Page 2 of Best Assisted Living in Columbia, SC

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 24 assisted living communities in Columbia, SC using SC Dept. of Public Health (DPH) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank assisted living in SC
Reviewed by
Last updated
We analyzed These are the facilities in Columbia, SC our team has analyzed — not a count of every assisted living provider in Columbia, SC.
24 homes
Other senior care options in Columbia:

Compare Assisted Living around Columbia (Metro Area)

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. RC (Respite Care): Short-term temporary care that gives family caregivers a break. IL (Independent Living): Community living with dining, activities, and transportation for active seniors who need little personal care. HOS (Hospice Care): Comfort-focused care for those with a terminal illness, prioritizing quality of life over treatment. 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.
Rice Estate – Assisted Living
AL
HOS
IL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Columbia
40
Facility 40
SC AVG 77
Rank #197 / 213
No--A
PruittHealth Columbia
AL
NH
Columbia
144
Facility 144
SC AVG 77
Rank #9 / 213
No
24
Facility 24
SC AVG 31
Rank #91 / 150
--
Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare
AL
HOS
IL
MC
NH
RC
SNF
Columbia
80
Facility 80
SC AVG 77
Rank #89 / 213
No--A+
Brookdale Columbia
AL
CCRC
IL
MC
NH
SNF
Columbia (Dentsville)
52
Facility 52
SC AVG 77
Rank #153 / 213
Yes
35
Facility 35
SC AVG 31
Rank #68 / 150
Suite-
Brookdale Harbison
AL
Columbia
52
Facility 52
SC AVG 77
Rank #153 / 213
Yes
36
Facility 36
SC AVG 31
Rank #59 / 150
Suite-
The Legacy of Lexington
AL
Lexington
49
Facility 49
SC AVG 77
Rank #173 / 213
No
32
Facility 32
SC AVG 31
Rank #81 / 150
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-
Merrill Gardens at Columbia
AL
IL
Columbia
52
Facility 52
SC AVG 77
Rank #153 / 213
Yes
17
Facility 17
SC AVG 31
Rank #105 / 150
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed-
Spring Oak Lexington
AL
MC
Lexington
90
Facility 90
SC AVG 77
Rank #64 / 213
Yes
22
Facility 22
SC AVG 31
Rank #97 / 150
--
Atria Forest Lake
AL
MC
Columbia
-Yes
65
Facility 65
SC AVG 31
Rank #4 / 150
Private Rooms-
Jenni-Lynn Assisted Living
AL
West Columbia
-No
23
Facility 23
SC AVG 31
Rank #95 / 150
-A+

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 24 analyzed for Columbia. See how we rank facilities

Rows per page:
View all Nearby Homes
Overview of Brookdale Columbia

Nestled within the charming city of Columbia, South Carolina, Brookdale Columbia offers a vibrant assisted living community that resembles a destination resort. Residents can savor the freedom and independence they deserve, with a care team available to assist with daily living tasks like bathing, dressing, and medication management. The community handles the cooking, cleaning, and household chores, allowing residents to spend more time pursuing their passions.

Spacious accommodations, common rooms, and luxury amenities such as an on-campus beauty salon, library, and fireside living room create a resort-like atmosphere. Residents can explore Columbia’s rich history, thriving arts and culture scene, and abundant outdoor activities. The community’s activities calendar offers opportunities to connect with neighbors, from walking clubs and Bible studies to competitive card games and excursions. Residents can also enjoy delicious, restaurant-style dining with daily menu options tailored to their preferences.

Contact Brookdale Columbia

Overview of Brookdale Harbison

Nestled in the heart of Columbia, South Carolina, Brookdale Harbison offers an assisted living community where residents can pursue their best life. The community provides personalized service plans, restaurant-style dining, elegant accommodations, and a fun-filled community calendar. Brookdale Harbison utilizes the InTouch system to tailor activities for both large and small groups, allowing residents to communicate with friends and relatives who cannot visit.

Residents can also take virtual trips around the world and keep up with their hometowns. The community offers a fun-filled calendar with walking clubs, movie nights, fitness classes, and more, as well as private residences for peace and quiet. Brookdale Harbison’s staff can handle household chores like cleaning and laundry, and 24/7 emergency assistance is available. Residents can enjoy the city’s thriving arts scene, world-class museums, and delicious southern cuisine, all while being close to medical facilities like Prisma Health Richland Hospital and Palmetto Health Baptist Hospital.

Contact Brookdale Harbison

Overview of PruittHealth Columbia

PruittHealth Columbia runs 185 beds in Richland County, Columbia, South Carolina, operating under the PruittHealth brand. At 80.8% occupancy with 140 residents and an average stay of 140 days, the facility skews short-term: the profile classifies it as primarily a short-stay destination, and the care model bears that out.

Rehabilitation is the center of gravity here. The facility confirms physical, occupational, speech, aquatic, and fitness therapy, targeting recovery from post-surgical wounds, injuries, and stroke. Hospice and palliative care round out the clinical offering for residents who need end-of-life support rather than a return to independence. Long-term skilled nursing is available as well, though it is not the primary profile.

Total nursing time is 3 hours and 10 minutes per resident per day. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, and carries CMS certification for both government pathways. An active resident council meets regularly. The neighborhood is car-dependent with a Walk Score of 24, so families and visiting staff should plan on driving.

PruittHealth Columbia is a large, rehabilitation-oriented nursing facility built around post-hospital recovery, with enough breadth in its therapy offerings and care types to handle complex clinical presentations, and enough size, at 185 beds, to maintain consistent availability.

Contact PruittHealth Columbia

Overview of Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare

Located on Finley Road, Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare is a continuing care community in Columbia’s Richland County. Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Inc operates the community, while Daniel John Amodio serves as administrator. It offers independent living, assisted living, memory support, rehabilitation, and long-term nursing care under one roof. Residents can move between care levels as their needs change without relocating to another facility.

The 80-bed community has been operating for 18 years. Its current occupancy rate is 86%. Residents stay an average of about 67 days, which is a pattern that reflects post-acute rehabilitation admissions alongside residents receiving ongoing nursing care. Most new residents use private pay, while Medicare covers shorter-term rehabilitation stays. Families have different ways to fund care based on the type of stay.

Nursing coverage is a notable part of daily life. Total nursing care averages 4 hours and 38 minutes per resident daily. Registered nurses provide 40 minutes of that time, and nurse aides contribute close to 3 hours per resident each day. This staffing gives residents regular clinical oversight and hands-on daily assistance.

Rehabilitation is a main focus, with dedicated short-term rehabilitation services alongside general rehabilitation and nursing programs. The community also offers a memory support program and respite care for families needing temporary care.

Residents can gather in the Magnolia Dining Room or one of the private dining rooms. They can spend time in the courtyard gardens or use walking paths beside the property’s protected wetlands. Other amenities include a fitness room, card room, common laundry room, and an on-site beauty and barber salon.

Families touring the community may ask how the memory support and short-term rehabilitation programs are structured because both programs are particular strengths within the community.

Contact Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare

Overview of The Legacy of Lexington

Burrowed in the quiet place of Lexington, SC, The Legacy of Lexington is an enticing senior living community offering assisted living services. Here, residents can select from a wide array of spacious and comfortable accommodations ranging from one-bedroom to two-bedroom and suite. With its highly skilled and hardworking team, this community offers an emergency response system and 24/7 personalized care services.

With its top-tier amenities and other services, residents can enjoy delectable meals and snacks daily, weekly housekeeping and laundry services, in-house maintenance services, and free transportation to all professional services. Engage in diverse social activities and community events. Meet new companions and share meaningful memories within the beautiful spaces of this community. At The Legacy of Lexington, seniors are guaranteed a wonderful retirement.

Contact The Legacy of Lexington

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.

Contact Merrill Gardens at Columbia

Spring Oak Lexington

5422 Augusta Rd, Lexington, SC 29072
Overview of Spring Oak Lexington

Spring Oak Lexington is a blissful senior living community located in a quiet neighborhood in Lexington, SC, offering various living options including assisted living, memory care, and short-term stay. Providing a comfortable and safe residence for seniors, the community includes 24-hour assistance from a team of skilled and dedicated professionals. A place where seniors may rest and keep their family’s minds at peace, Spring Oak Lexington Senior Living ensures the happiness and wellness of its residents.

Fostering meaningful connections among its residents, the community conducts enrichment activities and outings. Spring Oak Lexington values the independence and dignity of the residents, providing them with care tailored to their needs. With its eye-pleasing and spacious residences, the community offers care like no other in a family-like environment.

Contact Spring Oak Lexington

Overview of Atria Forest Lake

Atria Forest Lake offers assisted living and memory care in Columbia, SC. Assisted living provides help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication while a resident maintains a private living space; memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering.

Because both care levels are available, Atria Forest Lake may suit a resident whose needs grow over time and who may be able to remain in the community rather than move to a different setting. Private rooms give residents an individual room instead of a shared sleeping space, and pets are allowed for residents who want to bring a pet with them.

The community has a Walk Score of 65 out of 100, meaning the area is somewhat walkable and some errands can be done on foot. A resident who no longer drives may be able to walk for some errands, while other trips may require a car or ride.

Contact Atria Forest Lake

Overview of Jenni-Lynn Assisted Living

Greg Thompson serves as the regional president for Jenni-Lynn Assisted Living, located at 915 Hook Ave in West Columbia, South Carolina. The property has been in operation for 33 years and employs a full-time staff of 22 people. The single-story building design allows residents to move between their private living spaces and the common dining room without the use of stairs.

Daily activities include group exercise classes, neighborhood outings, and on-site beauty salon services. The community also features a pet-friendly policy. The surrounding area is car-dependent, with a walk score of 18 out of 100, meaning staff and visitors will need a vehicle to reach nearby spots like Walmart or local restaurants. The business currently maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Individuals looking into regional assisted living options can call the office to check on current room vacancies.

Contact Jenni-Lynn Assisted Living

Overview of Rice Estate – Assisted Living

Rice Estate, Assisted Living offers assisted living, independent living, memory care, respite care, hospice care, and skilled nursing in Columbia, SC. With 40 beds, the community is a smaller setting where staff and residents get to know each other. Its range of care levels can suit a resident whose needs grow over time, since services can change without leaving the community.

Independent living supports private living with community services, while assisted living provides help with daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, and medication. Memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering, and skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock. Hospice care supports end-of-life needs, while respite care offers a short stay for a family whose usual caregiver needs to travel or recover.

The starting price is $979, although the confirmed information does not tie that amount to a specific care level. Payment options include Medicare, which covers short-term skilled care after a hospital stay rather than long-term residence, and private pay. Total nurse staffing is 5h 13m per resident/day, representing the daily hands-on nurse time allocated per resident.

Residents can use the beauty and barber salon, fitness room, multipurpose room for activities, courtyard gardens, and walking areas for grooming, exercise, organized activities, and time outdoors. The Magnolia dining room serves three meals daily and between-meal refreshments, with a daily menu crafted from fresh, local fare, while the Rehabilitation & Nursing program provides rehabilitation services alongside nursing care. Daniel John Amodio serves as administrator, and Lutheran Homes Of South Carolina operates the community.

Contact Rice Estate – Assisted Living

Weighting overview

  • 35%
    Resident Experience
  • 25%
    Regulatory
  • 15%
    Visual Media
  • 10%
    Website
  • 10%
    Stability
  • 5%
    Environment
01

Resident & Family Experience 35%

The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.

  • Includes
  • Review Sentiment
  • Review Volume
02

Regulatory & Safety Record 25%

State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.

  • Includes
  • State Inspections
  • Citations/Inspection
  • % Inspections w/ Citations
  • Complaint Visits
  • Accreditations
  • BBB Rating
03

Visual Media & Transparency 15%

Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.

  • Includes
  • Video Tours
  • Virtual Walkthroughs
  • Photo Quantity
  • Photo Quality
04

Website & Operator Transparency 10%

Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.

  • Includes
  • Website Content
  • Mobile Usability
  • Staff Info Available
  • Owner Info Available
05

Community Stability 10%

Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.

  • Includes
  • Occupancy Rate
  • Bed Options
06

Environment & Pricing 5%

Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.

  • Includes
  • Walk Score
  • Pricing Transparency
No paid rankings Communities cannot pay to influence placement.
How we're paid: If we help you find a community and you move in, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
Submit a correction

Assisted Living in Columbia at a glance

Avg Monthly Cost: $5,727The average monthly cost across facilities in Columbia, SC. Reflects published or estimated base rates and can vary with care level, room type, and amenities. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: $5,600
Avg Walk Score: 30/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in Columbia, SC. A third-party neighborhood walkability score (0–100) measuring convenience and context, not healthcare quality. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 50/ 100
Avg No. of Beds: 72The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Columbia, SC. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90
Who we are

Your Senior Care Partner, Every Step of the Way

We help families find affordable senior communities and unlock same day discounts, Medicaid, and Medicare options tailored to your needs.

Contact us Today

Frequently Asked Questions about Assisted Living in Columbia, SC

What's the difference between assisted living and memory care in South Carolina?

Assisted living in South Carolina supports residents with daily activities (bathing, dressing, medication management) while preserving independence. Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living for residents living with Alzheimer's or dementia, and adds 24/7 secured environments, dementia-trained staff, and structured routines designed to reduce confusion and wandering.

What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in South Carolina?

Assisted living in South Carolina is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.

Does South Carolina Medicaid cover assisted living?

South Carolina Medicaid does not directly pay room-and-board for assisted living, but most states (including South Carolina) offer Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers that can offset the cost of care services delivered inside a licensed community. Eligibility, waitlists, and covered services vary — check directly with the state Medicaid agency.

What is assisted living?

Assisted living combines private or semi-private apartments with help on activities of daily living (meals, bathing, dressing, medication management) and a social calendar — for residents who need some support but do not need 24/7 medical care.

How many assisted living facilities are listed on this page?

This page features 24 assisted living facilities in Columbia, SC. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right assisted living facility in Columbia, SC?

Start by matching the level of care offered to the resident's current and anticipated needs, then compare licensing status, staff-to-resident ratios, recent inspection results, and pricing. Tour at least two or three communities in Columbia, SC, talk to current residents and families, and confirm what is included in the base rate versus billed as add-on services.

What should I look for when visiting assisted living facilities in Columbia, SC?

Pay attention to staff interactions with residents, cleanliness and odor, food quality at meal times, the activity calendar, and how questions about pricing and care plans are answered. Ask to see the most recent state inspection report, the move-out / level-of-care-change policy, and a sample monthly bill that lists every fee.