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Why trust this guide?
Our editorial team analyzed 144 nursing homes in SC using CMS data, inspection records, complaints, amenities, and facility-level details. How we rank nursing homes in SC
Info below is compiled from CMS reports & 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.
The facility name. Click to view the full profile page on Assisted Living Magazine, including photos, services, and contact info.
CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the federal agency that regulates nursing homes) Overall 5-star rating — a composite of Health Inspection, Staffing, and Quality Measures scores. 5 stars = top 10% nationally. 1 star = bottom 10%. The single most important number to start with when comparing facilities.
Care Types in This TableAL (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.
CCRC (Continuing Care Retirement Community):
A campus with multiple care levels so residents can age in place without moving.
Neighborhood or city area where the facility is located. Proximity to family, hospitals, and green space matters for both quality of life and ease of visitation. Consider drive time and transit access when evaluating location.
Licensed bed capacity. Larger facilities (300+ beds) often have more specialized programs but can feel institutional. Smaller homes (under 150 beds) tend to deliver more personalized care. Compare with Avg Res/Day to understand how full the facility typically runs.
Percentage of licensed beds filled on an average day. Color indicates financial health: green (90%+) = operationally strong, typically profitable. Amber (80–89%) = stable but leaving revenue on the table. Orange (70–79%) = financial strain likely, may struggle with fixed costs. Red (<70%) = significant distress, closure or ownership change risk increases sharply.
This facility's occupancy rate compared to the statewide average for similar facilities. A positive number means above-average demand. Facilities running 5%+ above the state average are typically the most sought-after in their market — a strong proxy for reputation.
CMS-adjusted total nurse hours per resident per day (RN + LPN + CNA combined). The national average is approximately 3.5 hrs. Higher is better — more direct care time per resident. Below 3.0 is a red flag. CMS weights RN hours more heavily because RNs handle complex clinical decisions that CNAs cannot.
A 0–100 score of a facility's regulatory inspection record, shown as a letter and compared with other facilities of the same kind in the same state. This is a proprietary Assisted Living Magazine grade. It is not a government rating. A dash means we have no inspection data for that facility.
CMS Health Inspection star rating (1–5 stars), based on the 3 most recent annual state surveys plus any complaint investigations. This is the hardest rating to manipulate — it reflects real surveyor findings on-site. 5 stars = fewest deficiencies found. 1 star = most. It carries the heaviest weight in the Overall CMS rating.
CMS Staffing star rating (1–5 stars), based on daily nurse staffing hours submitted to CMS via verified payroll data. Compares RN, LPN, and CNA coverage relative to resident acuity level. 5 stars = well above expected staffing. Weekend staffing is evaluated separately, as that's where many facilities quietly reduce coverage.
CMS Quality Measures star rating (1–5 stars), based on 15 clinical outcome metrics including fall rates, pressure ulcers, antipsychotic drug use, and hospital readmissions. Captures actual resident health outcomes, not just compliance. High QM combined with low Health Inspection scores can indicate a facility with strong care but weak documentation practices.
Registered Nurse hours per resident/day compared to the statewide average. RNs are the highest-skilled nursing staff — they assess residents, manage medications, and respond to emergencies. A value of +50% means RN coverage is 50% above the state norm. Negative values are a concern for residents with complex or acute medical needs.
Total nursing staff hours (RN + LPN + CNA combined) per resident/day vs. the statewide average. A broader measure than RN vs State — it captures the entire care team. A facility can have high total staffing but low RN hours, meaning more aides and fewer nurses. Read both columns together for the full picture.
Total dollar amount of federal monetary fines (civil money penalties) issued by CMS in the past 3 years. Fines are only levied for serious violations — typically actual harm to residents, repeated uncorrected deficiencies, or systemic non-compliance. Even a single fine is noteworthy. Multiple fines strongly suggest a pattern, not isolated incidents.
Total health deficiency citations from the most recent standard inspection cycle. Minor citations (scope A–C) are common and often administrative in nature. Higher counts aren't always disqualifying, but should be read alongside Severe Citations to understand actual harm levels. Under 10 is strong for a large facility; 30+ warrants a closer look.
Average deficiency citations per CMS inspection (survey) in the reporting window — total citations divided by the number of inspections. Lower is better; compare alongside total Citations and Severe Citations for context.
Citations at CMS scope/severity level G or higher — G–I means actual harm occurred; J–L means residents were placed in immediate jeopardy. (D–F is potential for harm only). Examples include unaddressed falls, medication errors causing injury, neglect, or abuse.
Average number of residents in the building on any given day, derived from annual census data. Reflects true operating scale — a 400-bed facility running 200 residents/day operates very differently from one at 390. Higher resident counts generally mean more funded staffing hours.
Better Business Bureau rating (A+ to F). Reflects complaint history, business transparency, and how family disputes were resolved. A+ means no significant unresolved complaints. A blank (—) means the facility isn't BBB-accredited, which is common for healthcare providers and not necessarily a negative signal.
Walk Score® (0–100). Measures walkability of the surrounding area. 90–100 = Walker's Paradise. 70–89 = Very Walkable. 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable. Below 50 = Car-Dependent. Higher scores benefit family visitors, resident outings, and staff commuting.
The licensed owner or operator of record filed with CMS — the individual or organization legally accountable for the facility. Searching the operator name across other facilities can reveal chain or multi-site ownership, which matters: chain-operated homes tend to have more variable quality outcomes than independently run facilities.
What the home actually collects for resident care, after contractual allowances, bad debt and discounts — not gross billings. Taken from the latest complete annual cost report, so it is comparable across homes reporting the same period. Revenue alone doesn't indicate care quality, but it funds staffing and capital reinvestment. Pair with Payroll %. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Staff salaries plus wage-related benefits from the latest complete annual cost report. Contract and agency labour is counted separately, under other operating costs, so a home leaning on agency staff can show a low figure here. Payroll is the cost most directly tied to care quality — compare with Payroll % for full context. Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
Payroll as a share of NET PATIENT REVENUE (not gross revenue). Both figures come from the same cost-report year. A higher figure means more of each revenue dollar goes to staff pay. Read with the Staffing star rating to judge whether spend translates into coverage — and note that homes whose patient revenue covers only part of their operation can read implausibly high. The South Carolina average is: 62.8% Figures are from each facility's most recent complete fiscal year — hover a value for the exact year; a * marks homes that report an older period than most facilities.
CMS Certification Number: the unique federal identifier for this skilled nursing provider.
$6.7M*Fiscal year ending 12/2021These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
$4.1M*Fiscal year ending 12/2021These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
61.6%*Fiscal year ending 12/2021These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
$5.9M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
$3.3M*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
56.1%*Fiscal year ending 12/2022These figures are from this home's most recent complete cost report — an older period than most facilities report. Compare with that in mind.
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Rank badges are statewide and care-type specific: each nursing home is ranked against every other SC nursing home we track that reports that metric, not just the 144 on this page. See how we rank facilities
Chandler Creek Post Acute, in Greer, SC, names three levels: nursing home care, respite, and skilled nursing. The night is staffed the same as the day is. A short stay under respite is bought so a family’s usual caregiver can travel or recover.
A guest staying two weeks gets the same overnight staffing a permanent resident gets. That is most of what a family is actually buying. One hundred thirty-three beds are covered by the license.
Rehabilitation services aim at two different targets: getting back what was lost, or holding on to what is left. Skilled nursing or a short respite stay is what this suits. Medicare can pay for the skilled weeks right after a hospital sends someone home.
Medicaid may help once a long stay outlasts the savings, and with private pay the family writes the cheque. Per resident, the nursing figure is 3 hours and 25 minutes daily. Bryan Tyner administers the home for Greer Community Healthcare.
Almost everything named at Johns Island Post Acute points to the weeks after hospital discharge. Post-Hospital Extended Care carries that name, and rehabilitation backs it up. Johns Island, South Carolina, is the setting, under a nursing home license carrying skilled nursing and respite.
A licensed nurse is on the floor overnight, when congestion and oxygen trouble worsen lying down. Therapy carries a resident back to going home. A house that works fine most days can be unworkable for six weeks with stairs. This fits someone coming off a hospitalization, someone whose nursing needs continue, and a family needing a break.
The building is licensed for 132 beds. Nursing time sits at 3 hours and 4 minutes per resident daily. Respite covers a short stay, often when one adult child covers a stretch while another travels.
Payment runs through Medicare, Medicaid, or private funds. Jared Leavitt is the administrator.
Sedgewood Manor Health Care Center is a 38 bed nursing home in Hopkins, SC, providing skilled nursing care. Residents receive licensed nursing care alongside support for ongoing health needs, with rehabilitation services available for those working to regain or maintain function during skilled nursing care.
The smaller community gives residents and staff more opportunity to get to know one another. Total nurse staffing is 3 hours and 50 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily hands on nursing time allocated to each resident.
Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay are accepted. James M. Mccollum serves as administrator.
Brookview Healthcare Center works out of Gaffney, SC, and its license covers a nursing home tier, respite, and skilled nursing. Skilled means a licensed nurse rather than a helper, and it means every hour of the week. The nursing home side is the long-term one.
Respite is a booking rather than a placement, so nothing about the house changes while it runs. A family covering a primary caregiver’s travel or recovery is exactly who uses it. Rehabilitation services fold into a stay for residents who need therapy as part of their care.
Nothing about that requires a separate arrangement. The center has 132 beds.
Nursing time amounts to 3 hours and 32 minutes per resident daily. Each payer suits a different length of stay. Medicare handles the weeks that follow a hospital discharge, Medicaid steps in once savings run out over a long one, and private funds handle the middle. Susan Sain is the administrator.
Overview of Sumter East Health and Rehabilitation Center
Sumter East Health and Rehabilitation Center stands in Sumter, SC, licensed for nursing care and skilled nursing. Every hour of the clock has a licensed nurse attached to it. The building has 176 beds.
Rehabilitation supports someone rebuilding after an illness or a spell in hospital, and the nursing does not pause while the therapy runs. Both jobs happen under one roof, which is the point for a resident who needs each of them. Nursing time sums to 3 hours and 11 minutes per head across a day.
Medicaid answers a long stay that outruns savings, Medicare answers the recovery weeks past a discharge, and private funds answer the rest. Sumter East Facility operates the center, and Bryan C Hatton administers it.
Overview of Sprenger Healthcare at Port Royal Assisted Living
With a 59-bed capacity, Sprenger Healthcare at Port Royal Assisted Living offers assisted living, memory care, nursing home care, respite care, and skilled nursing in Port Royal, South Carolina. The community welcomes those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, providing a secured and supervised setting with licensed nurses on-site. Primary caregivers can also rest as the community can provide temporary relief through respite services.
Total nurse staffing is 4 hours and 5 minutes per resident per day, representing the daily nurse time allocated to each resident. Families can use Medicare for eligible short-term skilled care after a hospital stay or can pay directly through personal funds.
A therapy gym supports rehabilitation services, the bar holds a daily happy hour with a scheduled beverage gathering, and the chapel provides space for worship. Sprenger Healthcare of Port Royal operates the community, with Teresa Griffing serving as administrator.
The Gables on Pelham is one of the trusted assisted senior living communities in the city– offering assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing. They understand that an enriching senior living experience begins with the right lifestyle that reinvents the meaning of senior care. The home-like community enriches and encourages all residents to still live freely on their own terms while receiving the necessary support. The Gables is a home that honors your trust in them; they ensure that seniors are given the utmost level of care and respect.
The vibrant home offers a list of services that include 24-hour nursing supervision, transportation, housekeeping, medication management, an emergency call response system in every room, and cozy outdoor and indoor common areas. Other activities include movie nights, fitness classes, and other scheduled social events.
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.
Cascades Verdae sits at 10 Fountainview Terrace in Greenville, South Carolina, in a car-dependent part of the city where a Walk Score of 9 means essentially no walkable access to services. What makes this address worth noting is what’s happening inside the building rather than outside it. This is a 92-bed nursing facility running at 85% occupancy, with an average length of stay of 56 days. That stay length is the operational signal here: Cascades Verdae is built around short-term post-acute recovery, not long-term residence.
The staffing figures are among the more telling pieces of information available on the community. Total nursing care runs 6 hours and 9 minutes per resident per day, including 3 hours and 9 minutes of nurse aide time, 1 hour and 27 minutes of LPN/LVN coverage, and 56 minutes of RN time. The facility carries rehabilitation services, short-term rehab, respite care, and 24-hour staffing on its service list. Medicare and private pay are both accepted.
The amenity set is genuinely unusual for a nursing home. An indoor heated therapy pool, salon and spa services, concierge service, restaurant-style dining, complimentary continental breakfasts, and pet-friendly accommodations together describe a physical environment that prioritizes comfort alongside clinical function.
For someone leaving a hospital who has a choice in where they recover, that combination of solid staffing hours, a post-acute service model, and resort-adjacent amenities in Greenville are features worth taking seriously.
Overview of Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare
Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare offers nursing home and skilled nursing care, assisted living, memory care, hospice care, independent living, and respite care in Columbia, SC. Skilled nursing provides licensed nursing care on site around the clock, while assisted living helps with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and medication management. Memory care offers a secured setting with supervision for someone at risk of wandering, and hospice care supports residents receiving end of life care.
Independent living provides private living with community services and no daily care, while respite care offers a short stay when a resident’s usual caregiver needs to travel or recover. As a continuing care retirement community with several care levels, Rice Estate can suit a resident whose needs may grow over time without requiring a move to a different community. The community has 80 beds.
Rehabilitation services and short term rehabilitation are available for a temporary stay focused on recovery. A daily menu crafted from fresh, local fare is served in the Magnolia dining room, while courtyard gardens and walking trails give residents outdoor places to spend time; the community also has a beauty and barber salon and a fitness room. Payment options include Medicare for eligible short term skilled care after a hospital stay and private pay for direct payment of care, while Daniel John Amodio serves as administrator and Lutheran Homes Of South Carolina operates the community.
Every nursing home above is evaluated across five weighted categories using CMS data including Care Compare, Payroll-Based Journal, and Medicare Cost Reports. Rank badges compare each home against other nursing homes in the same state — never against assisted living, memory care, or independent living communities.
How we're paid:If we help you find a home and you move in, that home may pay us a referral fee. This never affects where they rank or what you pay. Learn more
Avg Overall CMS Rating:2.8/ 5The average Overall CMS Rating for all CMS-certified nursing homes in South Carolina. Ratings combine health inspections, staffing, and quality measures, with inspections weighted most. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average:3.2/ 5
Avg Staffing Rating:2.9/ 5The average Staffing Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in South Carolina. Reflects nursing staff hours per resident per day (including RNs), adjusted for residents' care needs. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
National Average:3.4/ 5
Avg Health Insp. Rating:2.7/ 5The average Health Inspection Rating across all CMS-certified nursing homes in South Carolina. Based on each facility's recent inspections and complaint investigations, weighing the number, scope, and severity of deficiencies. Individual facilities can vary widely from this average.
Frequently Asked Questions about Nursing Homes in South Carolina
What's the difference between assisted living and a nursing home in South Carolina?
Assisted living in South Carolina is a residential model focused on housing, hospitality, and help with daily activities. Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses for residents with significant health needs, and are regulated more strictly under both state and federal CMS rules.
Does South Carolina Medicaid cover nursing home care?
Yes — South Carolina Medicaid covers nursing home care for residents who meet income, asset, and medical-need eligibility requirements. Most CMS-certified nursing homes accept Medicaid as a primary payer once long-term-care eligibility is established.
What is nursing home care?
Nursing homes (also called skilled nursing facilities) provide 24/7 medical care from licensed nurses, rehabilitation services, and long-term custodial care for residents with significant health or functional needs.
How many nursing homes are listed on this page?
This page features 144 nursing homes in South Carolina. Use the filters and comparison tools above to compare ratings, amenities, and pricing.
How do I choose the right nursing home in South Carolina?
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 South Carolina, 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 nursing homes in South Carolina?
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.
If you move into a community through us, that community may pay us a referral fee. This never changes your cost or which options we recommend. Learn more
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