Memory Care in South Carolina

Table of Contents

Memory Care in South Carolina

Table of Contents

• The Cost of Memory Care in South Carolina
• Medicaid Eligibility for Seniors in South Carolina
• How to Get Help Applying for Medicaid in South Carolina
• Can You Use Medicare to Pay for Memory Care in South Carolina?
• More Ways to Pay for Memory Care in South Carolina
• Memory Care Laws and Regulations in South Carolina
• Free Memory Care Resources in South Carolina
• South Carolina COVID-19 Rules for Memory Care Facilities

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When figuring out how to pay for memory care, you first need to understand how much it will cost for your loved one to move to a quality community. As costs continue to rise, it's vital to have the latest details when planning for elderly care costs. In order to shed light on the impact of inflation on senior living costs, MemoryCare.com has gathered cost information from its network of over 75,000 senior living communities. These prices are based on the cost of Memory Care in South Carolina and 30 other cities in South Carolina.

How Inflation Has Impacted the Cost of Memory Care in South Carolina

South Carolina's average memory care price was $4,234 in 2023, a 6% increase from 2022. Nearby states also saw prices rise during that period. The average cost of care rose 6% in Florida, and rates climbed to $4,196 in Georgia. Meanwhile, Tennessee's average jumped 21.5%, and North Carolina's skyrocketed 27.5%. The move toward higher memory care prices was consistent nationwide, with the U.S. average rising 10.5%.

Looking into 2024, South Carolina's average memory care price is projected to reach $4,881, while the national average is expected to hit $5,792. These estimates emphasize the importance of financial planning for senior care.

Memory Care Costs in South Carolina's Top Cities

Overall, the average cost of memory care in South Carolina is $4,234 per month. However, prices fluctuate significantly across the state's top cities. Costs in Charleston are higher than the state norm, averaging $4,300 monthly. In contrast, Spartanburg offers significant savings at $3,836. Columbia and Myrtle Beach have more moderate rates, averaging $4,074 and $4,130, respectively. Given this wide price range, it's important to compare care options before making a decision.

The Cost of Other Types of Senior Living

In South Carolina, memory care is among the most expensive senior living options at $4,234, as it provides extensive support for seniors experiencing dementia. Older adults who need less intensive care can opt for assisted living, which averages $4,161 and includes help with tasks such as bathing and taking medication. On the other hand, independent living is best for retirees who don't require daily living assistance, so it's generally the most affordable option at $3,023.

South Carolina Medicaid Programs for Memory Care

Also referred to as Healthy Connections, South Carolina Medicaid is a medical assistance program that helps low-income seniors and individuals pay for medical bills. It also helps seniors cover the cost of assisted living and memory care indirectly through the Community CHOICES Waiver and the Community Supports Waiver.

Community CHOICES Waiver

The Community CHOICES Waiver is also referred to as the Elderly and Disabled Waiver. This helps seniors pay for personal care services, including housekeeping, grooming, bathing, toileting, meals, transportation and medication management in an assisted living community rather than in a nursing home. In addition to personal care, the waiver may also cover medical equipment and supplies.

• Who is Eligible: Eligible seniors must be aged 65 and older or 18 and older with a disability, require a nursing facility level of care and meet Medicaid income and asset limits.
• How to Apply: To apply for the CHOICES waiver, seniors should contact their local Department of Health and Human Services. (SCDHHS).

Community Supports (CS)

The CS waiver helps pay for a variety of long-term care services, including personal care, case management, assistive technologies, transportation, personal emergency response systems and private vehicle modifications.

Who Is Eligible: Individuals who qualify must have an intellectual or related disability and must require a nursing home level of care. Individuals must meet current income and asset limits.

How to Apply: To apply for the CS waiver, individuals must contact a caseworker through the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs at 1-800-289-7012. The caseworker can assist with the application process.

Medicaid applicants in South Carolina must meet specific financial requirements to be eligible for benefits. The income for a single applicant must not exceed $30,276. The asset limit is $2,000 for a single applicant and $4,000 for couples. In a two-person household, the asset limit is $2,000 for the applicant and $66,480 for the non-applicant. The non-applicant may also receive an additional Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) to ensure bills are paid and they don’t experience financial difficulties. This MMMNA is covered under the spousal impoverishment rule.

2022 Medicaid Income Limits for Seniors in South Carolina

Aside from income and asset limits, seniors must meet several additional requirements to be eligible for Medicaid.

• Must be a resident of South Carolina
• Must be age 65 and older, blind or disabled
• Must require nursing home level of care

Help is provided to seniors in South Carolina who need additional information on Medicaid and its different plan options. This information is offered for free by the following government sites.

Unfortunately, Medicare does not generally cover the cost of Memory Care. Most Memory Care Facilities are considered to be "social settings," so Medicare does not cover the cost incurred in these facilities. The only exception to that is if you are receiving memory care services in a Nursing Home. While this situation is much less common, Medicare would sometimes cover the cost, depending on a number of circumstances.

That being said, Medicare does still cover qualified doctor visits, medications, etc., as it would if you were still at home, but it will not cover the cost of care received at the Memory Care Facility.

In addition to the state programs mentioned above, those looking for resources to finance memory care may consider:

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Depending on the policy details, long-term care insurance may be used to pay for memory care services. It's best to sign up for a policy early, as coverage will likely be denied if one already has long-term care needs. More information about the intricacies of long-term care insurance can be found at longtermcare.acl.gov.
• Reverse Mortgages: Reverse mortgages allow some homeowners to take out a loan as an advance from the eventual sale of their primary residence. This can be a good way to fund memory care in the short-term, but the loans will need to be paid back after the sale of the home. The most commonly used type of reverse mortgages for seniors is the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, which is the only reverse mortgage insured by the federal government.
• Veterans Benefits: The Department of Veterans Affairs offers several programs that veterans and their spouses may use to cover health care needs such as memory care. More information about these programs can be found on the VA website.

Memory Care Regulation

In South Carolina, memory care services are provided in community residential care facilities, also called assisted living facilities, and in Alzheimer's special care units or programs. These facilities are licensed by the South Carolina Board of Health and Environmental Control to provide room, board, and personal care to two or more adults who aren't related to the facility's owner. They are required to comply with licensing standards by maintaining continuous licensing, adhering to the number of beds they're licensed for and complying with local, state and federal laws, codes and regulations.

Inspections of the facility are conducted prior to initial licensing, and all facilities are subject to inspections and investigations at random and without notice.

Facility Scope of Care

Memory care facilities provide living accommodations and personal care services. Core services provided by these facilities include housekeeping services; assistance with daily living activities, such as walking, bathing, dressing, and eating; medication assistance; and transportation to medical appointments.

Facilities are also required to provide three meals plus snacks daily, with no more than 14 hours elapsing between the evening meal and breakfast the next day. If special diets are accommodated, menus must be prepared by professionally qualified dietitians or reviewed by a physician or another qualified medical provider.

Admissions Requirements

Memory care facilities in South Carolina may admit residents with varying abilities and care needs, but there are some restrictions. The table below provides an outline of those who may and may not be admitted.

Residents Who May Be Admitted

Adults aged 18 and over with:

• Alzheimer's disease or dementia
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Mental health conditions
• Physical disabilities

Residents Who May NOT Be Admitted

Those who:

• Have care needs that the facility cannot meet
• Display aggression, violence or socially inappropriate behaviors
• Pose a danger to themselves or others
• Have medications that require frequent dosage adjustments
• Require a feeding tube
• Require assistance with all activities of daily living for longer than a 14-day period

Care Plan Requirements

A direct-care staff member must assess a resident's needs within 72 hours after admission. This assessment must include an evaluation of the nature and extent of the resident's needs and confirmation that the facility can adequately meet those needs.

Within seven days of admission, the facility must develop an individualized care plan that outlines the resident's needs, including how many daily living activities they need assistance with, requirements and arrangements for visits by or to an authorized healthcare provider, advanced care directives, dietary needs and what recreational and social activities are suitable and desirable for the resident's well-being.

Medication Management Requirements

Facility staff members may administer routine medications, including medications required for diabetes and conditions associated with anaphylactic reactions, as long as they are trained to do so by someone who is licensed to administer medications. A staff member who is a licensed nurse may administer flu shots and B-12 injections and perform tuberculin skin tests. Staff members may monitor blood sugar levels, but the provision of sliding scale insulin injections by staff members is not allowed.

Residents' medications that they are taking when admitted to the facility must be in their original labeled containers. Self-administering medications is permitted with specific written orders of a physician or an authorized healthcare provider, which must be obtained on a semi-annual basis. Alternately, the facility must confirm that the resident is still capable of self-administering medication on a quarterly basis. Facilities may prohibit self-administration at their discretion.

Facility Requirements

Apartment-style units and private bathrooms are not required. No more than three residents may share a room, and there must be at least one toilet and sink for every six residents and one tub or shower for every eight residents.

Staffing Requirements

Each memory care facility must have a designated licensed administrator, a recreational program staff member and an extensively trained or experienced staff member available at all times who can take appropriate action in the event of an emergency, injury or illness. Facilities that accommodate Medicaid-eligible residents must contract with a licensed nurse at least one day per week. This nurse is responsible for providing staff training and care plan monitoring for those receiving services through Medicaid.

The number of staff members is determined by the number of residents and their care needs. In Alzheimer's special care units, there must be one awake staff member for every eight residents at all times. In multilevel facilities with more than 10 residents, there must be staff members on each floor at all times when residents are present. There must be enough staff members and volunteers at all times to provide supervision, direct care and basic services for memory care residents, even if this exceeds the state's minimum staffing requirements.

Medicaid Policy

Personal care services in assisted living and memory care facilities are covered by South Carolina's Medicaid State Plan. Services may also be covered under one of two waiver programs, including the Community Choices Waiver and the Community Supports Waiver.

Reporting Abuse

Assisted living facilities are required to report confirmed or suspected cases of abuse, exploitation or neglect to the South Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program. Anyone else who has a concern or complaint regarding the quality of treatment or care can also contact the ombudsman at 1-800-868-9095.

In South Carolina, there is an abundance of resources designed to assist seniors throughout their retirement. MemoryCare.com has compiled information on a range of local organizations, programs, and agencies, categorizing them based on the care services they offer for easy browsing.

Area Agency on Aging

The Area Agency on Aging in is a crucial asset for retired individuals, providing advice on financial assistance, home-based care, and planning for extended care. It also connects seniors and their caregivers with local resources.

Cash Assistance Programs

Financial assistance initiatives exist in South Carolina to help seniors with low income sustain their home living. These initiatives provide tax reductions, discounts on crucial services, and aid for home temperature regulation costs.

Financial Assistance for Senior Care and Senior Living

Elderly individuals in South Carolina, living independently or in elderly care homes, can avail of numerous local financial support opportunities. These aid options help reduce in-home or long-term care costs and connect them to valuable community resources.

Food Assistance Programs

In South Carolina, numerous community programs focus on enhancing the health of seniors via proper diet. These initiatives provide meal delivery, shared meals, and food bank services, guaranteeing that older citizens can obtain reasonably priced, healthy food.

Home Repair and Modifications

In South Carolina, a variety of programs exist to support seniors and those with disabilities in funding home improvements and repairs. These initiatives, providing grants or loans, feature different eligibility criteria tailored for retired individuals.

Legal Resources

In South Carolina, there are several organizations offering cost-effective or free legal aid to senior citizens. They provide advice on issues such as estate planning, living wills, and power of attorney. Some also champion the rights of the elderly in long-term care establishments.

Senior Centers

In South Carolina, elderly individuals find a community hub in senior centers, offering a range of recreational pursuits, events, and essential resources. These centers also provide health programs, dietary advice, and support for issues related to senior living.

Social Security Offices

In South Carolina, Social Security offices are crucial resources for the elderly and those with disabilities. They provide advice on retirement perks, disability benefits, and additional security income.

Tax Assistance

In South Carolina, a variety of tax assistance options exist for seniors and people with disabilities. These encompass possible medical cost exemptions, property tax cuts, and other tax alleviation measures.

Transportation Assistance

For South Carolina seniors facing challenges with private transport, assistance is readily available. Community resources are on hand to support the elderly and disabled with their in-city mobility, making tasks and city appointments more manageable.

Utility & Energy Bill Assistance

In South Carolina, there are establishments ready to assist seniors with limited income facing challenges with home upkeep expenses, such as energy and utility bills. Emergency financial support might be available for individuals threatened with utility disconnection due to outstanding payments.

Veteran's Services

In South Carolina, retired military personnel can find essential support through local veteran services. These organizations help veterans access their deserved benefits and offer advice on a variety of issues.

Note: The following information was compiled and most recently updated on 2/2/2022. Since COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving crisis, be sure to contact your Memory Care Facility or local Area Agency on Aging for the most up-to-date information.