Best Nursing Homes in South Carolina

Overview of Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina-Clinton

Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina–Clinton is a 43-bed nonprofit nursing home at 801 Musgrove St in Clinton, South Carolina, operated by Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina. The community offers short-term rehabilitation, memory care through a dedicated Alzheimer’s unit, and respite stays, with 24-hour staffing. CMS rates the facility 5 stars overall, placing its inspection performance 81.8% above the South Carolina average and its Quality Measures 43.3% above state peers. That inspection standing is among the stronger records in Laurens County and reflects consistent performance on recent standard surveys. The community’s program offerings include wellness and life enrichment, volunteer engagement, and vital living programming. Occupancy is 73.1%, below the South Carolina average of 82.1%, indicating current availability. Residents stay at an average of 105 days, which orients the community toward post-acute and transitional care rather than long-term residence. Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina–Clinton is best suited for residents seeking short-term rehabilitation or transitional memory care within a nonprofit, mission-driven setting in Clinton, SC.

Lexington Medical Center Extended Care offers long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, memory care, and respite care in Lexington, South Carolina. Lexmed Inc operates the 388-bed nursing home under the Lexington County Health Services District. The facility is the largest certified skilled nursing facility in South Carolina by bed count and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay. CMS rates the facility 1 out of 5 stars overall. Health Inspection sub-rating runs 63.6% below the South Carolina average, the primary driver of the overall score. Quality Measures also trail the state benchmark by 42.7%. Staffing is the one clear strength: nurse staffing averages 4 hours and 27 minutes per resident per day, 9% above the South Carolina average. Weekend nursing coverage is 13% above the state norm, which is meaningful in a facility of this size and acuity. The facility is supported by on-site physical, occupational, and respiratory therapy staff. Occupancy is 81.7%, essentially in line with the state average. The average length of stay of 152 days indicates a predominantly long-term resident population. Lexington Medical Center Extended Care is best suited for residents seeking long-term care and post-acute recovery in Lexington County, with the capacity and therapy staffing to support complex, ongoing care needs.

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.