Columbia Senior AdvisorWhat kinds of senior care can Columbia families choose from?
Assisted living (South Carolina's CRCFs), memory care (secured Alzheimer's units inside CRCFs and nursing homes), nursing homes, in-home care from licensed in-home care providers and home health agencies, adult day care and hospice.
Independent living with no personal care needs no CRCF license. Each guide below explains what the license allows, what it costs at South Carolina's 2025 medians, and how many licenses DPH lists in the six counties.
How do we decide which type of care fits?
Start from needs rather than labels: help with bathing, dressing and medications points to a CRCF, wandering to a secured Alzheimer's unit, daily skilled nursing to a nursing home, and a parent safe at night but alone all day may thrive with adult day care.
Our comparisons set two options side by side, and the situation guides start from whatever just happened.
Which kinds of care do Medicare and Medicaid pay for in South Carolina?
Medicare pays for short skilled nursing stays after a qualifying inpatient admission, intermittent home health and hospice; Healthy Connections Medicaid pays long nursing home stays, and Community Choices pays for help at home, adult day health care and Residential Personal Care in participating CRCFs.
Optional State Supplementation helps very-low-income CRCF residents, PACE combines medical and long-term care in Richland, Lexington and Calhoun counties, and VA pension with Aid and Attendance can help veterans and surviving spouses with any of these.
Care types: every guide
Assisted living in Columbia and the Midlands
What assisted living means in Columbia, SC: the CRCF license, who it serves, staffing, 2025 costs, OSS and Community Choices, and how to choose among Midlands communities.
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Memory care in Columbia and the Midlands
Memory care around Columbia, SC: Alzheimer's special care units in CRCFs and nursing homes, the disclosure law, staffing, cost and how to evaluate a Midlands memory care unit.
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Nursing homes in Columbia and the Midlands
Nursing homes around Columbia, SC: DPH licensing, CMS star ratings, costs at the 2025 South Carolina median, Medicare rehab and Medicaid long stays, and how to choose.
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In-home care across Columbia and the Midlands
In-home care around Columbia, SC: DPH-licensed in-home care providers and home health agencies, what Medicare covers, hourly costs, Community Choices and choosing an agency.
Open the guide →Adult day care in Columbia and the Midlands
Adult day care around Columbia, SC: DPH-licensed centers and capacity, costs at the 2025 South Carolina median, Community Choices and PACE, and how to choose a center.
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Hospice care in Columbia and the Midlands
Hospice around Columbia, SC: DPH-licensed hospice programs, the Lexington inpatient hospice house, Medicare coverage, hospice in assisted living and nursing homes, and choosing a hospice.
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