Best Senior Communities in South Carolina

Elderwood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center of Georgetown is an 84-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation community at 2715 S Island Rd in Georgetown, South Carolina. Georgetown Operations LLC manages the community, which accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, and carries an active state license.

CMS rates the community at 2 stars overall, 31.7% below the South Carolina average and with below-average scores across all three sub-rating categories. The staffing gap is the sharpest driver: nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 56 minutes per resident per day against a state average of 4 hours and 5 minutes. Weekend nurse staffing averages 2 hours and 57 minutes, roughly 10% below the South Carolina weekend norm.

The facility’s occupancy rate is 83%, just above the state average of 82.1%, reflecting consistent local demand. The average length of stay is 131 days, indicating a predominantly post-acute and short- to mid-term rehabilitation population.

Services include subacute rehabilitation, outpatient therapy, respiratory therapy, palliative care, adult day services, respite care, and memory care.

Elderwood Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is structured for post-acute rehabilitation and short- to mid-term skilled nursing stays in Georgetown County, with ancillary capacity for memory care and palliative services for residents requiring a broader continuum of care.

The Palms at Florence provides skilled nursing, subacute rehabilitation, memory care, restorative care, pain management, and respite services in Florence, South Carolina. The 163-bed community is located at 4438 Pamplico Hwy and is privately operated by Commander Operator LLC. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The community holds a 4-star overall CMS rating, with all four sub-ratings above South Carolina averages. Health Inspection stands out, scoring 45.5% above the state benchmark and serving as the strongest of the four categories, a meaningful signal for families weighing long-term placement. Staffing follows at 35.6% above average. Nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 8 minutes per resident per day against a South Carolina average of 4 hours and 5 minutes, placing the facility 38th out of 112 state SNFs, competitive but not an outlier.

Occupancy is 82.1%, above the South Carolina average and ranks 36th out of 121 facilities statewide, suggesting steady local demand. Residents have access to amenities including fine dining with an on-staff dietician, an on-site salon, and a dedicated activities director.

The Palms at Florence is structured for residents seeking a full continuum of post-acute and long-term care in Florence County, with a particular fit for those prioritizing above-average inspection performance and consistent staffing in a Medicare- and Medicaid-accepting facility.

Overview of Musc Health Mullins Nursing Center

MUSC Health Mullins Nursing Center is a 92-bed nonprofit skilled nursing facility in Mullins, South Carolina, operated by the Medical University Hospital Authority. The community serves older adults requiring long-term nursing care, with documented specializations in geriatrics and palliative care. Respite care and memory care are also available on site.

CMS assigns the facility an overall 3-star rating. The Health Inspection sub-rating is the drag on that score, 27.3% below the South Carolina average. Quality Measures score 43.3% above the state average, the clearest positive signal in the data picture.

Across four inspections since 2022, the facility recorded 15 citations, compared to a state average of 13.7, with 4 classified as critical, compared to the statewide norm of 1. No serious citations were recorded in the same period.

Nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 38 minutes per resident per day, about 11% below the South Carolina average of 4 hours and 5 minutes, ranking the facility 71st out of 112 SNFs in the state. The facility’s occupancy rate is 91.9%, well above the state average of 82.1% and ranked 15th in South Carolina, a sign of consistent local demand. Residents stay for an average of 171 days. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay.

The community is oriented toward long-term nursing care and palliative support in Marion County, serving residents who need sustained clinical oversight within a nonprofit hospital system.

Overview of Sprenger Healthcare of Bluffton

Sprenger Healthcare of Bluffton serves Beaufort County residents through skilled nursing, short- and long-term care, memory care, and respite services in Okatie, South Carolina. The 60-bed community is operated by Sprenger Healthcare of Bluffton, Inc., and accepts Medicare and private pay with no Medicaid participation.

CMS rates the community 5 stars overall, which is 70.6% above the South Carolina average. The Health Inspection and Quality Measure sub-ratings are both well above state benchmarks. Staffing is the one area below par: nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 50 minutes per resident per day, compared with a state average of 4 hours and 5 minutes, placing the facility 56th out of 112 South Carolina SNFs on that measure.

The facility provides on-site therapies, outpatient therapy, and nurse practitioner services that support its focus on short-stay rehabilitation. Chef-designed menus featuring local cuisine and elegant dining rooms round out the day-to-day experience.

The payer mix, roughly half Medicare, half private pay, with no Medicaid, reflects a resident population oriented toward post-acute recovery and private-rate long-term care. Medicare residents stay at an average of 15 days, consistent with a post-surgical or post-hospitalization rehabilitation model.

Sprenger Healthcare of Bluffton suits patients entering from a hospital for short-term rehabilitation, as well as private-pay residents seeking long-term or memory care in the Bluffton–Hilton Head corridor.

Overview of Rolling Green Village Assisted Living Facility

Rolling Green Village Assisted Living Facility is a 52-bed nursing home in Greenville, South Carolina, offering skilled nursing, assisted living, memory care, and rehabilitation services. Operated by the nonprofit Rolling Green Village on a 175-acre campus, the community has been continuously operating for 49 years. The facility accepts Medicare and private pay. CMS rates the facility 4 stars overall, 36.5% above the South Carolina average, driven by an exceptional staffing score. Nurse staffing averages 7 hours and 30 minutes per resident per day, ranking second among 112 South Carolina skilled nursing facilities and nearly double the state average of 4 hours and 5 minutes. That level of direct-care coverage is a meaningful differentiator for residents with complex post-acute needs. The inspection record is mixed. Three inspections since 2022 have produced 5 citations, well below the South Carolina average of 13.7, ranking 11th in the state in citation count. At 1.67 citations per inspection, compared with a state mean of 3.44, the per-visit rate is similarly clean. The facility has carried no fines and no payment denials in the past three years. Two of the five citations involved critical quality-of-care findings from February 2023, both of which were later corrected. A moderate abuse/neglect citation from April 2024 is also corrected. The below-average Health Inspection sub-rating reflects those complaint-driven findings rather than standard inspection performance. The facility provides rehabilitation services and a dedicated Alzheimer’s unit anchoring the care model, supported by on-site speech, physical, and occupational therapy staff. Dining includes multiple venues with a private dining room. With a 19-day average length of stay and a payer mix oriented toward Medicare and private pay, the facility suits short-term post-acute rehabilitation as well as residents seeking memory care within a nonprofit, campus-style continuum in Greenville County.

Overview of Rosecrest Community Residential Care

Rosecrest Community Residential Care provides independent living, assisted living, memory care, and short-term rehabilitation services in Inman, South Carolina. Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Inc. operates the nonprofit 45-bed continuing care retirement community, which serves residents across Spartanburg County. The community holds a 4-star CMS overall rating. Health Inspection performance is 45.5% above the South Carolina average, the strongest of its sub-ratings. Staffing runs at the state average, with total adjusted nurse hours of 5 hours and 3 minutes per resident per day, which is 23% above the state benchmark, ranking it 13th out of 112 South Carolina skilled nursing facilities. Quality Measures are 14% below the state average, the one drag on an otherwise strong profile. The facility’s current occupancy is 64.3%, well below the South Carolina average of 82.1%, suggesting availability across care levels. The facility accepts Medicare and private pay; Medicaid is not accepted. Respite care is available. Amenities include a Wellness Center, LifeTrail fitness equipment, a walking trail, and an on-site beauty shop and barber. The community’s continuum of care from independent living through memory care and skilled nursing serves older adults and families planning ahead for changing care needs, including those seeking a single community that can accommodate progression from assisted living to memory care or post-acute care in Spartanburg County.

Overview of Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina-Clinton

Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina–Clinton is a 43-bed nonprofit nursing home at 801 Musgrove St in Clinton, South Carolina, operated by Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina. The community offers short-term rehabilitation, memory care through a dedicated Alzheimer’s unit, and respite stays, with 24-hour staffing. CMS rates the facility 5 stars overall, placing its inspection performance 81.8% above the South Carolina average and its Quality Measures 43.3% above state peers. That inspection standing is among the stronger records in Laurens County and reflects consistent performance on recent standard surveys. The community’s program offerings include wellness and life enrichment, volunteer engagement, and vital living programming. Occupancy is 73.1%, below the South Carolina average of 82.1%, indicating current availability. Residents stay at an average of 105 days, which orients the community toward post-acute and transitional care rather than long-term residence. Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina–Clinton is best suited for residents seeking short-term rehabilitation or transitional memory care within a nonprofit, mission-driven setting in Clinton, SC.

Lexington Medical Center Extended Care offers long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, memory care, and respite care in Lexington, South Carolina. Lexmed Inc operates the 388-bed nursing home under the Lexington County Health Services District. The facility is the largest certified skilled nursing facility in South Carolina by bed count and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. CMS rates the facility 1 out of 5 stars overall. Health Inspection sub-rating runs 63.6% below the South Carolina average, the primary driver of the overall score. Quality Measures also trail the state benchmark by 42.7%. Staffing is the one clear strength: nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 27 minutes per resident per day, 9% above the South Carolina average. Weekend nursing coverage is 13% above the state norm, which is meaningful in a facility of this size and acuity. The facility is supported by on-site physical, occupational, and respiratory therapy staff. Occupancy is 81.7%, essentially in line with the state average. The average length of stay of 152 days indicates a predominantly long-term resident population. Lexington Medical Center Extended Care is best suited for residents seeking long-term care and post-acute recovery in Lexington County, with the capacity and therapy staffing to support complex, ongoing care needs.

Located in Laurens, South Carolina, Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Community is an 82-bed Life Plan community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and rehabilitation services. South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging Inc. operates the nonprofit community under a Christ-centered mission, one of the few continuing care retirement communities in Laurens County. CMS rates the facility at 2 stars overall, driven by a Health Inspection sub-rating roughly 27% below the South Carolina average. Staffing tells a different story: nurse staffing averages 5 hours and 1 minute per resident per day, about 36% above the state average, ranking it 13th among 112 South Carolina skilled nursing facilities. Quality Measures are also above the state average. The 2-star overall reflects inspection performance, not care delivery. The community accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. Amenities include a chapel, library, bistro, beauty and barber shop, wellness facilities, and Southern-style dining. Respite care and home care services round out a continuum designed to support residents as their needs shift without requiring relocation to another facility. Its occupancy rate is below the South Carolina average of 82%, suggesting current availability across care levels. Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Community is a good fit for residents and families seeking a faith-based Life Plan community with strong staffing and a full continuum of care, particularly those prioritizing continuity of placement as care needs evolve.

Overview of Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare

Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare is an 80-bed continuing care retirement community at 100 Finley Rd in Columbia, South Carolina, operated by Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Inc, a nonprofit organization. The community offers independent living, assisted living, memory support, rehabilitation, and long-term nursing care in Richland County. Staffing is a clear strength. Nurse aide staffing averages 3 hours and 10 minutes per resident per day, 43% above the South Carolina average. Weekend total nursing hours average 4 hours and 24 minutes daily, 31% above the state norm. That level of direct-care coverage continues throughout the week. On quality outcomes, long-stay residents perform significantly above the South Carolina average on CMS quality measures. Short-stay residents are rehospitalized at a rate of 21.5%, roughly 13% better than the state average of 24.7%. The campus includes Courtyard Gardens, a fitness room, a private dining room adjacent to the Magnolia Dining Room, and access to protected wetlands and walking areas, a setting that distinguishes the property from typical urban nursing facilities. The facility also provides memory support and respite care services. Rice Estate serves residents seeking a nonprofit, continuum-of-care community in Columbia, with particular depth in post-acute rehabilitation and memory support.