About Assisted Living

Assisted Living

Assisted living is a special combination of housing and healthcare designed to promote independence and dignity with personal care in a warm, homelike setting.

What is Assisted Living?

The South Carolina Association of Residential Care Homes utilizes the Assisted Living Federation of America's definition of assisted living: Assisted Living is a special combination of housing, personalized supportive services and healthcare designed to meet the needs, both scheduled and unscheduled, of those who need help with activities of daily living.

What is the Philosophy of Assisted Living?

SCARCH members subscribe to a 10-point philosophy of care:

1. Offering cost effective quality care that is personalized for individual needs;
2. Fostering independence for each resident;
3. Treating each resident with dignity and respect;
4. Promoting the individuality of each resident;
5. Allowing each resident choice of care and lifestyle;
6. Protecting each resident's right to privacy;
7. Nurturing the spirit of each resident;
8. Involving family and friends, as appropriate, in care planning and implementation;
9. Providing a safe, residential environment;
10. Making the Assisted Living residence a valuable community asset.

Currently over a million Americans live in one of the estimated 40,000 Assisted Living residences across the country. Assisted Living residents can be young or old, affluent or low income, frail or disabled. A typical resident is a women in her eighties who is either widowed or single. Residents may suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other memory impairments. Residents may also need help with incontinence or mobility.

What Does an Assisted Living/Residential Care Facility Look Like?

Assisted Living/Residential Care Facilities can range from an apartment complex to a converted house to a renovated school to a freestanding facility built just for assisted living/residential care. Facilities may be free-standing or in conjunction with other residential options such as independent living or a skilled nursing facility. Facilities may be operated by individuals, non-profit companies, for profit companies, state or county. In South Carolina, 60% of the licensed facilities have 20 beds or less. There is a wide variety in types of facilities in South Carolina and this meets the needs of the diversified population looking for assisted living.

How is Assisted Living/Residential Care Regulated in South Carolina?

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Division of Health Licensing licenses assisted living/residential care in South Carolina. All facilities are licensed as Community Residential Care Facilities, but many use the term assisted living. Each facility is initially inspected and given a 90 day probation period following opening. The facility is then inspected again. The facility is required to have the license from DHEC posted in a conspicuous location in the facility.

In addition to the facility being licensed, South Carolina requires facility administrators to be licensed. The South Carolina Board of Long Term Health Care Administrators administers a state as well as a national examination to those individuals qualified to sit for the examination. Once an administrator receives their license, they are required to maintain eighteen (18) hours of continuing education on an annual basis. South Carolina was the first state in the country to require mandatory licensure of administrators in facilities.

Facilities must comply with local building codes and fire safety regulations. SCARCH believes the most successful regulations are consumer driven, balancing safety concerns with consumer need to maintain independence and freedom of choice.

What Types of Services are Provided in Assisted Living Residences?

Typically, services provided in a residence will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Three meals daily, served in a common dining area
• Snacks at no additional charge
• Housekeeping services-personal laundry at an additional fee
• Transportation-scheduled doctor visits, additional fee possible for unscheduled trips
• Assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and walking
• Access to health and medical services
• 24-hour security and staff availability
• Emergency call systems for residents
• Health promotion and wellness programs
• Medication management
• Social and recreational activities

What About the Costs?

Costs will vary with each residence. The average daily fee in South Carolina is $67.00 with a low of $27.00 for the OSS (Optional State Supplement) residents to a high of almost $120.00 for a resident with Alzheimer's or memory impairment. The cost is typically half of what skilled nursing costs. The basic monthly fee may cover all services, but there may be additional fees for special services. The majority of the facilities in South Carolina charge on a month-to-month basis, yet there are some that require long-term commitments.

Who Pays the Bill for Assisted Living/Residential Care in South Carolina?

Residents or their families generally pay the cost of care from their own financial resources. Long term healthcare insurance is another option for many. Some facilities may have their own financial assistance program in place. Currently, there is no Medicaid funding in South Carolina for assisted living/residential care, but SCARCH is working hard to make this happen. We currently have a program that offers payment for room and board and services to low income elderly that is called the Optional State Supplement program. There are strict guidelines and individuals must contact their county Department of Social Services office in South Carolina to determine if they are eligible. This program is administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

How Do I Find A Facility?

You may call the SCARCH office at (800)862-2908 for a list of member facilities in a particular area. If you want a complete list of all facilities in the state, contact the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Division of Health Licensing at (803)737-7370.

How Do I Choose A Facility?

The Assisted Living Federation of America has a wonderful article as well as a Consumer Checklist that we will be happy to forward to you via U.S. mail. Send us an e-mail to scarch@scarch.org requesting the article and checklist and it will be sent right out. Be sure to include your name, mailing address, city, state, zip. Sorry: Only for U.S. addresses at this time.