Other senior care options in Columbia:

Page 2 of Best Memory Care in Columbia, SC

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 18 memory care communities in Columbia, SC using SC Dept. of Public Health (DPH) data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank memory care in SC
Reviewed by
Last updated
Jul 2026
We analyzed
18 homes
Other senior care options in Columbia:
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: 68The average licensed bed capacity across facilities in Columbia, SC. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average: 90

Compare Memory Care 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 to lowest based on our ranking methodology.

Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community
MC
AL
IL
NH
SNF
West Columbia (Still Hopes Drive)
22
Facility 22
SC AVG 90
Rank #299 / 305
Yes
63
Facility 63
SC AVG 34
Rank #14 / 221
-A+
Wildewood Downs Retirement Community
MC
AL
IL
NH
SNF
Columbia (Williamsburg East)
57
Facility 57
SC AVG 90
Rank #227 / 305
Yes
33
Facility 33
SC AVG 34
Rank #117 / 221
1 Bed / 2 Bed / 3 Bed-
Atria Forest Lake
MC
AL
Columbia
-Yes
65
Facility 65
SC AVG 34
Rank #10 / 221
Private Rooms-
Harmony at Columbia
MC
AL
IL
Columbia
110
Facility 110
SC AVG 90
Rank #89 / 305
Yes
36
Facility 36
SC AVG 34
Rank #100 / 221
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 BedA+
Rice Estate – Assisted Living
MC
AL
HOS
IL
NH
RC
SNF
Columbia
40
Facility 40
SC AVG 90
Rank #285 / 305
No--A
Palmettos of Parklane
MC
AL
RC
Columbia (Springwood)
85
Facility 85
SC AVG 90
Rank #157 / 305
Yes
27
Facility 27
SC AVG 34
Rank #139 / 221
Suite-
Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare
MC
AL
HOS
IL
NH
RC
SNF
Columbia
80
Facility 80
SC AVG 90
Rank #166 / 305
No--A+
Brookdale Columbia
MC
AL
IL
NH
SNF
Columbia (Dentsville)
52
Facility 52
SC AVG 90
Rank #240 / 305
Yes
35
Facility 35
SC AVG 34
Rank #110 / 221
Suite-
Mill Creek Manor
MC
AL
IL
Columbia (Williamsburg East)
59
Facility 59
SC AVG 90
Rank #223 / 305
Yes
8
Facility 8
SC AVG 34
Rank #196 / 221
Private RoomsB+
Colonial Gardens Assisted Living & Memory Care
MC
West Columbia
66
Facility 66
SC AVG 90
Rank #194 / 305
Yes
18
Facility 18
SC AVG 34
Rank #161 / 221
Studio / Suite-
Spring Oak Lexington
MC
AL
Lexington
90
Facility 90
SC AVG 90
Rank #131 / 305
Yes
22
Facility 22
SC AVG 34
Rank #154 / 221
--
Fairforest Grove Senior Living
MC
AL
Columbia (St. Andrews)
66
Facility 66
SC AVG 90
Rank #194 / 305
No
41
Facility 41
SC AVG 34
Rank #79 / 221
StudioA+
The Blake at Woodcreek Farms
MC
AL
Elgin
100
Facility 100
SC AVG 90
Rank #108 / 305
Yes
17
Facility 17
SC AVG 34
Rank #163 / 221
Studio / 1 Bed / 2 BedA+
Carolina Gardens at Kathwood
MC
AL
Columbia (Deaswood)
-Yes
36
Facility 36
SC AVG 34
Rank #100 / 221
--
Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
MC
HOS
NH
PC
RC
SNF
Columbia
108
Facility 108
SC AVG 90
Rank #97 / 305
No---
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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 Fairforest Grove Senior Living

Located in the charming state of South Carolina, Fairforest Grove offers a distinct senior living experience that sets it apart. As a regionally owned and managed community by Mainstay Senior Living, this community provides a warm and family-focused environment tailored specifically for seniors.

Unlike corporate-run facilities, Fairforest Grove takes pride in the personal connections formed with residents and their families, fostering a sense of belonging and kinship. From the moment visitors step through our doors, they are greeted with genuine warmth and friendliness. 

Contact Fairforest Grove Senior Living

Overview of The Blake at Woodcreek Farms

Led by Nancy Faulski, The Blake at Woodcreek Farms is a 100-bed assisted living community in Elgin, South Carolina. The community administered by Blake At Woodcreek Farms sits in a quiet, rural setting near Spears Creek Church and operates in a two-story building that feels accessible and grounded.

The Blake at Woodcreek Farms offers flexible housing options suited to different needs and preferences. This includes studio, one-, and two-bedroom floor plans. This variety allows residents to pick a living space appropriate to their independence level and personal style. The car-dependent setting has a Walk Score of 17, typical for this region of South Carolina, so most outings involve a drive to nearby shops, services, or healthcare facilities. Daily life revolves around purposeful activities and engagement. The community organizes art classes, book club meetings, movie nights, exercise classes, gardening projects, and seasonal holiday celebrations. Such programs are tailored to keep occupants mentally and physically active while building friendships and a sense of belonging. The facility also provides a library, fitness center, and community garden, giving residents spaces to learn, move, and grow things. Dining here mirrors a restaurant-style approach with multiple menu options at each meal, allowing occupants to select what appeals to them instead of following a fixed menu. This philosophy extends throughout the community’s daily life approach.

For potential residents and their families, a tour of The Blake at Woodcreek Farms offers a chance to walk through the floor plans, see the activity spaces and dining room in action, and get a sense of how it handles the balance between support and independence that defines good assisted living.

Contact The Blake at Woodcreek Farms

Overview of Carolina Gardens at Kathwood

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.

Contact Carolina Gardens at Kathwood

Overview of Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center is a 108-bed nursing home in Columbia, South Carolina, providing a broad range of post-acute, rehabilitative, and long-term care. Operated by St Andrews Operator LLC and administered by Susan Strauss, the community is CMS certified. Care programs include sub-acute care, memory care, rehabilitation therapy, hospice and palliative services, pulmonary care, IV therapy, cardiac care, orthopedic rehabilitation, stroke and neurological recovery, respite care, and 24-hour nursing support.

The range of clinical services is one of the community’s strongest distinguishing characteristics. The combination of pulmonary care, cardiac support, neurological recovery, IV therapy, orthopedic rehabilitation, and sub-acute care allows the community to manage medically complex recovery cases after hospitalization or surgery. Through hospice and palliative care services, residents can stay even during advanced illness or end-of-life transitions, potentially reducing the need for disruptive transfers. Memory care, rehabilitation therapy, and respite care programs are also available.

Located in Columbia, the community serves residents throughout the state capital region, including surrounding portions of Richland and Lexington counties. Its location within a larger metropolitan healthcare network also provides convenient access to hospitals, specialists, and additional medical resources when needed.

Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center is a great option for older adults in the Columbia area who require advanced post-acute rehabilitation, skilled nursing support, memory care, or long-term medical management, particularly those recovering from various medical conditions and in need of end-of-life care.

Contact Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

Laurel Crest

100 Joseph Walker Dr, West Columbia, SC 29169
Overview of Laurel Crest

Operated by Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina, Laurel Crest is a continuum-of-care community in West Columbia, South Carolina. It offers assisted living, independent living, memory care, and nursing care under one roof. Cessandra Rowlette-Carter serves as the administrator. The 26-bed community is about 0.9 miles from West Columbia’s city centre. It has been operating for 31 years, giving it a long track record in the area.

Residents live in suite-style accommodations. They have access to a fitness centre, outdoor common areas, and recreational spaces. Organised activities and programmes give residents regular opportunities to build connections with one another and staff. Rehabilitative services include physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Home care services are also available for those who prefer to receive care in their own residence instead of moving to another level of care.

The community has a dedicated Alzheimer’s unit for residents living with dementia. Transportation services are available for appointments and outings, helping residents get around without relying on family for every trip. Residents can also bring their pets, allowing them to keep a companion animal during their stay.

The area has a Walk Score of 15 out of 100, which is car-dependent. Most errands and outings require a drive. That layout is typical for the area, especially for families used to suburban South Carolina settings, but it’s worth factoring into visit planning for residents who no longer drive.

Contact Laurel Crest

Overview of Rice Estate

Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare sits on Finley Road in Columbia’s Richland County, operated by Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Inc for the past 18 years. The 80-bed campus is not a single-use nursing facility. It carries nursing home care alongside assisted living, independent living, memory support, hospice, and respite services, a continuum that allows residents to move between levels of care without leaving the property.

With 69 of 80 beds occupied, the facility runs at 86% capacity. The 67-day average length of stay tells you something meaningful about who comes here: most residents are working through a defined recovery, not settling in indefinitely. That shorter-stay orientation shapes the staffing picture too.

Total nursing hours reach 4 hours and 38 minutes per resident per day, with registered nurses clocking 40 minutes of that daily. For a post-acute setting, that level of direct clinical contact is worth noting.

The named Rehabilitation & Nursing program anchors the short-stay side of the operation, and memory support is available for residents who need a higher level of cognitive care. The Magnolia Dining Room serves a daily menu built from fresh, local ingredients, with Private Dining Rooms available when families want a quieter setting. Courtyard Gardens, walking paths, and access to a protected wetlands area give the grounds an unhurried character that contrasts with typical urban nursing home campuses. A fitness room, beauty and barber salon, card room, and multi-purpose room fill out the common areas inside.

Rice Estate accepts Medicare and private pay. It is built for adults who need structured post-acute rehabilitation or longer-term nursing care within a setting that can accommodate changing care needs over time.

Contact Rice Estate

Overview of Forest Lake Manor

Providing assisted living and memory care, Forest Lake Manor is a Community Residential Care Facility (CRCF) in Columbia, South Carolina, with 60 licensed beds. Administered by Doretha L. Dennis with the ownership of Forest Lake Manor LLC, the community is dedicated to individuals requiring help with daily living as well as those experiencing cognitive decline.

24-hour staffing and emergency response systems are also provided, along with dining services that include three restaurant-style meals daily. Notably, communal dining or in-room meal service is available, which benefits residents who prefer greater privacy or who have mobility limitations that make dining room participation more difficult.

Located in Columbia’s established Forest Acres area, the community benefits from proximity to medical providers, shopping, and broader healthcare resources throughout the Columbia metropolitan region. The neighborhood setting also appeals to families seeking a more residential atmosphere while still maintaining access to urban services and healthcare infrastructure.

With dedicated memory care services, flexible dining accommodations, and a neighborhood location, Forest Lake Manor may be a good fit for older adults in Columbia and the Midlands region seeking assisted living or memory care support within a community-oriented residential setting.

Contact Forest Lake Manor

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.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Memory Care 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.

Does South Carolina Medicaid cover memory care?

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.

What is memory care?

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.

How many memory care communities are listed on this page?

This page features 18 memory care communities in Columbia, SC. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.

How do I choose the right memory care community 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 memory care communities 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.