Page 5 of Best Nursing Homes in South Carolina

Overview of Palmettos of Garden City

Palmettos of Garden City is a senior living community in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, serving older adults throughout the South Strand area of Horry County with assisted living and skilled nursing services within a 90-bed capacity. Licensed as a Community Residential Care Facility (CRCF), the community is owned and operated by Palmettos of Garden City LLC and administered by Teriann Cronin. Medicare, Medicaid, and private-pay are also accepted, providing broader financial accessibility for families with varying coverage and long-term care planning needs.

Its occupancy rate of 85.5% exceeds the South Carolina average of 82.1%, indicating steady local demand and limited availability. Additionally, CMS quality ratings place the community slightly above the South Carolina average overall, with particularly strong performance in quality measures and health inspections. Staffing levels also align with statewide averages.

Since 2022, the community has received 15 health citations across three inspections, slightly above the South Carolina average of 13.7 citations. However, all cited deficiencies were categorized as moderate in severity, with no critical or serious citations recorded. This absence of higher-level deficiencies is notable when compared with the statewide average, which includes at least one critical citation. Moreover, a civil money penalty was issued in January 2025, substantially lower than the South Carolina average penalty amount, and no payment denials were identified.

Several quality-of-care indicators perform favorably compared with state averages. Notably, no residents were reported as experiencing depressive symptoms, influenza vaccination rates exceeded statewide averages, and measures related to weight loss and antipsychotic medication use, which is considerably favorable against South Carolina norms. However, families are encouraged to discuss fall rates involving major injury and declines in daily living activities, both of which were measured above state averages.

24-hour staffing support, chef-prepared meals, restaurant-style dining, landscaped courtyards, wellness programming, and an on-site salon are among the services offered in this pet-friendly community. Nursing staff includes registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and certified nursing assistants, all employed directly by the community without the use of agency nursing contractors, which may help support greater continuity of care and staff familiarity with residents. Its location in Murrels Inlet also offers convenient access to coastal healthcare resources while maintaining proximity to the South Strand lifestyle.

Featuring a variety of payment acceptance, stable staffing structure, and quality measure performance within the local market, Palmettos of Garden City is a strong fit for older adults requiring skilled nursing services, rehabilitation support, or long-term assisted living care, particularly for those utilizing Medicare or Medicaid benefits.

With Dena Johnson serving as administrator, Golden Age – Inman is a 44-bed nursing home operated by Golden Age Operations LLC on North Main Street in Inman, South Carolina. Owned by Brandon Haubner, the home accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, so families have many routes to cover care.

The community serves residents across both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term nursing care needs, averaging a stay duration of roughly 131 days. 24-hour staffing ensures around-the-clock availability, and the community offers rehabilitation services for those recuperating from surgery, injury, or hospitalization. Total nursing care averages 3 hours and 23 minutes per resident day, with nurse aides providing 2 hours and 52 minutes of hands-on daily support. Meals at Golden Age – Inman are prepared with input from a registered dietician, ensuring that nutrition planning considers personal health needs. This dietitian-supervised approach allows the kitchen to accommodate specific dietary requirements and preferences while quality and care standards across the dining program are maintained.

Visiting in person, for families evaluating the home, is a nice way to meet the staff and see firsthand the community’s daily rhythm and care routines.

Overview of Nhc Healthcare Bluffton

Located on Okatie Highway in Bluffton, South Carolina, Nhc Healthcare Bluffton is a skilled nursing home serving residents who need short-term rehabilitation or ongoing nursing care. The facility is operated by NHC Healthcare/Bluffton LLC and is owned and administered by Jaclyn McClain. Families can pay through Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay to cover care costs.

The 120-bed home has an occupancy rate of 94%. Residents stay an average of 94 days. Daily nurse staffing averages 3 hours and 43 minutes per resident. The facility has 24-hour staffing, which provides hands-on care and support.

Rehabilitation is a major focus of the facility. Short-term rehabilitation and rehabilitation services are available. The facility has partnerships with NHC HomeCare and Caris Hospice for residents who need additional support or end-of-life care. With these, residents can access a broad range of services as they stay in a familiar care setting.

A chef prepares the meals daily, which are later reviewed by a dietitian to meet individual nutritional needs. Dining here focuses on appetite and health. Residents have access to cable television, high-speed wireless internet, beauty and barber services, housekeeping and laundry, daily activities and entertainment, a dining room, and an outdoor relaxation area.

Families considering Nhc Healthcare Bluffton should take a tour of the facility to learn more about the space, room layouts, and daily activities.

Operated by Iva Skilled Nursing LLC under owner Alec Guerin and administered by Lydia M. Miller, Iva Post Acute is a skilled nursing home on West Broad Street in Iva, South Carolina. The facility accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, giving families several options for covering both short-term rehabilitation and longer-term skilled nursing care.

The 60-bed home has an occupancy rate of 92%. Residents stay an average of 108 days. The population is a mix of people receiving post-acute rehabilitation and those needing ongoing skilled nursing care.

The facility focuses on rehabilitation services. It’s a great option for residents recovering from surgery, an injury, or an acute illness who need structured medical support during recovery. Residents receive an average of 3 hours and 5 minutes of nursing care each day.

Registered nurses provide 18 minutes of daily care, nurse aides contribute 1 hour and 43 minutes, and licensed practical or vocational nurses provide 52 minutes. The staffing structure supports both hands-on daily care and the facility’s focus on rehabilitation.

Families evaluating Iva Post Acute should take a tour of the facility, see the resident rooms, and meet the care team. The home’s location in downtown Iva can also make regular visits easier for family members who live nearby.

Prince George Healthcare Center is a 148-bed skilled nursing facility administered by Helen L. Cribb in Georgetown, Georgetown County, South Carolina. Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay accepted. Owned by Palmetto Prince George Operating LLC, the facility serves primarily long-term care residents, with an average stay of 239 days and 89.5 percent of the current census on Medicaid. Occupancy stands at 92 percent, ranked 14th of 121 South Carolina nursing homes and well above the 82.1 percent state average.

CMS rates Prince George Healthcare Center 4 stars, 36.5 percent above the South Carolina average, with quality measures sub-rating 43.3 percent above the state benchmark. 15 total health citations have been recorded across three inspections since 2021, slightly above the South Carolina average of 13.7, though the severity profile is notably clean: zero critical and serious citations within five years, with all citations at moderate or minor level. No penalties assessed in the past three years. The per-inspection average of 5 citations exceeds the state average of 3.44, ranking 95th of 113. 4 of 15 citations arose from inspections that included complaint components. Several long-stay quality measures are meaningfully better than the South Carolina average, including falls with major injury at 2.1 percent (30 percent better), UTI rate at 0.6 percent (65 percent better), and weight loss at 3.3 percent (46 percent better). Depressive symptoms at 21.9 percent and antipsychotic use at 21.6 percent are substantially above state benchmarks and warrant direct inquiry with clinical leadership. Total nursing hours at 3 hours and 12 minutes per resident per day are 22 percent below the South Carolina average of 4 hours and 5 minutes, though the CMS case-mix-adjusted staffing rating is at the state average.

Prince George Healthcare Center suits Georgetown County families seeking long-term skilled nursing care with a strong CMS rating and a clean severity record across all inspections, reflecting consistent community demand. Families should discuss depressive symptom management and antipsychotic prescribing practices with clinical leadership before continuing.

Overview of Life Care Center of Charleston

Life Care Center of Charleston offers easy access to the vibrant metropolitan area in North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility prides itself on cultivating a homelike environment, ensuring a comfortable and nurturing atmosphere for residents and patients alike. Here, the primary focus centers on providing comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, all underpinned by 24-hour skilled nursing care.

Inside, a dedicated team of in-house rehabilitation and nursing professionals collaborates to construct individualized care plans, emphasizing aligning with the unique goals and aspirations of each resident and patient, thus fostering a journey to recovery that is both effective and uplifting. Positioned less than a mile from Trident Medical Center, this nursing home is an ideal choice for those needing short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, or post-operative recovery.

White Oak Manor Rock Hill is a nursing home and skilled nursing facility in Rock Hill, South Carolina, operated by NHC Healthcare/Rock Hill LLC. The facility has been in operation for 54 years, giving it a long-standing presence in the York County community. It accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and private pay, which gives families several ways to cover both short-term rehabilitation stays and longer-term nursing care.

With 141 beds, White Oak Manor runs close to full, with occupancy holding around 99 percent. The average resident stay is 114 days, a mix that reflects both post-acute rehabilitation admissions and residents who remain for ongoing nursing care. Short-term rehabilitation is offered as part of the facility’s services, supporting residents working to regain function after a hospital stay, surgery, or illness before returning home.

Nursing coverage is a central part of daily life at the facility, with total nursing care averaging roughly 4 hours and 23 minutes per resident each day across registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides. That level of hands-on coverage supports both the clinical needs of short-stay rehabilitation residents and the day-to-day care of long-term residents.

State inspections of the facility have most often centered on documentation and care-planning accuracy, dietary and food-allergy accommodations, infection control during meal service, and coordination of catheter and dialysis care. A resident-safety matter involving supervision was addressed through corrective action. Families touring the facility may want to ask how these areas are monitored and maintained on an ongoing basis.

White Oak Manor’s decades of operation in Rock Hill reflect an established track record of navigating the regulatory and clinical demands of long-term and short-term nursing care in the local community.

The National HealthCare Corporation, or the NHC Greenwood, strives to provide short-term skilled nursing and rehabilitative care; they have been awarded twice for their recognition for the ‘Customer Approved Award’ and the ‘Employee Approved Award’ by the Customers for Outstanding Experience. Nhc HealthCare Greenwood strives to work daily with quality service to its residents so that they maintain independence and individuality.
The nursing home also provides options for assisted living, memory care, hospice care, and home care; management and staff are dedicated to ensuring that residents live comfortably in their new homes.