Other senior care options in South Carolina:

Best Independent Living in South Carolina

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 105 independent living communities in South Carolina using South Carolina Dept. of Public Health (DPH) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank independent living in SC
Reviewed by
Last updated
Jun 2026
We analyzed
105 homes
Other senior care options in South Carolina:
Avg Walk Score: 32/ 100The average Walk Score across facilities in South Carolina. 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: 90The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in South Carolina. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Independent Living around South Carolina

VIVA Senior Living at Gaffney
IL
AL
MC
RC
Gaffney
90
Facility 90
SC AVG 90
Rank #132 / 309
No
36
Facility 36
SC AVG 32
Rank #102 / 232
Private / Companion Suite -
Indigo Carolina Forest
IL
AL
MC
RC
Myrtle Beach
85
Facility 85
SC AVG 90
Rank #159 / 309
Yes
38
Facility 38
SC AVG 32
Rank #95 / 232
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed -
Brookdale West Ashley
IL
AL
MC
NH
Charleston (West Ashley)
100
Facility 100
SC AVG 90
Rank #109 / 309
Yes
56
Facility 56
SC AVG 32
Rank #27 / 232
Studio / 1 Bed -
Cascades Verdae
IL
AL
MC
NH
Greenville (Cascades Verdae)
92
Facility 92
SC AVG 90
Rank #127 / 309
No
9
Facility 9
SC AVG 32
Rank #195 / 232
1 bed / 2 bed / 3 bed A
The Residences at Greer
IL
AL
MC
RC
Greer (Maple)
110
Facility 110
SC AVG 90
Rank #90 / 309
Yes
11
Facility 11
SC AVG 32
Rank #188 / 232
Studio / Suite -
The Artisan Mount Pleasant
IL
AL
MC
Mt Pleasant
112
Facility 112
SC AVG 90
Rank #86 / 309
No
40
Facility 40
SC AVG 32
Rank #88 / 232
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed -
Portside at Grande Dunes
IL
AL
MC
RC
Myrtle Beach
120
Facility 120
SC AVG 90
Rank #63 / 309
Yes
36
Facility 36
SC AVG 32
Rank #102 / 232
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed -
Harmony at Columbia
IL
AL
MC
Columbia
110
Facility 110
SC AVG 90
Rank #90 / 309
Yes
36
Facility 36
SC AVG 32
Rank #102 / 232
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed A+
Somerby Mount Pleasant
IL
AL
MC
RC
Mt Pleasant
118
Facility 118
SC AVG 90
Rank #74 / 309
Yes
7
Facility 7
SC AVG 32
Rank #203 / 232
1 Bed / 2 Bed / 3 Bed -
The Willows of Easley
IL
AL
RC
Easley (North Hills)
50
Facility 50
SC AVG 90
Rank #257 / 309
Yes
8
Facility 8
SC AVG 32
Rank #198 / 232
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed A+
Harmony at Five Forks
IL
AL
MC
Simpsonville (Five Forks Road)
92
Facility 92
SC AVG 90
Rank #127 / 309
Yes
57
Facility 57
SC AVG 32
Rank #23 / 232
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed -
Laurel Crest
IL
AL
MC
NC
West Columbia
26
Facility 26
SC AVG 90
Rank #297 / 309
Yes
15
Facility 15
SC AVG 32
Rank #173 / 232
Suite -
Mill Creek Manor
IL
AL
MC
Columbia (Williamsburg East)
59
Facility 59
SC AVG 90
Rank #225 / 309
Yes
8
Facility 8
SC AVG 32
Rank #198 / 232
Private Rooms B+
Brookdale Anderson
IL
AL
MC
NH
Anderson (Windsor Place)
160
Facility 160
SC AVG 90
Rank #20 / 309
Yes
43
Facility 43
SC AVG 32
Rank #71 / 232
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 Bed -
Wildewood Downs Retirement Community
IL
AL
MC
NH
Columbia (Williamsburg East)
57
Facility 57
SC AVG 90
Rank #229 / 309
Yes
33
Facility 33
SC AVG 32
Rank #119 / 232
1 Bed / 2 Bed / 3 Bed A+
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Overview of Viva Senior Living at Gaffney

Ideally situated in the thriving neighborhood of Gaffney, SC, VIVA Senior Living at Gaffney is an outstanding community that offers assisted living, memory care, and respite care. Featuring two distinct floor plans, the community ensures residents’ comfort and safety. A kind and highly trained team provides top-notch care tailored to residents’ personal needs, ensuring they enjoy a hassle-free lifestyle.

Stimulating programs and exciting events are conducted to enhance residents’ cognition and living experiences. Mealtimes promote social interactions and satisfy dietary needs with delectable and healthy dining options that cater to their dietary needs and preferences. The community also provides medication management and transportation services for residents’ convenience. Residents can keep their peace of mind amidst the community’s vibrant and welcoming environment.

Contact VIVA Senior Living at Gaffney

Overview of Indigo Carolina Forest

Situated in the scenic community of Myrtle Beach, SC, the Indigo Carolina Forest is an enticing senior living community that provides independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. Here, residents can select from spacious and comfortable accommodations with varying floor plans including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom. In terms of memory care, those with cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can receive a specialized program addressing their immediate needs with compassion and dignity by an expert and empathetic team.

Offering top-notch amenities and services, residents can enjoy chef-prepared meals in restaurant-style dining, weekly housekeeping and maintenance services, concierge service, barber and salon services, and many more. Enhance physical endurance by joining wellness programs in its fitness center. Attend a full calendar of social activities and events coordinated by a professional team. Equipped with the right tools and people, seniors are guaranteed an all-encompassing living experience with Indigo Carolina Forest.

Contact Indigo Carolina Forest

Overview of Brookdale West Ashley

Brookdale West Ashley in Charleston, South Carolina, offers both assisted living and memory care, providing a seamless transition should residents’ needs change over time. The community includes basic utilities and maintenance, a selection of pet-friendly floor plans with great natural light, and 24/7 staff availability for emergencies. Assisted living residents receive help with personal grooming, medication management, and daily living activities, allowing them to spend more time pursuing their interests.

Rooted in a person-centered approach, Brookdale’s memory care program helps seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia maintain their skills and sense of self through a daily structure of socialization, exercise, and entertainment programs. Residents can be as involved as they choose, with options like Zumba, crafting, resident clubs, yoga, gardening, and Bible studies. The dining program offers menu choices to residents’ feedback and preferences, including dementia-friendly selections to support nutrition and a sense of belonging.

Contact Brookdale West Ashley

Cascades Verdae

10 Fountainview Terrace, Greenville, SC 29607
Overview of Cascades Verdae

Cascades Verdae sits at 10 Fountainview Terrace in Greenville, South Carolina, in a car-dependent part of the city where a Walk Score of 9 means essentially no walkable access to services. What makes this address worth noting is what’s happening inside the building rather than outside it. This is a 92-bed nursing facility running at 85% occupancy, with an average length of stay of 56 days. That stay length is the operational signal here: Cascades Verdae is built around short-term post-acute recovery, not long-term residence.

The staffing figures are among the more telling pieces of information available on the community. Total nursing care runs 6 hours and 9 minutes per resident per day, including 3 hours and 9 minutes of nurse aide time, 1 hour and 27 minutes of LPN/LVN coverage, and 56 minutes of RN time. The facility carries rehabilitation services, short-term rehab, respite care, and 24-hour staffing on its service list. Medicare and private pay are both accepted.

The amenity set is genuinely unusual for a nursing home. An indoor heated therapy pool, salon and spa services, concierge service, restaurant-style dining, complimentary continental breakfasts, and pet-friendly accommodations together describe a physical environment that prioritizes comfort alongside clinical function.

For someone leaving a hospital who has a choice in where they recover, that combination of solid staffing hours, a post-acute service model, and resort-adjacent amenities in Greenville are features worth taking seriously.

Contact Cascades Verdae

Overview of The Artisan Mount Pleasant

The Artisan Mount Pleasant offering luxury independent living, assisted living, and memory care stands as one of the trusted communities in the city. The elegant home presents a sprightly filled ambiance– a sublime environment that matches your lifestyle. There is a list of living options with customized care created to fit the needs of each individual. The Artisan Mount Pleasant approaches modern senior care through their person-centered service.

Expect residential houses with fully equipped amenities to help with the residents’ daily duties– a movie theater, art studio, walking paths, and courtyards, are just a few of their forward-thinking amenities. The well-trained staff on duty tend to your needs– on top of the services they offer: housekeeping and maintenance, cleaning, and transportation, among others.

Contact The Artisan Mount Pleasant

Overview of The Residences at Greer

The Residences at Greer aims to enhance the lifestyles of its seniors through independent living, assisted living, and memory care services. Management and staff strive to create a sense of community and belonging where everyone is welcome and included, and the facility maintains top-notch quality. Residents are supported in achieving their needs. When setting the standard for quality care and going above and beyond to meet the needs of seniors, the retirement home is the place perfect for seniors to thrive and live a purposeful life.

The community offers enriching activities and programs that promote a continuum of growth and meaningful experiences that cultivate their golden years. These include delicious dining for an expansive culinary experience, scheduled outings and activities to stimulate their wellness, and specialized memory care programs.

Contact The Residences at Greer

Portside at Grande Dunes

901 Portside Dr, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572
Overview of Portside at Grande Dunes

Portside at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, envisions a community where every resident is valued as a unique individual, and their lifestyle and interests are celebrated. The mission of this community is to exceed expectations by offering various living options like assisted living, independent living, and memory care and providing daily wellness, cultural, and educational programs. The community’s values are rooted in creating an environment where residents can live their best life, feeling at home and understood.

Portside at Grande Dunes provides a range of living options, including studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartment styles for Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Short-Term/Respite Stays. The amenities and facilities reflect a commitment to personalized care, offering diverse living arrangements to cater to individual needs and preferences. Residents can choose from companion suite and studio apartment styles in Memory Care, ensuring a comfortable and supportive environment. The community stands as a welcoming home that prioritizes the well-being and fulfillment of its residents.

Contact Portside at Grande Dunes

Overview of Somerby Mount Pleasant

Somerby Mount Pleasant, located in the charming Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, is a reputable senior community that offers a range of senior care services, including independent living programs, memory care living, assisted living, respite care, and therapy. It’s a trusted choice among the senior communities in the area, known not only for its top-notch approach but also for its dynamic activities, social opportunities, and innovative approaches.

The home also provides a variety of spacious and comfortable independent living floor plans, along with modern amenities and expert assistance available daily. It places a strong emphasis on fostering social connections and recreational opportunities, offering a pet-friendly living environment. With a selection of independent living apartments and villas, Somerby Mount Pleasant truly offers a place that residents can proudly call home.

Contact Somerby Mount Pleasant

Overview of Harmony at Columbia

Three care levels in a single building is a meaningful structural fact. At Harmony at Columbia, independent living, assisted living, and memory care all operate at 2300 Clemson Rd, which means a resident’s care needs can shift without requiring a move. That continuity matters most for families managing progressive conditions, and the dedicated Alzheimer’s unit underscores that this isn’t a token memory care offering.

The community is 4 years old, operated by Columbia Al Operations LLC, and sits 14.6 miles from Columbia’s city center with a hospital under a third of a mile away. The Walk Score of 36 places it firmly in car-dependent territory, though on-site transportation is available. Units run from studios at 280 to 400 square feet up to two-bedrooms reaching 1,218, with 110 beds total across the building. Pets are welcome, and a fitness area is on-site.

What the profile confirms in plain terms: this is a newer community with a broad care range, a dedicated cognitive care unit, and enough space variety to suit residents with different needs and budgets. Harmony at Columbia fits older adults and families who want to make a single placement decision that can hold across multiple care transitions, particularly those anticipating memory care needs down the line.

Contact Harmony at Columbia

Overview of Viva Senior Living at Easley

Viva Senior Living at Easley is an outstanding community set in the thriving neighborhood of Easley, SC, offering assisted living and respite care. Residents can keep their peace of mind with a compassionate and well-trained team helping with their daily living activities and household responsibilities. Beautifully furnished and spacious accommodations are available in a cozy and welcoming environment, so residents can feel a sense of belonging during their stay.

Residents will not run out of things to do with a thoughtfully curated calendar of enriching programs and exciting events. Mealtimes promote social interaction and satisfy nutritional needs with delicious and well-balanced dining options. A 24-hour emergency call system, medication management, and transportation services are provided for residents’ safety. The community is ideal for those needing assistance to live comfortably in retirement, especially with its top-notch services and state-of-the-art amenities.

Contact VIVA Senior Living at Easley

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
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Frequently Asked Questions about Independent Living in South Carolina

What is independent living?

Independent living communities are residential settings for active older adults — typically with private apartments or cottages, shared amenities (dining, fitness, activities), and no built-in medical care.

How many independent living communities are listed on this page?

This page features 105 independent living communities in South Carolina. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right independent living community in South Carolina?

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 South Carolina, 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 independent living communities in South Carolina?

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.