Page 2 of Best Memory Care in Columbia, SC

Why trust this guide? Our editorial team analyzed 18 memory care providers 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
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Last updated
We analyzed These are the providers in Columbia, SC our team has analyzed — not a count of every memory care provider in Columbia, SC. Home health and home care providers may be included if they specialize in memory care services.
18 providers
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-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.
Laurel Crest
MC
AL
CCRC
IL
NH
West Columbia
26Yes 15 Suite
Atria Forest Lake
MC
AL
Columbia
-Yes 65 Private Rooms
Spring Oak Lexington
MC
AL
Lexington
90Yes 22 -
Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center
MC
HOS
NH
PC
RC
SNF
Columbia
108
Facility 108
SC AVG
Rank #65 / 132
No--
Rice Estate – Assisted Living
MC
AL
HOS
IL
NH
RC
SNF
Columbia
40
Facility 40
SC AVG
Rank #127 / 132
No--
Carolina Gardens at Kathwood
MC
AL
Columbia (Deaswood)
-Yes 36 -
Forest Lake Manor
MC
AL
Columbia
60No--
Rice Estate
MC
AL
HOS
IL
NH
RC
SNF
Columbia
-No
2
Facility 2
SC AVG
Rank #46 / 46
-

Rank badges are statewide: each community is ranked against every SC community we track that reports that metric, not just the 18 analyzed for Columbia. See how we rank facilities

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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 Atria Forest Lake

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.

Contact Atria Forest Lake

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 Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

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.

Contact Seven Oaks Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center

Overview of Rice Estate – Assisted Living

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.

Contact Rice Estate – Assisted Living

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 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

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

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 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.