South Carolina Assisted Living for Couples

Assisted living in South Carolina for couples

With old age creeping up close, many senior adults ask themselves about retirement and where they are going to live. If you feel that living on your own might provide to be difficult, consider alternative options, such as assisted living. These senior living communities in South Carolina welcome senior adults over the age of 55 or 62, providing access to housing, healthcare, services, and amenities. Moreover, couples are allowed to live together, which is a definite advantage to consider.

How many ALFs are there in SC? In the state of South Carolina, there are over 200 assisted living facilities. These senior living centers can be found in the following locations: Myrtle Beach, Spartanburg, Charleston, Florence, Sumter, Greenville and Columbia. All of these facilities are licensed and regulated by the Bureau of Health Facility Licensing. Residents who apply for a spot in such a facility will receive an occupancy agreement, which will outline the available scope of care, needs and preferences, treatment schedules, and so on.

An initial assessment is conducted to evaluate the resident's health status and level of independence. Both mental and physical health are examined, as well as behavioral issues and other specific medical problems. An individual service plan is created after this examination, being updated every couple of months or after major health events. Residents who might pose a danger to themselves or others are not accepted into ALFs, as well as those who require 24/7 skilled nursing care and monitoring. The same goes for those who depend on ventilators to breathe or require about special medical equipment to live.

Financing and costs of assisted living in South Carolina

The average monthly cost of assisted living in South Carolina is of $3,500. This is considerably cheaper than the national median of $4,000. South Carolina has similar fees with Florida, but it is surpassed by other neighboring states, such as North Carolina and Tennessee. The latter, by comparison, has an average monthly cost of $3,900. On the other hand, Georgia has more affordable rates, with a median fee of $3,100.

Within the state of South Carolina, the cost of assisted living varies significantly. The most expensive ALFs are found in the Myrtle Beach area, with an average of $4,500 per month. Both Spartanburg and Florence offer more affordable choices, with monthly median costs varying between $2,200 and $2,300. Assisted living is considerably cheaper than nursing home care, which has an average cost of $6,400 per month. In-home care and memory care are also more expensive, but the difference is not that noticeable. Independent living is more affordable than assisted living.

Assisted living costs in South Carolina

Assisted living communities are recommended for seniors who need assistance with daily living activities, such as eating, bathing, or dressing. Residents can move into adapted living units and benefit from specialized care. Additional benefits include: healthcare, targeted services and amenities, monitoring, etc. In the state of South Carolina, there are different types of assisted living facilities seniors can choose from. They offer a wide array of care packages, with costs to match every budget. The one thing to remember is that many communities only provide skilled nursing care for three months or forego this service altogether. Keep on reading to discover more information on the costs of assisted living in South Carolina.

Average costs of assisted living and memory care in South Carolina

How much does assisted living cost in SC? In the state of South Carolina, the average cost of assisted living is $3,600 per month or $43,000 per year. This is considerably lower than the national median of $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. Within the state, the most expensive assistance living facilities are found in the Hilton Head Island area, averaging at $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. Sumter has the most affordable communities of this kind, with an average cost of $2,600 per month or $31,000 per year.

How much does memory care cost in SC? When it comes to memory care, the average cost in South Carolina is $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. This is significantly lower than the national median of $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year. Within the state, the most expensive memory care communities are located in the Hilton Head Island area, with an average cost of $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year. Once again, Sumter has the most affordable facilities of this kind, averaging at $3,300 per month or $39,000 per year.

Assisted living costs more than adult day health care, but it is more affordable than home care, home health care, and nursing home care. Memory care costs more than adult day health care, assisted living, home care, and home health care. It is only surpassed by nursing home care, which averages at $7,200 per month or $86,000 per year.

What goes into assisted living costs?

It is customary for assisted living facilities to request a deposit fee, which is usually returned when the senior in question moves into the respective community. Residents must be able to cover the monthly fees, but there are no other costs to worry about, such as entrance fees. In calculating the overall costs, several factors are considered. These include the available amenities and services, the resident's marital status, and the living unit type and size. The access to utilities and general services is included; residents benefit from general maintenance, meal plans, laundry and linen service, housekeeping, etc. Additional services might be offered at extra cost.

The required care fees are calculated in accordance with the number of daily living activities seniors are assisted with. Aside from daily planned activities, care packages include emergency response systems, physical and occupational therapy, scheduled transportation, and medication management. To live together in the same unit, spouses must be able to cover a second occupancy fee. In some facilities, certain utilities are available at extra cost, such as the cable and Internet access. Limited healthcare is available from third-party providers, with the costs being covered by the residents themselves.

What goes into memory care costs?

Memory care communities offer a safe and structured environment to dementia seniors. Residents benefit from adapted housing, healthcare, and monitoring. They also have access to specialized assistance with ADLs. Targeted services and amenities are chosen to guarantee the best possible quality of life, while specialists work hard to meet their very specific needs. Care packages are created with consideration to the form of dementia and the illness stage. Safety features are chosen with the purpose of reducing the risk of self-harm and wandering, and also to help residents feel less confused.

To delay the progression of dementia, seniors benefit from daily therapy sessions. With the help of dedicated therapists, they are working on their speech, memory, and cognitive skills. They also have access to general services, such as: meal planning, general maintenance, housekeeping, scheduled transportation, laundry and linen service, etc. Care-related services are also available, including wound care, diabetes care, incontinence care, and mobility assistance.

Senior living in South Carolina - cost comparison with other states

The cost of assisted living in South Carolina is well below the national median. South Carolina is a bit more expensive than Georgia, but more affordable than North Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida. The overall costs are as follows: Georgia - $3,500 per month or $42,000 per year; North Carolina - $4,000 per month or $48,000 per year; Tennessee - $4,100 per month or $49,000 per year; Florida - $4,000 per month or $48,000 per year.

As for memory care, the cost in South Carolina is also well below the national median. South Carolina is a bit more expensive than Georgia, but more affordable than North Carolina and Tennessee. The overall costs are as follows: Georgia - $4,400 per month or $52,000 per year; North Carolina - $5,000 per month or $60,000 per year; Tennessee - $5,100 per month or $61,000 per year.

Finding the best senior living facility for your needs in South Carolina

You can help your loved one find the best long-term care community for him or her. Whether you are interested in assisted living or memory care, do not forget that the costs will vary from one facility to the other, in accordance with the available care packages. The sooner you will organize a list of options, the sooner you can start planning appointments and reach a final decision.

If you find the whole process to be daunting, perhaps you might benefit from our assistance. Just give us a call and we will offer detailed information on the costs of each senior living facility. It is our absolute pleasure to match seniors with the right community, taking into consideration both their needs and budget. We are also happy to provide additional details on the factors that influence the overall costs, should that be desired.

Services provided to married couples by assisted living facilities in South Carolina

Along with meal planning and preparation, assisted living facilities must provide access to a wide range of general services. These might include but are not limited to: scheduled transportation, errand running and shopping, Internet and telephone access, emergency response system, general maintenance, 24/7 security, housekeeping, laundry and linen service. Additional services might be offered, with each facility reserving the right to decide on the final service list.

Residents benefit from personal care and assistance with daily living activities, even though this is usually kept at a minimal level. It is the policy of ALFs to encourage an independent lifestyle, with residents requiring assistance with ADLs only when necessary. They might also benefit from medication management; the staff can handle the administration of various treatments or they can monitor residents while taking their treatment. Sometimes, they offer reminders and open bottles or blisters.

Many ALFs in South Carolina have integrated memory care units, welcoming residents who suffer from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. These seniors benefit from constant monitoring, with access to the general range of services. Naturally, they receive assistance with ADLs and personal care, in accordance with how advanced their condition is.

Amenities for couples moving to an assisted living in South Carolina

Married couples can opt for assisted living facilities that have apartment-style units. For those who want to live alone, there are single-occupancy units available. All living units must have a minimum square footage, with adequate storage space, bathrooms with accessibility features, and keyed entries. Apartments are equipped with modern appliances and fully-functional kitchens. Pets are allowed in most facilities, but it might be a good idea to check the contractual policy before committing to any ALF.

In terms of amenities, seniors often have the pleasure to discover that ALFs offer a lot of interesting choices. Among the most popular amenities, there are: fine dining restaurant and café, lounge, library, computer room, swimming pool, fitness center/gym, learning center, woodworking shop, painting studio, weekly religious service with chaplain, social club, off-site trips, gardening area, etc. Dementia residents have access to additional amenities, including memory gardens, guided walks, and cognitive therapy.