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.
PC (Palliative Care):
Comfort-focused care for serious illness at any stage, including alongside curative 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.
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colonial Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care | MC | West Columbia | 66
Facility
66
SC AVG
86
Rank
#106 / 165 | Yes |
18
Facility
18
SC AVG
33
Rank
#84 / 118 | Studio / Suite |
| Brookdale Columbia | MC AL CCRC IL NH SNF | Columbia (Dentsville) | 52
Facility
52
SC AVG
86
Rank
#140 / 165 | Yes |
35
Facility
35
SC AVG
33
Rank
#60 / 118 | Suite |
| Spring Oak Lexington | MC AL | Lexington | 90
Facility
90
SC AVG
86
Rank
#63 / 165 | Yes |
22
Facility
22
SC AVG
33
Rank
#80 / 118 | - |
| Atria Forest Lake | MC AL | Columbia | - | Yes |
65
Facility
65
SC AVG
33
Rank
#4 / 118 | Private Rooms |
| Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center | MC HOS NH PC RC SNF | Columbia | 108
Facility
108
SC AVG
86
Rank
#41 / 165 | No | - | - |
| Rice Estate – Assisted Living | MC AL HOS IL NH RC SNF | Columbia | 40
Facility
40
SC AVG
86
Rank
#158 / 165 | No | - | - |
| Carolina Gardens at Kathwood | MC AL | Columbia (Deaswood) | - | Yes |
36
Facility
36
SC AVG
33
Rank
#53 / 118 | - |
| Forest Lake Manor | MC AL | Columbia | 60
Facility
60
SC AVG
86
Rank
#117 / 165 | No | - | - |
Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each memory care community is ranked against every other SC memory care community we track that reports that metric, not just the 18 analyzed for Columbia. See how we rank facilities
Colonial Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care runs one care type in West Columbia, SC. That type is memory care, which is secured and supervised for residents who may wander. The closer monitoring matters when someone with dementia’s needs call for it.
Robert M. Pierce is the administrator, and West Columbia MC LLC is the operator. Pets are allowed, and the 66 beds come in studio and suite options.
Brookdale Columbia offers nursing home, assisted living, continuing care retirement community, independent living, memory care, and skilled nursing in Columbia, SC. Nursing home and skilled nursing care provide licensed nursing on site around the clock, while assisted living helps with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication. Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care, and memory care provides a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering.
Several care levels are available here. Brookdale Columbia may be a good fit for a resident whose needs may grow over time and who wants to remain in the same community. With 52 beds, it is a smaller setting where staff and residents can get to know one another, and suite housing can suit a couple moving together or a resident who wants a companion.
Pets are allowed, so residents may bring their pets when moving in. A Walk Score of 35 / 100 places the community in a setting where most errands require a car or a ride, meaning a resident who no longer drives would need transportation for those trips. Transportation and outings support travel beyond the community, while the fitness center, therapy room, café/bistro, beauty and barber shop, courtyard, and garden give residents places for exercise, therapy activities, refreshments, grooming, and outdoor time; Tim Schick serves as the administrator, and Springtree Manor operates the community.
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.
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.
Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center is a 108 bed nursing home in Columbia, SC, offering skilled nursing, memory care, hospice care, palliative care, and respite care. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while memory care offers a secured setting with supervision for a resident at risk of wandering. Hospice and palliative care focus on comfort and symptom management, and respite care provides a short term stay when a resident’s usual caregiver needs time away.
Rehabilitation services include subacute care, pulmonary care, IV therapy, cardiac care, stroke and neuro recovery, and orthopedic rehabilitation. These programs support residents recovering from illness, hospitalization, neurological events, or orthopedic conditions, while IV therapy provides treatment through an intravenous line at the center. The rehabilitation options are broad.
Susan Strauss serves as the administrator, and St Andrews Operator runs the community. The range of care services can suit a resident whose needs may change from rehabilitation or respite care to longer term skilled nursing, memory care, hospice care, or palliative care.
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.
Operating for 36 years, Carolina Gardens at Kathwood is an assisted living and memory care community in Columbia, South Carolina. The community at 4520 Trenholm Rd serves the Deaswood neighborhood in a somewhat walkable area where most daily activities need transportation.
The facility offers assisted living and memory care services, setting itself to cater to occupants at different care levels. With nearly four decades of experience, it’s established in the local senior living landscape. Residents benefit from proximity to neighborhood amenities: dining, shopping, and transportation services, along with fitness and recreation options.
Families exploring Carolina Gardens at Kathwood will see an in-person visit as the best way to know its residential layout, daily programming, dining options, and the specific support available for your dearest one’s care needs.
Administered by Doretha L. Dennis, Forest Lake Manor offers assisted living and memory care in Columbia, South Carolina. With a 60-bed capacity, the community provides a secure and supervised environment for adults living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Assistance with daily tasks is also provided while helping residents maintain their independence.
The community also provides access to nursing services, along with 24-hour staffing to ensure residents receive the right support whenever needed. Residents can also use an on-site salon and spa. Moreover, restaurant-style meals are served in the dining hall or a resident’s room, giving residents two settings for meals.
Every community above is evaluated across six weighted categories using public data including state inspection records, review platforms, BBB profiles, and operator-published materials. Rank badges compare each community against other memory care communities in the same state — never against a different care type.
The single largest share of every ranking. Aggregated review sentiment and volume from major platforms — the closest signal to real resident experience.
State inspection records, citations, and complaint visits. We weight per-inspection rates more heavily than raw counts.
Communities that publish high-quality visuals give families a real preview. No photos or tours = a negative transparency signal.
Site quality and whether the operator publishes basic accountability information — staff names, contact details, ownership.
Operational signals indicating whether a community is well-run and meeting demand.
Walkability and pricing transparency. Walk Score is weighted higher for Independent Living than for Memory Care, where most residents do not leave unaccompanied.
We help families find affordable senior communities and unlock same day discounts, Medicaid, and Medicare options tailored to your needs.
Contact us Today
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.
South Carolina Medicaid does not directly pay room-and-board for memory care, 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.
Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living for residents living with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, with secured environments, dementia-trained staff, and routines built to reduce confusion and wandering.
This page features 18 memory care communities in Columbia, SC. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.
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.
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.
