Nursing homes and assisted living in South Carolina

In South Carolina, there are senior care options all across the state. This hogaresparamayores.com guide explains the official names, how Medicaid helps, and who to call.

What care settings are called here

The agency that licenses these places is the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH), through its Healthcare Quality area. These are the names you will hear:

• Nursing Home: a care home with nursing care 24 hours a day.
• Community Residential Care Facility (CRCF): the official name for what many people call assisted living. It offers a room, meals, and personal care to two or more adults. They range from small houses to large residences, and many have special units or special care for Alzheimer's.
• Adult Day Care Facility: an adult day center.
• In-Home Care Provider and Home Health Agency: agencies that provide care at home, either without or with health services.

Keep in mind that some CRCFs serve other groups, such as people with mental illness or disabilities. When you search, ask whether the place specializes in older adults.

How Medicaid helps in South Carolina

In South Carolina, Medicaid is run by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS). Besides paying for nursing home care for people who qualify, its Community Long Term Care (CLTC) division runs the Community Choices Waiver:

• It is for people 65 or older with Medicaid, and for adults 18 to 64 with a physical disability.
• The person must need a nursing home level of care.
• It helps people get services at home and in the community, such as attendant care and adult day health care.
• To apply, call CLTC Centralized Intake at 888-971-1637 or make a referral online at phoenix.scdhhs.gov.

For people who live in a CRCF and have a low income, there is Optional State Supplementation (OSS). It is a program paid for by the state (it is not Medicaid) that helps cover basic costs in an enrolled CRCF, for people 65 or older, blind, or with a disability, who have limited income and assets.

You can apply for Medicaid at apply.scdhhs.gov or call SCDHHS at 888-549-0820.

How much care costs in South Carolina

According to the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (tables published on March 2, 2026), median costs in South Carolina are below the national average:

• Assisted living (private one-bedroom unit): $5,350 a month, compared with a national median of $6,200.
• Nursing home, semi-private room: $297 a day (about $9,034 a month).
• Nursing home, private room: $316 a day (about $9,612 a month).
• Non-medical in-home caregiver: $31 an hour.
• Adult day center: $72 a day.

Each place sets its own prices. Ask for the list of rates in writing.

Who to call

• SC Department on Aging (SCDOA), Long Term Care Ombudsman: 1-800-868-9095. The ombudsman defends the rights of residents of nursing homes, CRCFs, and assisted living, free of charge. Local line: 803-734-9900.
• GetCareSC: SCDOA's resource website (getcaresc.com) to find local help, transportation, or financial assistance.
• Eldercare Locator (national helpline): 1-800-677-1116.

Tips for your family

• Check the license on DPH's Find a Facility map. It shows the license number, its expiration date, and the number of licensed beds.
• If you are counting on OSS, ask right from the start whether the CRCF is enrolled in the program.
• For nursing homes, compare star ratings and inspections on Medicare Care Compare. These are normal tools to help you choose with peace of mind.
• Ask about Spanish-speaking staff, especially to explain medicines and the care plan.
• Call CLTC early: the assessment and the paperwork take time.

This is general information, not medical or legal advice. Confirm the details with the right agency.