Merrill Gardens at Columbia
Assisted Living & Independent Living · Columbia, SC

Merrill Gardens at Columbia

Assisted Living & Independent Living · Columbia, SC

Overview of Merrill Gardens at Columbia

Merrill Gardens at Columbia is an assisted living facility located in Columbia, South Carolina, offering independent living and hospice services on-site. The community is part of Merrill Gardens Senior Living, a senior care company, and provides vision care to its residents. The costs at Merrill Gardens at Columbia start at $3,225 and range up to $6,585, with the average price being $4,905, which is more than the average cost of assisted living in the area. The community is pet-friendly, and while South Carolina requires three meals to be provided per day, it can accommodate vegan or vegetarian diets.

Residents at Merrill Gardens at Columbia are required to have a scheduled, structured activity every day, and the community offers a variety of activities, including musical performances and social outings. The facility is located near five hospitals, with the two closest being Palmetto Health Richland and Palmetto Health Baptist, and has above-average reviews for the area. Merrill Gardens at Columbia offers 120 independent living and assisted living apartments, with concierge services, scheduled transportation, 24-hour staffing, and weekly housekeeping. The community features a variety of amenities, including a pet-friendly environment, pool, fitness programs, outdoor areas, and social outings, allowing residents to choose from a range of options to suit their individual needs and preferences.

By The Numbers

Community insights.

Bed count Info A smaller, more intimate setting that may offer a quieter environment and closer staff-resident interactions. 52 Rank #151 / 211Bed count — State benchmarked This assisted living community is ranked 151st out of 211 assisted living communities we track in South Carolina for bed count. Shows this facility's certified or reported bed count compared to other South Carolina facilities. Larger communities may offer more amenities, programs, and on-site services for residents and families. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in South Carolina that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.

Smaller home · May offer a more intimate, personalized care environment.

Walk Score Info Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options. Rank #103 / 148Walk Score — State benchmarked This assisted living community is ranked 103rd out of 148 assisted living communities we track in South Carolina for walk score. Shows how walkable this facility's neighborhood is compared to the average walk score across South Carolina facilities. Higher scores benefit residents, families, and staff. Communities with the same value for a metric share the same rank. Rankings compare like with like: every assisted living community we track in South Carolina that reports data for that category. Assisted living communities without available data are excluded, so the pool size varies from metric to metric.
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About This Community

Pricing & Financial Information

The below pricing was updated on

Starting Price
$3,750/Month

License Details

Facility TypeHL- Community Residential Care Facility
CountyRichland
License NumberCRC-1979

Awards

2024 Great Place to Work

Ownership & Operating Entity

Merrill Gardens at Columbia is legally operated by Merrill Gardens At Columbia LLC, and administered by Kear Dougal.

Ownership Type#REF!

Safety & Compliance

Emergency SystemsResident Call System

Memory & Specialized Care

2 services
Offers Alzheimer's Care
Dedicated Alzheimer's Unit

Additional Services

2 services
TransportationListed as: Transportation options
Maintenance

Contact Information

Additional Policies & Features

Pets Allowed
HousekeepingYes

Amenities & Lifestyle

Fitness Center

Dining & Nutrition

InfoSourced directly from the team at Merrill Gardens at Columbia.
  • Anytime / all-day dining.

Room Accommodations

Room Sizes
504 - 1,172 sq. ft
Room Types
Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom

Contact Merrill Gardens at Columbia

Living Spaces & Floor Plans for Merrill Gardens at Columbia

1 Bedroom
Studio
2 bedroom

Places of interest near Merrill Gardens at Columbia

Address 2.0 miles from city center Info Estimated distance in miles from Columbia's city center to Merrill Gardens at Columbia's address, calculated via Google Maps.

Calculate Travel Distance to Merrill Gardens at Columbia

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Address

Compare Assisted Living around Columbia

Info below is compiled from the SC Dept. of Public Health (DPH), senior community websites & trusted data sources such as Walk Score & BBB.

Communities are listed from highest-ranked to lowest-ranked based on our methodology.

Care Types in This Table AL (Assisted Living): Housing with help for daily activities like bathing, dressing, and medication, without 24-hour skilled nursing. NH (Nursing Home): 24/7 skilled nursing care for residents with complex, ongoing medical needs. SNF (Skilled Nursing Facility): Round-the-clock nursing care, often for recovery after surgery, injury, or illness. MC (Memory Care): Secured, specialized care for people living with Alzheimer's or dementia. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community): A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
City and state of the facility. Used for mapping and state-average comparisons.
Licensed bed capacity (maximum allowed). Not the same as how many beds are currently filled.
Indicates whether residents are allowed to have pets in the facility.
Third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100). Convenience/context metric, not a healthcare quality measure.
Description of bed or unit types offered (e.g. assisted living, memory care), as reported in state or facility disclosures.
Better Business Bureau grade for the operating company. Reflects complaint handling and business practices, not clinical care quality.
Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community
AL
CCRC
IL
MC
NH
SNF
West Columbia
22
Facility 22
SC AVG 77
Rank #206 / 211
Yes
63
Facility 63
SC AVG 31
Rank #6 / 148
-A+
Harmony at Columbia
AL
IL
MC
Columbia
110
Facility 110
SC AVG 77
Rank #33 / 211
Yes
36
Facility 36
SC AVG 31
Rank #57 / 148
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 BedA+
Fairforest Grove Senior Living
AL
MC
Columbia
66
Facility 66
SC AVG 77
Rank #113 / 211
No
41
Facility 41
SC AVG 31
Rank #43 / 148
StudioA+
The Blake at Woodcreek Farms
AL
MC
Elgin
100
Facility 100
SC AVG 77
Rank #46 / 211
Yes
17
Facility 17
SC AVG 31
Rank #103 / 148
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 BedA+
Merrill Gardens at Columbia
AL
IL
Columbia
52
Facility 52
SC AVG 77
Rank #151 / 211
Yes
17
Facility 17
SC AVG 31
Rank #103 / 148
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-

Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each assisted living community is ranked against every other SC assisted living community we track that reports that metric, not just the 5 on this page. See how we rank facilities

Financial assistance

Programs that may help with care and living costs in South Carolina

Merrill Gardens at Columbia is in Columbia, South Carolina. These programs may support different care settings or living expenses. A listing does not confirm this community participates; our concierge team can help confirm.

Get financial aid guidance
Cash support · veterans

VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) and Housebound Benefits

South Carolina VA Aid and Attendance/Housebound

Who it is for
Veterans or survivors with VA pension eligibility and an Aid and Attendance or Housebound medical need
Income limit
Countable income must be below the applicable Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR); the rate depends on dependents and benefit category; Qualifying unreimbursed medical expenses may reduce countable income.
Asset limit
VA pension net-worth limit is $163,699 from December 1 2025 through November 30 2026; net worth includes countable assets and annual income under VA rules.

Eligibility

General
Additional pension benefits for qualifying Veterans or survivors who satisfy VA pension eligibility and the medical requirements for Aid and Attendance or Housebound status; being an older veteran or spouse alone does not qualify.
SC specifics
This is a federal VA benefit rather than a state-specific grant; Aid and Attendance and Housebound benefits cannot be received together.

What it provides

  • Increased monthly VA pension based on the applicable MAPR less countable income.
Residential care support

Optional State Supplementation (OSS)

South Carolina Optional State Supplementation (OSS)

Income limit
Net monthly income may not exceed $1,804 for the individual under the published January 1 2026 OSS standard.
Asset limit
Individual resources may not exceed $2,000 under the January 1 2026 standard.

Eligibility

General
South Carolina residents age 65 or older or blind or disabled who satisfy SSI eligibility rules except income and live in a licensed Community Residential Care Facility enrolled in OSS.
SC specifics
Only participating residential care facilities qualify. This is distinct from the Community Choices Waiver.

What it provides

  • State-funded cash assistance is paid to the participating facility for the resident.
  • Eligible recipients also receive full Medicaid benefits.
In-home & community support

Community Long Term Care / Community Choices Waiver

South Carolina Community Long Term Care / Community Choices Waiver

Income limit
2026 · Published individual long-term-care and HCBS waiver limit is $2,982 per month (300% of the SSI federal benefit rate) effective January 1 2026.

Eligibility

General
South Carolina resident meeting Medicaid and nursing-facility level-of-care requirements; generally age 65 or older or blind or disabled; CLTC assessment and an eligible waiver are required.
SC specifics
CLTC is the assessment and service system; the Community Choices waiver is a specific home- and community-based option; Its renewal is effective July 1 2026.

What it provides

  • Authorized home- and community-based waiver services depend on the specific waiver and assessed care plan.
Medicare costs

Medicare Savings Program (MSP)

South Carolina Medicare Savings Program

Who it is for
Medicare beneficiaries with limited income who need help with premiums or cost sharing
Income limit
2026 · SCDHHS publishes monthly individual bases of $1,330 QMB; $1,596 SLMB; $1,796 QI; Couple bases are $1,804; $2,164; $2,435 respectively; Effective March 1 2026; countable-income rules and exclusions apply.
Asset limit
2026 · $9,950 individual and $14,910 couple in countable resources; exclusions apply.

Eligibility

General
South Carolina Medicare beneficiaries must satisfy the applicable QMB SLMB or QI eligibility criteria.
SC specifics
QMB covers premiums and Medicare cost sharing; SLMB and QI pay Part B premiums only.

What it provides

  • QMB assistance with Medicare premiums deductibles and coinsurance; SLMB or QI assistance with Part B premiums; Benefits are tier-specific.
Energy assistance

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

South Carolina LIHEAP

Who it is for
Income-eligible households responsible for home heating or energy costs
Income limit
60% of state median income by household size.

Eligibility

General
Income-eligible South Carolina household with a current home-energy expense and required residence citizenship or qualified-immigration and household-income documentation.
SC specifics
Assistance is funding-dependent; local Community Action Agencies may impose more restrictive benefit frequency or maximum assistance rules.

What it provides

  • Partial assistance with home heating and cooling expenses; award depends on income energy costs previous assistance and available funds.
Homeowner tax relief

Homestead Exemption Program

South Carolina Homestead Exemption

Eligibility

General
Qualifying legal-residence homeowner age 65 or older or totally and permanently disabled or legally blind; state residency and ownership rules apply.
SC specifics
Exemption applies to the first $50,000 of fair market value of the qualifying legal residence; actual tax savings vary.

What it provides

  • Property-tax exemption on the first $50,000 of qualifying home value.
Food assistance

Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP)

South Carolina ESAP (SNAP for Seniors)

Income limit
SNAP eligibility and income deductions apply.

Eligibility

General
ESAP simplifies SNAP applications for qualifying older households with no earned income.
SC specifics
The Department of Social Services administers ESAP applications.

What it provides

  • Simplified application for eligible SNAP food benefits paid through EBT; this is not a separate fixed-value food grant.
Know before you visit

Frequently Asked Questions about Merrill Gardens at Columbia

Quick answers from public records and the community's own listing.
01 Is Merrill Gardens at Columbia in a walkable area?
Merrill Gardens at Columbia has a walk score of 17. Car-dependent. Most errands require a car, with limited nearby walkable options.
02 What is the license number of Merrill Gardens at Columbia?
According to SC state health department records, Merrill Gardens at Columbia's license number is CRC-1979.
03 Are pets allowed at Merrill Gardens at Columbia?
Yes, Merrill Gardens at Columbia allows residents to bring their pets.
04 What is the best email address for Merrill Gardens at Columbia?
The team at Merrill Gardens at Columbia can be reached at DOUGALK@MERRILLGARDENS.COM.
05 Who is the administrator of Merrill Gardens at Columbia?
Kear Dougal is the administrator of Merrill Gardens at Columbia.
06 How many beds does Merrill Gardens at Columbia have?
Merrill Gardens at Columbia has 52 beds.
07 How much does Merrill Gardens at Columbia cost per month?
Pricing at Merrill Gardens at Columbia starts at $3,750 per month, with rates varying by floorplan and additional care needs.