Best Nursing Homes in Columbia, SC

Overview of Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community

Situated upon 44 acres of tranquil woods in the greater Columbia area, Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community’s open arms welcome all who seek an active independent living home to make the most of their golden years. A range of cozy apartments and free-standing cottages are available, coupled with a staff of well-trained nurses that provide individualized care upon request, making for a safe environment, conducive to relaxation. Still Hopes offers a Wellness Center, Solutions for Living at Home services such as cooking, cleaning, and even healthcare, and rehabilitation plans, for a holistic approach to daily physical and mental rejuvenation. Learn to love your artistic side, discover musical talent you never knew you had, or work on your backhand on the golf course; there’s no shortage of activities you can finally make time for all while your basic necessities are covered.

Should you want to venture out ever so often, Still Hopes is an independent living home that’s not only peaceful but accessible; around seven minutes away is the center of downtown Columbia with every manner of establishment well-within reach.

Overview of Nhc Healthcare Parklane

Located on Parklane Road in Columbia, South Carolina, Nhc Healthcare Parklane is a skilled nursing and rehabilitation home operated by NHC Healthcare/Parklane LLC under owner William Birmingham. Families can choose from Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay to cover both short-term rehabilitation and ongoing nursing care.

The 180-bed community has 91% occupancy, with 164 residents currently living in the facility. Residents stay an average of 112 days because of the home’s clinical focus on short-term rehabilitation and longer-term care stays.

The facility also has a strong rehabilitation focus. It offers physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as specialized short-term rehabilitation programs and respite care. These services can support residents recovering from surgery, illness, or a hospital stay, and families who need temporary caregiving support. The community also provides home care and hospice services.

The home’s daily staffing is robust. Residents receive an average of 5 hours and 3 minutes of nursing care each day. Registered nurses, nurse aides, and licensed practical nurses provide care across all shifts. The level of hands-on support helps residents with medical needs and daily activities throughout the day.

Meals are prepared by a chef and reviewed by a dietitian to meet every resident’s nutritional needs. Residents have access to high-speed wireless internet, cable television in every room, housekeeping and laundry services, an on-site beauty and barber shop, daily activities and entertainment, an indoor dining room, and outdoor relaxation areas.

State inspections and surveys reviewed areas such as medication management, clinical documentation, and care delivery practices. The facility has been working on these areas to comply consistently.

Families seeking intensive rehabilitation support, strong nursing staffing, and comprehensive services in the Columbia area should consider Nhc Healthcare Parklane.

Overview of Rice Estate – Assisted Living

Rice Estate – Assisted Living is a 40-bed continuing care retirement community operated by non-profit Lutheran Homes of South Carolina at 100 Finley Road in Columbia, South Carolina. The community offers assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Medicare and private pay are accepted.

CMS rates Rice Estate 4 stars, 36.5 percent above the South Carolina average. Health inspection performance runs 45.5 percent above state peers, with three inspections within seven years. Nurse hours run 4h 38m per resident per day against a South Carolina average of 4h 5m, placing the facility 21st of 112 skilled nursing facilities statewide. Occupancy sits at 86 percent, modestly above the 82.1 percent state average which reflects consistent demand.

Amenities include the Magnolia Dining Room, a courtyard garden with walking areas, a fitness room, and a beauty and barber salon. Respite care and 24-hour staffing exist.
Rice Estate suits older adults in Columbia seeking a non-profit continuum of care, from assisted living to rehabilitation and long-term nursing.

Located in Columbia, South Carolina, White Oak Manor Columbia is a skilled nursing home specializing in post-acute rehabilitation. Operated by NHC Healthcare/Columbia WO LLC, owned by Marlon Clarke. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families have multiple options to cover both short-term recovery stays and longer-term care. At 120 beds, residents usually stay for an average of 149 days, mostly pursuing intensive rehabilitation and transitioning to ongoing nursing care.

The home’s clinical focus is on rehabilitation services, especially for patients recovering from injury or illness. Specialized programs include orthopedic, stroke, amputee, cardiopulmonary, and back-injury rehabilitation, as well as balance and fall-prevention training.

Dysphagia therapy, dementia care, wound care management, speech-language therapy, and home evaluations are available for patients preparing for discharge. Therapy services are also available to residents so they can continue working toward their functional goals.

Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 53 minutes for each resident. Registered nurses provide 21 minutes of direct care daily together with nurse aides and licensed practical nurses. The facility also maintains 24-hour staffing to support the needs of post-acute residents.

State inspections identified deficiencies in the oversight of medication administration, sanitation practices, fall prevention, comprehensive care planning, and infection control protocols. So, families evaluating this facility should ask how the facility manages these clinical and safety practices.

The Oaks of Orangeburg, a 122-bed church-affiliated nursing facility at 1000 Methodist Oaks Dr in Orangeburg, South Carolina, has operated as a nonprofit since 1956 under the leadership of owner-operator Joseph Fowler.

Spanning 650 acres with nearly 300 living accommodations, the community provides nursing home, independent living, assisted living, and home care across a 3-story building. It accepts Medicare (average 22-day stay), Medicaid (average 9-month stay), and private pay (average 1–2 month stay) populations. Minimum resident age is 55 years; pets are permitted.

The campus features recreational facilities and programming: fitness center, heated pool with personal training programs, exercise classes, bocce games, kayaking, and arts and crafts activities. Operational services include round-the-clock security and scheduled transportation to local medical appointments.

The facility operates at an annual deficit of $263,500 and occupies 76.8% of beds; below the South Carolina average of 82.1%.

Its location, in rural Orangeburg County, registers a walk score of 0 (completely car-dependent); the nearest hospital lies 5.31 miles away.

Nurses provide 2 hours 59 minutes of care per resident per day; 27% below the South Carolina average of 4 hours 5 minutes. Ranked 105th of 112 state facilities in nurse-to-resident ratios, the facility’s weekend coverage drops to 2 hours 25 minutes per resident; still 27% below state norms.

Of 209 total staff, contractors account for 12.2% of quarterly hours; the staff-to-resident ratio of 1.83:1 aligns with the state average.

Payroll represents 55.9% of revenue.

A June 2025 complaint investigation identified a critical deficiency for improper resident restraint (marked corrected). Over five inspections since 2021, the facility accumulated 23 health citations (99th of 113 statewide). Recent citations span Quality of Care (November 2024), pharmacy errors, nutrition practices, and others.

Federal fines totaled $122,000 across 14 penalty actions over three years; 264% above the state average.

Most significantly, preventive care falls far short of standards: pneumococcal vaccination coverage reaches only 26.9% for short-stay residents (66% worse than the 79.5% state average) and 35.8% for long-stay residents (60% worse than 90.5%). Influenza vaccination rates track similarly low at 26.6% and 62.7% respectively. Functional decline and high-risk events score better than state average, but falls with major injury occur at 5.6%; 89% worse than the state average of 3.0%.

The community is organized for short-term Medicare rehabilitation and longer-stay private-pay and Medicaid admissions on a rural, car-dependent campus where low staffing levels and vaccine compliance gaps present measurable clinical risk.

Overview of The Brian Center Nursing Care – St. Andrews

Set in the area of Columbia, SC, The Brian Center Nursing Care – St. Andrews is a well founded senior care provider, dedicated to helping seniors achieve their optimal health and strength. The community offers excellent short-term rehabilitation and long-term care to help residents quickly regain their strength to go back to their old routines. Featuring 120 well-designed units, the community warrants a relaxing and cozy living or healing environment tailored to residents’ comfort and safety needs.

With a team of experienced healthcare professionals, residents are guaranteed personalized care plans that cater to their individual needs and preferences. As an added convenience, the community also accepts both Medicare and Medicaid, making it a viable option for those who need financial assistance. Here, residents are guaranteed to receive top-quality care and services without breaking the bank.

Forest Acres Community Healthcare LLC-operated and Melissa R Kizer-administered, Forest Acres Post Acute is a 132-bed skilled nursing home on Forest Drive in Columbia, South Carolina. It’s oriented toward post-acute rehabilitation and short-term recovery. Averaging a stay length of 39 days, the home serves residents transitioning from hospitalization or major procedures who need intensive care and therapy support during healing. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families multiple coverage options.

Daily nursing care averages 3 hours per resident, paired with dedicated rehabilitation services and respite care. To support residents throughout their stay and recovery process, the facility maintains 24-hour staffing. Current occupancy is at 81 percent, reflecting consistent use of the 132 beds.

Forest Acres Post Acute is set to support families requiring focused rehabilitation and skilled nursing care for loved ones in a structured recovery setting. The highlight on short-term rehab and respite services makes it a grounded choice for post-hospital care or momentary stays while a family member heals and regains independence.

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.