Senior living in Columbia, South Carolina spans 79 state-licensed assisted living, memory care, and independent living communities and 27 Medicare-certified nursing homes across Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Fairfield, Saluda, and Calhoun counties in South Carolina. 2 area nursing homes hold a 5-star CMS rating. Lilisity publishes no score or ranking for any community that has not earned an award; the licensing and CMS data below are public records.
Every assisted living, memory care, and independent living community licensed by the state in Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Fairfield, Saluda, and Calhoun counties in South Carolina, from state licensing records. Listing here is not a rating: Lilisity publishes no score for any community that has not earned an award. Communities marked verified reviews have phone-verified resident and family interviews on file.
Assisted living in the Columbia area typically runs $4,500–$6,500 per month, with memory care $1,000–$1,500 above that and independent living below it; skilled nursing is billed through Medicare, Medicaid, or private pay rather than monthly rent. Rates vary widely by apartment size and care level, so ask for the community’s current rate sheet.
| Care type | Typical Columbia range | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Independent living | $3,000 – $4,500 | Private apartment or cottage, meals and services optional |
| Assisted living | $4,500 – $6,500 | Daily personal care, meals, medication management |
| Memory care | $5,500 – $8,000 | Secured neighborhood, dementia-trained staff |
| Skilled nursing | Payer-based | 24/7 medical care; Medicare/Medicaid/private pay |
Ranges reflect operator-published market rates for the region, September 2026. South Carolina’s Medicaid waiver programs and VA Aid & Attendance can offset costs — see the FAQ below.
2 of the 27 Medicare-certified nursing homes in the Columbia metro hold the highest possible 5-star overall rating from CMS — including Presbyterian Home Of South Carolina-Columbia in Lexington. Every facility below links to its full inspection history, staffing hours, and deficiency record.
| Facility ↕ | Location ↕ | CMS rating ↕ | Beds ↕ | Operator ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presbyterian Home Of South Carolina-Columbia | Lexington, SC | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 22 | Presbyterian Communities Of South Carolina |
| Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community | West Columbia, SC | ★★★★★ 5/5 | 22 | Independent |
| Kershaw Health Karesh Long Term Care | Camden, SC | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 132 | Independent |
| Pruitthealth- Blythewood | Columbia, SC | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 120 | Pruitthealth |
| Nhc Healthcare - Parklane | Columbia, SC | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 106 | National Healthcare Corporation |
| Rice Estate Rehabilitation And Healthcare | Columbia, SC | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 80 | Independent |
| Retreat At Wellmore Of Lexington | Lexington, SC | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 60 | Independent |
| Wildewood Downs | Columbia, SC | ★★★★☆ 4/5 | 32 | Senior Living Communities |
| Nhc Healthcare - Lexington | West Columbia, SC | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 170 | National Healthcare Corporation |
| White Oak Manor - Columbia | Columbia, SC | ★★★☆☆ 3/5 | 120 | White Oak Management |
| C M Tucker Jr Nursing Care Center Roddey Pavilio | Columbia, SC | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 308 | South Carolina Department Of Mental Health |
| Life Care Center Of Columbia | Columbia, SC | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 179 | Life Care Centers Of America |
| Saluda Nursing Center | Saluda, SC | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 176 | Independent |
| The Heritage At Lowman Rehab And Healthcare | White Rock, SC | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 176 | Independent |
| Pruitthealth- Ridgeway | Ridgeway, SC | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 150 | Pruitthealth |
| Opus Post Acute Rehabilitation | West Columbia, SC | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 98 | The Ensign Group |
| Midlands Health & Rehabilitation Center | Columbia, SC | ★★☆☆☆ 2/5 | 88 | Fundamental Healthcare |
| L.M.C.- Extended Care | Lexington, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 352 | Independent |
| C M Tucker Jr Nursing Care Center Fewell And Stone | Columbia, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 252 | South Carolina Department Of Mental Health |
| Pruitthealth- Columbia | Columbia, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 185 | Pruitthealth |
| Springdale Healthcare Center | Camden, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 148 | Fundamental Healthcare |
| Forest Acres Post Acute | Columbia, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 132 | Pacs Group |
| Millennium Post Acute Rehabilitation | West Columbia, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 132 | The Ensign Group |
| Calhoun Convalescent Center | Saint Matthews, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 120 | Fundamental Healthcare |
| Ridgeway Manor Healthcare Center | Ridgeway, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 112 | Independent |
| St Andrews Operator, Llc | Columbia, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 108 | Yad Healthcare |
| Sedgewood Manor Health Care Center | Hopkins, SC | ★☆☆☆☆ 1/5 | 38 | Independent |
Source: CMS Care Compare, federal five-star quality rating system, retrieved September 2026. Lilisity republishes this government data unmodified; no facility can pay to change its rating.
Senior living in the Columbia metro is spread across Richland, Lexington, Kershaw, Fairfield, Saluda, and Calhoun counties in South Carolina. The cities with the most licensed communities and nursing homes are listed below; most sit within a short drive of the region’s hospital systems, which matters for families coordinating specialist care or hospital discharge.
How Lilisity makes money: some communities pay us a referral fee when a family we’ve helped moves in. That fee never changes a review, a rating, or who appears on this page — CMS ratings come from the federal government, and reviews come from residents. Read the full methodology → · How we are paid →
Most states, including South Carolina, offer a Medicaid waiver that covers care costs (not room and board) at participating assisted living communities for people who qualify financially and medically. Not every community accepts the waiver, so ask early. Veterans and surviving spouses may also qualify for VA Aid & Attendance, worth up to roughly $2,300 per month toward care.
Assisted living provides housing, meals, and help with daily tasks like bathing and medications in an apartment setting, state-licensed and mostly private pay. Nursing homes (skilled nursing) provide 24/7 medical care, are federally certified and CMS-rated, and are typically paid through Medicare, Medicaid, or long-term-care insurance.
Every facility in the table above links to its full record — CMS star ratings, health-inspection findings, staffing hours per resident, and any fines or penalties, sourced from Medicare's Care Compare data. 2 Columbia-area facilities currently hold a 5-star overall rating.
Assisted living moves can happen in days when a community has availability — after a nurse assessment and paperwork. Memory care placements after a crisis often complete within one to two weeks. Calling an advisor who knows current availability is the fastest path: (833) 612-4732.
Lilisity publishes scores and rankings only for the Top Communities list and the Excellence Awards, both built from phone-verified interviews. The 79 communities listed by county come from state licensing records; CMS ratings apply only to Medicare-certified nursing homes.
One call covers current availability, honest pricing, and which communities fit your parent’s care needs and budget. No obligation, and we never sell your information.
(833) 612-4732Fastest — answered 7 days a week