Page 15 of Best Senior Communities in South Carolina

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.

Overview of Brookdale Conway

Nestled in the charming city of Conway, Arkansas, Brookdale Conway offers assisted living in a quiet, residential neighborhood with convenient access to central Arkansas. The community provides a vibrant lifestyle with activities like yoga classes, movie nights, and chats by the fireplace, allowing residents to fill their social calendar and focus on fun. Brookdale Conway’s staff takes care of housekeeping, laundry, and provides 24/7 emergency assistance, helping residents leave behind the worries of homeownership.

Residents have the opportunity to share their lives with a group of interesting people who call Brookdale Conway home. The assisted living program helps with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and mobility, allowing residents to redefine their independence with customized care. Conway offers a thriving arts and cultural scene, numerous parks, outdoor recreation, and locally-owned shops and restaurants, with Regional Medical Center nearby. The community calendar includes activities like bingo, movie nights, scenic drives, Bible studies, and happy hour socials.

Located in downtown Spartanburg, White Oak Manor Spartanburg is a skilled nursing home, offering both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care. Operated by NHC Healthcare/Spartanburg LLC, the 60-bed facility is owned by Katee Castleman and administered by Cecil O. Kent III. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families multiple ways to access care coverage.

The home specializes in short-term rehabilitation services. It’s the best option for individuals recovering from surgery, hospitalization, or acute illness. With an average resident stay of 275 days, the community serves seniors transitioning home after recovery and those requiring ongoing skilled nursing support.

Total nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 28 minutes per resident daily. Registered nurses provide 51 minutes of care, nurse aides provide 2 hours and 25 minutes, and LPN/LVNs provide 57 minutes per day. This staffing level supports 24-hour care, with hands-on support throughout the day.

The Pearl Street location places the home in an accessible part of Spartanburg near downtown medical services. Families considering White Oak Manor may want to tour the facility to see whether its room layouts, daily routines, and rehabilitation and nursing programs are compatible with their loved one’s specific care needs.

Seneca Health and Rehabilitation Center is a 132-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Seneca, South Carolina. Owned by Seneca Facility LLC and administered by Kathleen S. Wilson, the community is situated in Oconee County and accredited by The Joint Commission. Medicaid, Medicare, and private pay are accepted. The facility primarily serves long-term care residents, with 61 percent Medicaid admissions and an average stay of 115 days.
CMS rates Seneca Health and Rehabilitation Center at 1 star, 66 percent below the South Carolina average, with all four sub-categories trailing the state benchmark. The health inspection rating is 27 percent below the state average. 18 total health citations were recorded across four inspections since 2021, above the South Carolina average of 13.7. Two serious citations stand out, placing the facility 16th of 23 South Carolina nursing homes in that category and 567 percent above the state average of 0.3 serious citations. Top deficiency categories include quality of life and care, infection control, and resident rights. The most recent inspection in February 2025 produced three infection control citations and a nutrition citation, all corrected. Two civil money penalties totaling $5,000 were assessed in September and October 2023, below the South Carolina average of $34,000, with no payment denials. Meanwhile, staffing runs below state benchmarks across most categories. Total nursing hours reach 3 hours and 28 minutes per resident per day, 15 percent below the South Carolina average of 4 hours and 5 minutes. RN hours at 23 minutes per day are 39 percent below the state average of 38 minutes, and weekend RN coverage at 13 minutes per day is 46 percent below the South Carolina benchmark. Long-stay hospitalization and ED visit rates are better than the South Carolina average, a meaningful upside in a facility serving primarily long-stay residents. Walking ability decline at 36.7 percent of long-stay residents is 126 percent worse than the state average, and the short-stay re-hospitalization rate of 36.2 percent is 47 percent above the 24.7 percent state figure.
Seneca Health and Rehabilitation Center serves Oconee County families primarily in a long-term care capacity. Families considering placement should ask directly about the two serious citations, staffing levels, and current infection control and care planning practices.

Overview of Piedmont Post Acute

Owned and administered by Reinaldo Hall through Piedmont Skilled Nursing LLC, Piedmont Post Acute is a skilled nursing home in Piedmont, South Carolina. The 88-bed facility focuses on rehabilitation and post-acute nursing care. It has specialized programs in rehabilitation services and complex wound care. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted, giving families several options for covering care costs.

The home operates at 89% occupancy. Residents stay an average of 65 days, which is a mix of people receiving short-term rehabilitation after a hospital stay and those needing ongoing nursing care. Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 46 minutes per resident each day. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides provide care and support around the clock through a 24-hour staffing model.

Rehabilitation is a major part of the facility’s care program. Residents have access to an on-site rehabilitation gym. Through this, they can work with therapy staff as they recover from surgery, illness, or hospitalization. Amenities on-site include spacious courtyards and common areas that provide places for residents to spend time outdoors or visit with family and friends. The facility’s 24-hour staffing also ensures support is available for wound care, medication management, and other nursing needs.

Families looking for post-acute care in the Piedmont should consider Piedmont Post Acute because of its focus on rehabilitation services, complex wound care, and skilled nursing support. Taking a tour can provide a better idea of the the gym, the courtyards, the care units, and the daily rhythm and how staff manage care.

Cooper River Post Acute is a nursing home in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, offering skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Privately owned by Palmetto Master Tenant, LLC through operating entity Mtpleasant SNF LLC, the community has been serving the Charleston County area for over four decades. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay are also accepted, with service offerings that include skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, housekeeping, person-centered activities, and an on-site beauty salon.

The resident population leans heavily toward short-stay rehabilitation patients, with Medicare and private-pay residents accounting for the majority of admissions and an average length of stay of approximately 131 days. With a current occupancy of 91%, which is notably above the South Carolina average of 82.1%, the community reflects a consistently strong local demand for rehabilitation and nursing services.

The community currently holds a 1-star CMS rating, the lowest among its performance tiers. Health inspection scores fall significantly below South Carolina averages, while staffing ratings also trail statewide benchmarks. Total adjusted nursing care averages 3 hours and 11 minutes per resident per day, approximately 22% below the state average of 4 hours and 5 minutes. Weekend staffing levels decline further to 2 hours and 44 minutes daily, which closely aligns with staffing concern indicators.

Since 2023, the South Carolina Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Healthcare Quality has completed six inspections, resulting in a total of 47 health citations, substantially exceeding state averages. Citation frequency per inspection is also considerably higher than the statewide average. These deficiencies are often categorized into Quality of Life and Care, Resident Rights, Pharmacy Services, Infection Control, and Abuse or Neglect oversight. Moreover, the community’s composite high-risk clinical events score, which measures issues such as falls, pressure injuries, weight loss, and declines in physical functioning, performs significantly worse than South Carolina averages.

The most recent inspection on April 10, 2025, also identified moderate-level deficiencies involving infection control, nutrition services, and pharmacy operations, which were corrected. On the other hand, five civil monetary penalties totaling roughly $85,000 have also been issued, with the largest penalty, approximately $49,000, following the April 2024 inspection. Additional fines were also issued across 2023, 2024, and 2025. No Medicare payment denials were reported in the available records.

With its longstanding local presence and stable occupancy levels, Cooper River Post Acute appeals to older adults in the Mount Pleasant and Charleston area seeking short-term rehabilitation or skilled nursing support after hospitalization.

Overview of Pee Dee Gardens

Operated by Florence Opco LLC, Pee Dee Gardens is a single-story senior living community in Florence, South Carolina. It offers assisted living, memory care, and respite care. Toni E. Cooke-Evans serves as the administrator. The multiple care options in one community allow residents to transition between services as their needs change. These also give family caregivers access to short-term respite care when needed.

The 80-bed community has a single-story layout, which can be more convenient for residents with mobility or memory care needs. The memory care program includes specialized staff training, ensuring residents living with dementia and other forms of memory loss receive support from caregivers who have completed that preparation.

Residents can participate in recreational activities and wellness programs as part of daily life. Transportation services help residents reach appointments and outings without relying entirely on family members. Housekeeping is included as a standard service. Pets are welcome in the community.

The area has a Walk Score of 42, which is somewhat walkable. A few nearby services can be reached on foot, but most trips require a car. Families considering Pee Dee Gardens should ask how the memory care training program and respite care services work as part of the community’s daily routine.

Serving seniors in Charleston’s West Ashley neighborhood, The Palmettos of Charleston offers assisted living and memory care. It is about 6. 5 miles from downtown Charleston. Operated by NHC Place-Charleston LLC, it is affiliated with NHC Healthcare. The profile also notes that a physician founded the community. Kalyn Huether serves as administrator.

The 60-bed community has a smaller and more personal scale than some larger local options. Care includes a dedicated Alzheimer’s unit for residents living with memory loss. Broader assisted living services are also available. Residents are reviewed case by case, so care plans can reflect personal needs and choices. The community also values open communication among staff, residents, and families.

Each apartment has individually controlled heating and cooling. Housekeeping and laundry service help with daily upkeep. Shared amenities include an on-site salon, a library and resource center, and a hobby center. Residents can also use a theater with a DVD player. Optical care and transportation services are available on-site.

Safety features include fire alarm and sprinkler systems throughout the building. The Palmettos welcomes pets, which may help residents feel more at home. Residents can also bring their own furniture and personal belongings to make their living space feel familiar.

The surrounding neighborhood has a Walk Score of 52. Some errands are within walking distance, but other trips require driving. Families comparing memory care with regular assisted living should ask how staff move residents between care levels when needs change.

Situated in the heart of Seneca, SC, the Belverde Commons of Seneca is an esteemed senior living community that provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. A variety of accommodations ranging from studio and one-bedroom and private and semi-private suites are available depending on personal preferences. This community offers an excellent and dedicated team that ensures immediate care and support for its residents. In terms of memory care, it provides a specialized memory care program regardless of cognitive conditions.

Explore its wonderful amenities and services wherein residents can access wellness programming, outdoor courtyard, and fitness programming. Indulge in 3 delectable meals daily and avail of their weekly housekeeping and laundry. At the Belvedere Commons of Seneca, seniors can truly enjoy an extraordinary living experience.

Overview of The Pearl at Five Forks

With a capacity of 64 residents, The Pearl at Five Forks is a residential care community in Simpsonville, South Carolina, offering memory care, rehabilitation services, and respite care. Operated by Psl Simpsonvillee Subtenant LLC under the administration of Shelly Rochester, it also features studio and companion accommodations to meet a variety of care needs.

To support older adults, licensed nurses and certified nursing assistants are available 24 hours a day. Additionally, residents receive medication management, chef-prepared meals, housekeeping, personal laundry and linen service, and daily wellness checks.

Beyond daily support, the community encourages an active and engaging lifestyle through life-enrichment programs that promote connection and purpose. Amenities include a spa, movie theater, resident garden, interactive entertainment, therapy services, main and private dining rooms, and complimentary transportation for appointments and outings.

Although the surrounding area is highly car-dependent, transportation services help residents remain connected to the local community.