10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Greenville, SC

Seniors often use a mix of public and private funds to pay for memory care. Personal savings, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and VA benefits are some of the sources seniors pull from. The below tabs cover private and public payment options.

Memory care and assisted living facilities in the state are licensed and regulated by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). There is a long list of requirements that these community residential care facilities must meet in order to get a license and keep it.

Guidelines for licensing ensure all residents have an individual care plan within their first week in the facility. The plan has to outline their nutritional, medical, and physical needs. It must also detail how often they’ll be getting help and from whom. DHEC mandates that facilities provide transportation for residents to doctor’s appointments or any other medical needs.

Regulations are also specific about staffing levels, as well as what sort of training staff members have to receive.

During the daytime, there must be at least one staff member for every eight residents. At night, that ratio is one staff member per 30 residents. Someone is also required to be awake at all hours of the day and night.

Staff members’ training must include the following:

• How accidents must be reported
• First aid basics and CPR
• How to check and record vital signs
• How to manage medication
• How to manage and care for people with contagious illnesses
• How to handle a variety of behaviors (such as aggression or exit-seeking behaviors)
• How to use restraints properly
• How to respond in case of emergency
• How to handle confidential information and records

The DHEC has to be notified within three days if there is a change in administration at a facility. The South Carolina Bill of Rights for Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities also has to be followed.

DHEC checks to make sure rules and regulations are being followed with unannounced inspections, which happen at least once a year. The inspection reports are available by searching online. You can search by typing in a location, or you can use the map view to see the various facilities. Either way, you’ll be able to access PDFs of the inspection reports.

The state’s Omnibus Adult Protection Act provides protection for seniors from abuse or neglect. It also spells out exactly which state agencies are responsible for following up and taking action.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control contact information
2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803-898-3432
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

COVID-19 regulations for Greenville memory care facilities

Greenville no longer has any specific mandates around COVID-19. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control requires visitation to be allowed but also expects facilities to do a good job of taking precautions.

There are four standalone memory care facilities in Greenville within a 10-mile radius of downtown. An additional 14 communities offer a combination of care experiences, and all have plenty of options and amenities to make your loved one feel right at home.

Standalone memory care and combination care

If you’re looking for only memory care, then one of the four standalone options might be the right choice for your loved one.

However, there are 12 facilities within 10 miles of downtown Greenville that combine both memory care and assisted living on the same premises. And two more are even broader in scope and combine memory care, assisted living, and independent living options. Reaching out a bit further geographically, you can also find three additional facilities in a 25-mile radius of downtown: two assisted living and memory care combination facilities and one facility that incorporates memory care, assisted living, and independent living on the same premises.

Combination care might be the right choice for your loved one if they would like to stay in the same community even as their care needs change. In these combination facilities, residents can enjoy the comfort of being in a familiar environment while still getting the more specialized care they might need over the long term.

Memory care specialization

You can expect your loved one to be well cared for by staff members who are specially trained in working with people with memory loss. Someone will always be awake 24 hours a day to ensure the safety of your loved one. About a third of the facilities have a wander management system that gives residents the freedom to roam within a safe space. A personal alarm will alert staff if anyone wanders outside of the designated area. And nearly all the facilities have an enclosed courtyard so residents can get some fresh air and enjoy the outdoors safely.

Amenities and socialization

Memory care facilities, especially those paired with assisted living and independent living, provide a wide range of events and activities for residents. With an activity director on staff at all facilities, there won’t be a shortage of things to do. Birthdays and holidays will be celebrated in style in the common areas. And nearly all our partner facilities offer an arts-and-crafts center for expressing creativity, and residents can relax and socialize in TV lounges, movie rooms, and libraries.

Greenville is home to several health care systems, including two of the area’s largest employers.^[07] With highly rated care in a variety of areas, including geriatric care, there are plenty of options for you and your loved one to choose from.

Nearly all of A Place for Mom’s partner memory care facilities provide complimentary transportation, so your loved one will be able to safely get to doctor’s appointments.

While public transportation isn’t a safe option for seniors in memory care to take on their own, it can be helpful for visiting family and friends who want to get around or accompany their loved one in beautiful Greenville.

One option for public transportation is Greenlink. This city bus system has 11 fixed routes with wheelchair accessibility on every bus. Senior Solutions offers rides for medical appointments and errands for any senior in the Upstate. The drivers have all been certified in securing wheelchairs, passenger safety, and first aid.

For families and friends looking to take their loved ones out on the town, there are plenty of options to choose from. You can take in some beautiful sights in the downtown area, where you’ll find Falls Park on the Reedy. In addition to beautiful waterfalls, you can stroll the accessible Swamp Rabbit Trail, which has a mile-long paved section that’s extra-smooth for wheelchairs and powered mobility scooters.

For a little reminiscing, visit the Upcountry History Museum, where you can borrow a wheelchair for your loved one (or use their own, of course). In addition to senior discounts, the museum features open captioning on its orientation films and exhibit videos. It also loans out magnifiers so those with visual impairments can fully enjoy all the exhibits.

Another historical option for you and your loved one is driving to see some of the 13 African-American cultural sites, which include historic churches and schools.

The Peace Center is a great spot for taking in the performing arts. Not only is the center accessible, but you can also reserve patron assistance services in advance. This can include special drop-off for people with mobility issues and courtesy transport chairs from curbside to theater seating. Assistive listening devices, as well as sign language interpreters, are also available. Service animals are welcome as long as you let the box office know in advance.