Assisted Living in Rock Hill, SC

Assisted Living Costs in Rock Hill

According to Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care Survey, the average monthly cost of assisted living in Rock Hill ($3,803) is just under the national average of $4,000 and just over the state average of $3,500. It’s identical in cost to the much smaller community of Columbia ($3,808) and only $40 less than the similarly sized city of Greenville ($3,843). It’s significantly more expensive than the smaller communities of Florence ($2,275) and Spartanburg ($2,310).

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for Rock Hill, so data for the closest city, Charlotte, was used.

The Cost of Assisted Living in Surrounding Areas

Care Cost Comparison

The cost of senior care varies depending on the type of care required. In Rock Hill, nursing home care in a semiprivate room is significantly more expensive than any other type of care. In-home care, such as homemaker services and home health aides, is similar in cost to assisted living. However, these types of care don’t include living expenses, such as utilities, property taxes, rent, mortgage payments and food, which are usually included in assisted living costs. These expenses should be considered when deciding on the most appropriate type of care.

Senior Care Cost Comparison Chart

Financial Assistance for Assisted Living in Rock Hill

Medicaid in South Carolina

Medicaid in South Carolina, Healthy Connections, is operated by the state Department of Health and Human Services. It offers medical care to residents who are disabled, over age 65 or have very low income. It covers prescriptions, nursing care assistance, preventive health services, referrals and laboratory work. Recipients of Supplemental Security Income automatically qualify for Healthy Connections.

To be eligible for services, applicants must:

• Be blind, disabled, over age 65 or pregnant
• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Reside in the state of South Carolina
• Have no more than $12,490 in annual income as an individual or $16,910 as a couple
• Have countable assets of no more than $7,730 for individuals or $11,600 for couples

Applicants can find more information and apply for coverage by visiting the Healthy Connections Choices website, calling the service line at (888) 549-0820 or scheduling an appointment at the Healthy Connections York County Office located at 454 S. Anderson Road in Rock Hill.

Community Choices Waiver

Healthy Connections doesn’t offer assistance paying for assisted living. The Community Choices waiver program, however, assists Medicaid recipients who need a nursing home level of care but wish to receive services in an assisted living facility or in their home. The waiver helps pay for telemonitoring, delivered meals, durable medical equipment, house modifications, skilled nursing care, companion services and assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, respite care, case management and transportation.

To be eligible, recipients must:

• Be disabled or at least aged 65 years old
• Require a nursing facility level of care
• Have no more than $2,313 in monthly income for an individual or $4,626 for a couple applying jointly
• Have countable assets of no more than $2,000 per applicant with some exceptions

This statewide program is not an entitlement, so spaces are limited, and there may be a waiting list for services. It only covers care costs and not room and board; program enrollees are responsible for paying those costs. For more information or to apply for the waiver, residents should contact their local DHHS County Office or call (888) 286-2078.

Other Financial Assistance Programs for Assisted Living

Optional State Supplementation

South Carolina’s Optional State Supplementation Program helps seniors pay for room-and-board costs associated with assisted living facilities. Eligible seniors receive full Medicaid benefits, and a cash assistance payment is provided to the facility. To qualify for OSS, seniors must:

• Meet all Medicaid eligibility requirements
• Reside in approved, licensed community residential care facilities
• Have an income of no more than $1,456 per month

To apply for OSS, visit the Healthy Connections online portal or call the Medicaid Provider Service Center at (888) 549-0820.

Elderlife Bridge Loans

Bridge loans are short-term loans designed to ease the stress of financial gaps when a senior is transitioning to a residential care facility while waiting for sources of funding, such as the sale of a home or during an extended process of benefits approval. Loans can be approved in as little as 24 hours. Up to six cosigners can apply for one loan to lessen the importance of a single credit score or a senior’s age and health.

To apply for a bridge loan, contact Elderlife Financial Services at (888) 228-4500.

Veterans Aid & Attendance and Housebound Benefits

The VA offers several benefit supplements for veterans and their survivors who qualify for a VA pension. These are cash supplements that are added to existing pensions when recipients meet certain conditions.

The Housebound supplement requires that a veteran be largely confined to their home due to a permanent disability.

To qualify for the Aid & Attendance benefit, applicants must meet at least one of the following requirements:

• They’re in a nursing home due to mental or physical disability
• They’re bedridden due to disability or chronic illness
• They have eyesight in both eyes of 5/200 or worse even with corrective lenses
• They suffer from concentric contraction to 5 or fewer degrees of the visual field
• They require regular assistance from another person to perform daily living activities, such as bathing, dressing, eating or attending to the needs of nature

Proof of at least 90 days of active, wartime service and an honorable discharge is required when applying for these supplements. The VA also recommends submitting documentation from a medical professional that assesses the veteran’s disability or impairment which restricts their ability to function.

To apply for these pension supplements, visit the York County Veterans Affairs Office at 529 S. Cherry Road, Rock Hill, SC 29732 or call (803) 909-7525.

Assisted Living Resources in Rock Hill

Senior Centers in Rock Hill

There are several senior centers in the Rock Hill area that provide congregate meals, games, bingo, social events, day trips and crafting classes. These programs are free and help keep area seniors active and engaged in their local communities.

Rock Hill Senior Center
917 Standard St., Rock Hill, SC 29730
(803) 328-0197

York Senior Center
14 N. Congress St., York, SC 29745
(803) 684-6115

Clover Senior Center
234 Church St., Clover, SC 29710
(803) 222-9286

Older Wiser Loving Seniors Club

The City of Rock Hill operates the O.W.L.S. Club out of the Boyd Hill Recreation Center, which provides an assortment of activities available to anyone aged 50 or older. They produce a free monthly newsletter of club events that include sports tournaments, card and tabletop games, walking groups, holiday parties, overnight trips, movie nights and volunteer opportunities.

Boyd Hill Recreation Center
1165 Constitution Blvd., Rock Hill, SC 29732
(803) 329-5652

Community Aid Agencies

There are several local community agencies that connect area seniors with resources and services available to them, including home-delivered meals, transportation, in-home care, ombudsman services, financial assistance, senior housing, referrals, adult day care and Medicare counseling.

York County Council on Aging
917 Standard St., Rock Hill, SC 29730
(803) 328-0197

Catawba Area Agency on Aging
2051 Ebenezer Rd., Ste B, Rock Hill, SC 29732
(800) 662-8330

South Carolina Department on Aging’s GetCareSC
1301 Gervais St., Ste 350, Columbia, SC 29201
(800) 868-9095