to accommodate the needs of its aging residents by improving programs and services that help seniors thrive.

Columbia provides several living options for seniors, including a variety of independent living facilities. The overarching goal of these communities is to promote a healthy and active lifestyle while removing many of seniors’ daily hassles and stresses. Learn more about what to expect from our partnering independent living communities in Columbia below.

Independence with heightened convenience and entertainment

Adults in independent living facilities are generally healthy, active, and can live on their own. The benefit of these communities is that they offer these types of seniors a higher degree of convenience in everyday life as well as opportunities to socialize with peers — all in one community.

Independent living communities don’t provide health care to residents or supervise them. Instead, they offer an array of great amenities on-site to ensure a hassle-free, enjoyable lifestyle. Residents in Columbia’s independent living communities are free to congregate, socialize, and enjoy on-site amenities like the following:

• Arts and crafts centers
• Fitness centers
• Game rooms
• Movie or theater rooms
• Raised garden beds
• On-site barber shops and beauty salons

Residents can also partake in some of the following on-site activities hosted by our independent living partners in Columbia:

• Art and fitness classes
• Group games (trivia nights, poker tournaments, etc.)
• Happy hours, birthday celebrations and holiday parties)
• Interest clubs (book club, current events club, etc.)
• Religious activities (bible groups, church choirs, etc.)
• Trips to local activities (gardens, restaurants, museums, etc.)

Remember, the type of amenities and activities may vary between independent living facilities within our Columbia network.

Comfortable and accessible living quarters

Seniors might not necessarily want to live in a luxury-style independent living community, but that doesn’t mean they won’t get to experience enjoyable living quarters. Certain independent living facilities that we partner with in Columbia offer residents comfortable amenities within their living quarters such as the following:

• Private patios, decks, and balconies
• Room service
• Kitchenettes
• High-speed internet
• Access to cable or satellite TV
• Accessible features (grab bars, widened doorways, etc.)

Ample care options, no matter what the future looks like

Many communities offering independent living in Columbia also provide advanced care options in case care needs arise. Care options include assisted living and memory care. Both assisted living and memory care options enable seniors to continue leading engaging lifestyles with added support to meet their care needs.

In assisted living, seniors receive help with activities of daily living (like bathing and grooming), personal care services (like medication management and disease management), and have a wider range of accessible activity options. Memory care offers the same assisted living services, however, it’s more personalized for dementia care needs. This means caregivers receive additional training to handle common behaviors and memory care units are equipped to prevent wandering. Plus, activities are personalized to residents’ cognitive and physical abilities.

Here’s a breakdown of care options provided by our partner independent living communities in Columbia:

• About 33% of partner communities only offer independent living.
• About 67% of partner communities offer independent living along with assisted living and/or memory care.

With this in mind, seniors who want to age in place may look for a Columbia independent living facility that also provides assisted living and/or memory care. Communities offering multiple levels of care typically help residents with the moving process to help minimize stress and ensure a smoother transition.

Health care for seniors in Columbia

Columbia has a robust health care scene to accommodate the needs of its aging population. Learn more about the area’s top-rated hospitals below.

Transportation for seniors in Columbia

Columbia seniors will likely need a car to get from one place to the next. All of our partner independent living communities offer resident parking for seniors who still drive. And, fortunately, our Columbia partners offer complimentary transportation services for residents who prefer not to drive. Some communities may limit rides to necessities like grocery shopping and appointments while others enable residents to schedule rides for leisurely events.

The city offers a few dedicated bus lines to enable seniors without a car to get around. The COMET bus system offers 34 routes around the metro area on a daily basis. It also offers half-fare discounts for individuals 65 and older, people with disabilities, and vets. To obtain a Half Fare ID, you can call 803-255-7133.

Individuals with disabilities who can’t board the COMET’s buses can use its Dial-A-Ride Transit (DART) Service instead. All DART buses include wheelchair lifts and personal attendants, and the service has no restrictions on where residents can go or how often they can use it. DART is available to passengers Monday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but it doesn’t run on Thanksgiving or Christmas.

The Soda Cap Connector, which is just $1 to ride, is meant more for general convenience. This service runs to destinations of interest in downtown Columbia so that residents and tourists don’t have to worry about driving or parking their cars.

For a better understanding of Columbia’s sprawl and infrastructure, you may want to take a look at the following scores from Walk Score. They’re each out of 100 and based on the city’s walking trails, biking routes, public transportation options, and public density:

Senior activities in Columbia, SC

Columbia is a lively, yet laid-back city — and it provides no shortage of activities for people from all walks of life to enjoy. Some independent living communities will take their residents out to local activities and attractions, or residents can venture out on their own. To give you a picture of Columbia’s entertainment scene, we highlighted a few senior-favored activities below.

• Golfing. Columbia is known for its superb golf courses. Richland County Recreation Commission maintains Linrick Golf Course — one of the most stunning courses with over 257 acres of rolling hills and miniature ponds. This course even offers discounts for seniors as well as convenient tee times.
• Nature spots.Sesquicentennial State Park is the perfect place to enjoy some fresh air with its scenic trails and beautiful picnic spots. Seniors can also take a day trip out to Congaree National Park, which is about half an hour’s drive from Columbia. This national treasure houses a massive intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest and has a variety of activities like wildlife watching and camping.
• The arts and cultural scene. Seniors who love live events will be thrilled with the productions offered in Columbia’s many theaters. Seniors can attend symphonies and plays, or watch classic, foreign, and independent films. If you’d rather experience art differently, the Columbia Museum of Art impresses locals with over 7,000 works of art.
• History museums. Seniors can spend afternoons learning about the state’s rich history at the South Carolina State Museum or the South Carolina Military Museum. The museum’s informative exhibits and artifacts tell many stories about the city’s historic events.
• Shopping and dining. Columbia houses many shopping districts along with some exquisite restaurants. Some shopping streets boast distinct architecture that catches the eye of many visitors. Plus, local comfort foods draw in visitors from all over.