Best Nursing Homes in South Carolina

Overview of Sprenger Healthcare at Port Royal Assisted Living

Sprenger Healthcare at Port Royal Assisted Living is a 59-bed skilled nursing and assisted living community that’s part of a continuing care retirement campus in Port Royal, Beaufort County, South Carolina. Services feature skilled nursing, short-term rehabilitation, respite care, and memory care. Administered by Teresa Griffing and owned by Sprenger Healthcare of Port Royal Inc., the facility accepts Medicare and private pay and serves primarily short-stay residents. Average stay is 31 days, and 64 percent of admissions are on private pay.

CMS rates Sprenger Healthcare at Port Royal Assisted Living 5 stars, 70.6 percent above South Carolina’s average, with above-average scores across all four sub-categories. The health inspection record is exceptional: 2 total citations across 2 inspections since 2021, ranking the facility 2nd of 113 South Carolina nursing homes by total citations and 1st in the state by citations per inspection. Zero critical or serious citations recorded, with both citations moderate and promptly corrected, and no penalties in the past three years. The health inspection sub-rating is 81.8 percent above South Carolina’s average. Long-stay functional outcomes are consistently strong. Only 3.1 percent of long-stay residents experienced increased need for daily activity assistance, 76 percent better than South Carolina’s 13.1 percent average, and 3.7 percent saw walking ability worsen, 77 percent better than the state figure. Antipsychotic use at 1.8 percent is 88 percent below South Carolina’s 14.5 percent average, and zero long-stay residents were recorded with depressive symptoms against a 2.8 percent state average. Falls with major injury at 10.6 percent among long-stay residents are 255 percent above the 3.0 percent state average, the single most significant quality concern that should be addressed with clinical leadership.

Confirmed amenities include a nurse practitioner and home health services on-site, a therapy gym, a bar with daily happy hour, and a chapel.
Sprenger Healthcare at Port Royal Assisted Living is best for Beaufort County families seeking a 5-star rated community with an outstanding clean inspection record and functional outcome measures for longer-stay residents. Families should ask about fall prevention protocols before continuing.

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.

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.

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.

Overview of Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina-Columbia

Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina-Columbia is a skilled nursing home in Lexington. Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina operates it, and Meredith Hughes administers it. The facility is for patients who need nursing care and rehabilitation after a hospital stay or illness.

The 91-bed community provides rehabilitation services, respite care, and short-term rehab programs. Staffing support is available around the clock to accommodate residents’ daily medical and personal care needs. These offerings make it well-suited for seniors recovering from surgery, a serious illness, or a major health event. Families seeking temporary respite care will also benefit while a loved one heals.

Families considering Presbyterian Communities of South Carolina-Columbia should visit the facility to understand the care routines. They can also ask about specific programs or services they are looking for.