How can I afford a Care Advisor?

Anyone can afford an Assisted Living Locator Care Advisor. That’s because we are paid only when we help you make a decision about your senior’s living location and we are paid by the location you choose. And because we only receive payment when you’re paying the Care Community directly, we’ll also put you in touch with your state’s social service network to make sure that you receive the proper state support in the event that you are unable to pay for senior care and housing yourself.

What can a Care Advisor help me with?

An Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor specializes in knowing your senior housing and in home care options, but via their referral network they can connect you with state resources in the event that you need to consider state resources to finance and secure senior housing, as well as a wide variety of specialists who focus on some aspect of the senior services industry- Eldercare Attorneys, Financial Specialists, Real Estate Agents, Downsizing Specialists, Home Health Experts, and just about any other senior service need you can think of.

Who is my Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor?

Glad you asked. This site gives you a number of ways to find your local Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor. Pick one and we’ll either get them on the phone, or make sure that they contact you in a timely fashion. Click here to get to our Care Advisor page.

How are Care Advisors trained?

Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisors are vetted for the right set of skills before they ever even buy a franchise. Once they do, we provide comprehensive initial training and a 13 week “in community” onboarding process. We ask all Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisors to become Certified Senior Advisors, a nationwide accreditation program that provides additional industry specific knowledge. Care Advisors also participate in continuing education provided by us and provided by local senior oriented industry associations to ensure that they understand the latest tools, techniques and industry rules and regulations to help you navigate the senior experience.

What does a Care Advisor do?

An Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor spends time at each of the communities and homes in your local area. They understand how well the community is performing against state standards and they understand what the community is good at- in short, they understand what isn’t in the community’s glossy brochure. An Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor networks to ensure that they have a broad array of qualified resource team members that they can call on to help deal with challenges beyond senior housing and care, which is their own area of expertise. And Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisors spend time with families and seniors. They can’t help if they don’t know and understand you and your family. Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisors have a structured way to identify important needs that you and your senior have, which they then use to match you to the best community choices or the best members of their resource network that can meet your needs.

Who is Assisted Living Locators®?

A franchise business based in Arizona, with local owners and operators across the US. Our Care Advisors bring problem solving skills and compassion to your local senior community, and we supply the training, processes and industry knowledge they need to provide you with the help you want.

Where are your Care Advisors located?

Everywhere. If we don’t have a Care Advisor yet in your local area, we’ll find you an affiliate advisor who can help. But every month we train more Care Advisors to meet the growing needs of seniors in every community across the US. You can find your local Care Advisor by using the tools on this website. And because we are nationwide, we can help you in your town or in towns all across the US.

When should I contact an Assisted Living Locators® Care Advisor?

Since Care Advisors understand the entire range of living options available to seniors, any family with a senior over 55 can benefit from their expertise. Use us to understand your independent living options if your senior wants more time for leisure pursuits after 55. Use us especially when you are concerned about the safety or health of your senior loved one. And it’s critically important that you reach out to us if your senior is in the hospital or rehabilitation facility so that we help you navigate the immediate next health care and housing steps that must be taken, giving you a voice in how the health care and insurance systems in your state manage your senior’s needs.

Assisted Living In Columbia, SC

Find local care advisors

Find the Best Assisted Living Near Columbia, SC

In Columbia, SC, assisted living communities to offer seniors a little extra help with daily living from skilled care workers. These facilities help people who are unable to live independently, and in the South Carolina state capital, there are plenty of options for older adults to choose from. In this guide, you’ll find more information about the cost of an assisted living community in Charleston, as well as options for seniors and their families to pay the monthly fees. There is also more information about Columbia and what to expect from living in an assisted living property.

Suppose you aren’t sure how to find the right assisted living facility for yourself or a loved one. In that case, a local senior care advisor can help you review different properties and evaluate each one based on your requirements.

Your Columbia, SC Senior Living Advisor

Ramona Britt & Valerie Koeppen

Servicing Columbia SC, Lexington SC, Greater Midlands Area

Meet Advisor 803-470-1011

There are so many options when it comes to senior living. Navigating through the process can often be difficult and confusing. I take that burden off of your shoulders by helping you find the right home for your loved one. I provide assistance throughout the entire process, discuss your needs and concerns, visit properties, and answer all your questions about cost and care options.

Meet Advisor 803-470-1011

What is the Cost of Assisted Living in Columbia, SC

The average cost for assisted living in Columbia, SC, is $3,270. However, each facility’s fees will be slightly different, based on the amenities and services they provide. A local Columbia senior care advocate can help you understand the pricing structure of the assisted living properties you’re interested in.

If you and your family aren’t sure how much your loved one can contribute to their assisted living payments, estimating their current household budget is an excellent place to start. Add up housing costs, such as rent or mortgage, utilities and household maintenance, transportation, groceries, and optional spending. This can give you a ballpark when looking at different communities. Some offer inclusive pricing, with room and board, utilities, some transportation, laundry service and housekeeping bundled together, while others may provide price points for different levels of service.

Assisted living communities in Columbia, SC, offer residents as much independence as they desire and assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) as they require. Many assisted living residents may need a little help with:

Mobility assistance and transfers
Bathing and grooming
Getting dressed
Using the restroom
Personal care, such as putting on make-up or shaving
Help preparing meals and cleaning up

Columbia assisted living properties have awake staff day and night to help with resident needs and emergencies. If your loved one can largely take care of themselves independently, they’ll have the same level of independence at an assisted living facility. As their needs change, they’ll be afforded extra assistance as required.

Many families find it challenging to begin a conversation about assisted living with their loved ones. Before deciding they need to transition to an assisted living community, first monitor their ability to care for themselves at home. A sudden change in their ability to care for themselves and their homes indicates that it’s time to talk about assisted living options. If you aren’t sure how to find the right assisted living community for your senior, a local senior care advocate can help.

What Should Every Senior Know About Living in Columbia, SC?

Columbia, South Carolina’s state capital and one of the largest cities, is centrally located in the state. Seniors in Columbia have convenient access to many government offices and world-class health care choices. Columbia offers the perks of big-city living yet still retains a slower pace and small-town charm. Seniors may also benefit from South Carolina’s income tax structure, which exempts Social Security income and provides a $15,000 deduction on other types of retirement income.

Columbia Weather & Climate

Summers in Columbia are long, warm, and humid, which may appeal to seniors who dislike colder weather. July high temperatures reach into the 90s, while winters are mild. Expect to see January lows in the mid-30s and occasional snow.

Local Hospitals & Notable Medical Care

Columbia is home to world-class healthcare options for seniors, including Lexington Medical Center, which includes a 500+ bed hospital and five other service provider hubs, and Prisma Health Richland Health, a regional teaching hospital.

Transportation

Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority (The COMET) operates public transportation throughout Columbia, Richland County, Lexington County, and City of Forest Acres. This is a fixed-route bus line, with ADA-accessible transit available for those who qualify. In addition, seniors, military veterans, and people with a qualifying disability are eligible for reduced fares.

Arts, Culture & Recreation

Columbia offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, which combines animal enclosures and botanical gardens, and Congaree National Park, featuring gentle walking trails along the Congaree River. Museum buffs may enjoy admiring the exhibits at the South Carolina State Museum or the Columbia Museum of Art.

How Do I Pay for Columbia, SC Assisted Living?

A local senior care advisor can help your family evaluate possible payment options, including locating benefits your senior is eligible for. Senior care advisors also help families understand how each assisted living community structures its fees, making finding the right fit for your budget easier. Some ways to pay for Columbia assisted living include:

Veteran's Benefits

Military veterans and their surviving spouses may be eligible for the Improved Pension Program (IPP), a benefit administered by the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs. The IPP may cover all or some of the costs for an assisted living property. Veterans may visit their local VA Center for more details about the program and how to apply.

Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance is an optional plan intended to pay for assisted living fees or other residential care. First, ask your loved one if they participate in one of these plans or if their insurance covers residential care. Then, contact the issuing body for details about accessing the plan’s benefits.

Home Equity

Columbia homeowners often have built up equity in their homes. They may use home equity to pay for assisted living costs, and a local senior care advisor can help you and your family understand how the process works.

Medicare

Medicare Part A and Part B, which many older adults participate in, does not cover assisted living fees. However, some supplemental Medicare programs may help pay for assisted living or other types of personal assistance, so check your loved one’s coverage.

Medicaid

South Carolina Medicaid’s Healthy Connections program offers a nursing home wavier program, the Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE), which may help cover some of the assisted living costs. It’s intended to help people who may need a nursing home level of care but choose to reside at home or in assisted living instead.

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Care assessment tool

Access our free senior care assessment tool, which can help you evaluate the specific needs and requirements of you or your loved one. By answering a series of questions, you’ll receive personalised recommendations and insights to aid in the decision-making process.

Take the Assessment

FAQ About Assisted Living in Columbia, SC

Many assisted living communities in Columbia encourage residents to bring their own furniture and décor to assisted living and personalize their private apartments. Some assisted living facilities provide furnishings, also. Your local senior care advisor can help you determine what you should bring to your new community.

Yes, for the most part, assisted living facilities are pet-friendly. However, some may have different policies about where you may walk your pet or stipulations about leashes. Ask your senior care advocate about the policies for your top assisted living selections.

Assisted living properties offer apartment-style living, with shared community spaces for residents to socialize. Residents may choose to prepare meals in their own apartments or dine with friends in the community dining room. Fitness centers, pools, and outdoor gardening areas are often-included amenities for resident use.