A look inside Columbia’s senior living market

We’ve already told you about what will soon be Columbia’s newest assisted living community, Merrill Gardens, in our very own neighborhood of The BullStreet District (the first phase of 115 units slated to open in 2019). But have you heard of Columbia’s other assisted living options?

There are 30,200 assisted living communities in the U.S. today. 300 of those communities are in our state, which contribute $500+ million in economic activity and 6,000+ jobs (not to mention help older residents live their lives as independently as possible).

We rounded up 8 long-term care facilities in Columbia that offer a variety of services depending on individual needs.

🏡Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community | One Still Hopes Dr., West Columbia

💰Cost: $2,300-$4,300 per month for one-person independent living apartments, $6,600-$6,900 per month for memory care services, + $3,800-$6,200 per month for assisted living (which will be opening later this year)

🚗Day trips/fun activities: Concert + music series, overnight trips, day excursions, book clubs, putting green, ling dancing, painting, bridge + more (see monthly calendar here)

🔨Amenities: Four unique dining venues, on-campus bar and pub, paved walking trails, indoor heated swimming pool, chapel, gift shop + more

⭐Fun fact: Voted Free Times Best Retirement Community

📞Contact: 803-796-6490

🏡Wildewood Downs | 731 Polo Rd.

💰Cost: $4300-$5175 per month for assisted living, $5,666 per month for memory care, + 237 per day for long term care

🚗Day trips/fun activities: Scheduled transportation, card/game room, art room, shuffleboard court, library, putting green + more

🔨Amenities: 24-hour emergency call system, golf cart (with Patio and Garden Homes), beauty salon, cafe, pub, all interior and exterior maintenance provided, customized care levels + more

⭐Fun fact: Free Times Best Retirement Community runnerup

📞Contact: 803-788-5115

🏡Atria Senior Living | 4405 Forest Dr.

💰Cost: $3,400-6,000 per month

🚗Day trips/fun activities: In-community events including exercise classes, musical performances + seminars. Day trips to places like Tapp’s Arts Center and the Beef Jerky Outlet

🔨Amenities: Full service salon + spa, emergency alert pendant or wristband, alzheimers + dementia support group, newspaper delivery, housekeeping + linen services

⭐Fun fact: Includes Memory Care – a special neighborhood with services for residents with dementia and alzheimers

📞Contact: 803-767-4419

🏡Laurel Crest | 100 Joseph Walker Dr. West Columbia

💰Cost: initial entrance fee of $81,000, then $2,110 monthly or $5,800 per month for assisted living

🚗Day trips/fun activities: A calendar of events including shopping days, doctor’s visit days, and fun days each Friday (with excursions like visits to museums and historical sites)

🔨Amenities: Fitness center with classes, salon + barber services, arts and crafts classes, educational opportunities + religious services

⭐Fun fact: Founded by the 1st Presbyterian Church of Columbia, but open to residents of all religions

📞Contact: 803-796-0370

🏡Brookdale Senior Living | 251 Springtree Rd.

💰Cost: $3,000-$3,800 per month + healthcare costs for their assisted living community

🚗Day trips/fun activities: Community events including poetry + music performances, bible study + different excursions

🔨Amenities: Library, greenhouse, fireside living room, piano, arts + crafts studio

⭐Fun fact: Brookdale’s Optimum Life Initiative aims to help residents live a spiritually, mentally, and physically active life through services and features

📞Contact: 803-741-2600

🏡Lexington Place | 190 McSwain Dr. West Columbia

💰Cost: $2,493-$3,192 per month for room and board, prices starting at $1,700 for companion rooms (plus they have a special deal right now for an all-inclusive studio deluxe for $3500 per month)

🚗Day trips/fun activities: social and recreational programs + wellness programs

🔨Amenities: housekeeping + laundry services, hair salon, scheduled transportation, guest accomodations depending on availability

⭐Fun fact: Lexington Place provides quick admission for urgent care residents (sometimes as little turnaround as one day)

📞Contact: 803- 998-2528

🏡 Generations of Irmo | 7142 Irmo St., Irmo

💰Cost: $3,700 per month

🚗Day trips/fun activities: a full-time activity director + family liaison plans a variety of recreational, spiritual, and educational programs (which are open to family and friends)

🔨Amenities: cinema gallery, 24-7 Beverage Center, Grand Room (sitting area with fireplace and piano), meals, cleaning, laundry, medication management + cable TV

⭐Fun fact: Emergency pendants are offered to all residents as a safety feature

📞Contact: 803- 227-8991

🏡 Coming soon: Merrill Gardens | 2205 Gregg St.

💰Cost:

🚗Day trips/fun activities: wellness programs, scheduled transportation + opportunities to engage in the active BullStreet community (including 300+ events per year at Spirit Communications Park)

🔨Amenities: full kitchens, rooftop deck with sports bar + pub, and 24-7 dining + staffing

⭐Fun fact: Merrill Gardens will be the most centrally-located long-term care facility in Cola

📞Contact: 803-234-5214

I might be slightly biased since my aunt lives at Still Hopes (the Sunday lunch buffet has me visiting pretty often) but Columbia has many long-term care communities to meet a variety of needs and preferences. If the choices seem overwhelming, I hope our list helped.

When putting this list together, we asked our readers to share their experiences with some local retirement homes. Here’s a #protip from one reader:

“When choosing a care community, ask if the Activity Professional is certified. Many communities have company philosophies regarding senior activities but they do not all have certified activity professionals. Certified activity professionals must pass a test and take ongoing courses annually to address the ever changing challenges of engaging seniors as they age. A good program will offer intergenerational opportunities. They will hold classes that meet the interests of the residents and that change as the resident population changes. They will ask what movies residents want to see.” –Deborah B.

If you have more insight, let us know. As always, we love to hear your feedback.

–Gray