8 Assisted Living Communities in Spartanburg, South Carolina

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $2,310 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 8 Assisted Living Communities in Spartanburg and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Spartanburg, SC

• Assisted Living: $2,310
• Nursing Home Care: $6,114
• In-home Care: $3,432
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,192

Per the 2018 Genworth Cost of Care study, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Spartanburg ($2,310) is the second lowest in the state, with Florence being the least expensive at $2,275. Spartanburg seniors pay about $1,700 less than the national average ($4,000) and over $1,200 less than the  state average ($3,500). Assisted living costs are significantly higher in the nearby Greenville area ($3,843) and the state’s two largest cities, Columbia ($3,808) and Charleston ($3,925). The coastal communities of Hilton Head Island and Myrtle Beach are also more expensive at $3,850 and $4,525, respectively.

Various factors determine the monthly cost of senior care, including geographic location, the type of services offered and the level of care provided. Nursing home care is the most expensive option nationwide, and in Spartanburg, it’s almost triple the cost of assisted living. Spartanburg seniors pay considerably more for homemaker and home health aide help than assisted living services, especially when factoring in household expenses, such as upkeep, property taxes, utilities and groceries, which are typically covered by residential facility fees.

 

Medicaid, the largest health care program in the nation, provides coverage for more than 69 million low-income Americans. including families, children, pregnant women, those with disabilities and seniors.

Medicaid is funded by the federal government in conjunction with individual state governments. The South Carolina Medicaid program, Healthy Connections, is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services. The program pays for medical bills and nursing home care for seniors who meet these guidelines:
 

• Monthly income of $2,313 or less per individual
• $2,000 in countable assets for individuals or $4,000 for couples

 

Seniors receiving Supplemental Security Income automatically qualify for Medicaid.

If only one spouse applies, married couples with an income over their combined individual limits ($4,626) may still qualify. South Carolina allows the transfer of up to $3,160.50 in monthly income to cover a non-applicant spouse’s living expenses.

Assets not counted against limits include an occupied primary home with equity less than $585,000, household and personal effects, one vehicle and a burial trust. An additional $66,480 in jointly owned assets are exempt for a non-applicant spouse.

Long-Term Care Community Choices Waiver

Healthy Connections doesn’t cover the cost of assisted living, but it does offer a Community Choices waiver that may relieve related expenses. The waiver helps reduce nursing home placements by covering the cost of support services at home or in an assisted living facility, allowing seniors to live safely in the community. The program doesn’t contribute toward room-and-board fees, but it does pay for necessary services such as:

 

 

 

• Case management
• Assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing, toileting, dressing and eating
• Companion and attendant services
• Durable medical equipment
• Disposable incontinence supplies
• Nutritional supplements
• Monitoring blood pressure, blood sugar levels and other vitals
• Personal emergency response systems
• Transportation
• Limited skilled nursing care

 

To qualify, South Carolina seniors must be U.S. citizens or legal residents age 65 or older. Additionally, they must be Medicaid eligible and require the level of care normally provided in a nursing home.

Program enrollment is limited by SCDHHS, so qualified seniors may be put on a waiting list until spots open up.

To learn more about Medicaid in South Carolina or the Community Choices waiver, call (888) 549-0820, visit the Healthy Connections Spartanburg office at 1000 N Pine St, Ste 23 or enroll by completing an online application.

 

 

Assisted Living Bridge Loans

Seniors waiting for benefits to begin, or the sale of a home or other assets, may qualify for a bridge loan from Elderlife Financial to finance an immediate move to assisted living. These short-term loans offer the flexibility of a line of credit and the convenience of direct payments to the senior’s chosen assisted living facility. There are no upfront costs or application fees, and approval and loan disbursement can sometimes take place within 24 hours. To learn more or apply, call Elderlife Financial Services at (888) 228-4500.

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors eligible for SSI may qualify for the OSS program administered by South Carolina DHHS. To receive benefits through this state-funded program, an applicant must be age 65 or older, be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and live in a participating licensed residential care facility. Up to $2,000 in assets and $1,456 in monthly income are allowed. After a senior’s application is approved, DHHS sends a monthly payment directly to their assisted living facility to apply toward room-and-board costs. The average monthly benefit for South Carolina seniors is $689.

Qualified seniors can apply for the OSS program online or contact the Spartanburg SCDHHS office at (888) 549-0820 for more information.

The Spartanburg Council on Aging and the Area Agency on Aging, both operated by the Appalachian Council of Governments, connect seniors with a wealth of local and state resources. Seniors can receive assistance applying for benefit- and aging-related programs, arrange transportation services or access health care information and referrals. Spartanburg Council on Aging
9039 Fairforest Rd., Spartanburg, SC 29301
(864) 804-5813 Appalachian Council of Governments
30 Century Circle, Greenville, SC 29607
(800) 434-4036

Assistance applying for benefits and pensions or arranging transportation to VA medical appointments is available at the Spartanburg Veterans Affairs office. The local VA clinic provides primary care, laboratory services and referrals.

Spartanburg County Veterans Affairs
610 Chesnee Hwy., Spartanburg, SC 29303
(864) 596-2553

Spartanburg VA Clinic
279 North Grove Medical Park Dr., Spartanburg, SC 29303
(803) 776-4000

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.