The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Dorchester County, SC for 2024

Located south of Myrtle Beach, Dorchester County in South Carolina has over 136,000 residents, 13,849 of whom are seniors in the 65 and older age bracket. Some of these seniors may be showing signs of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia and may be among the 89,000 seniors already diagnosed in South Carolina. Dorchester County has three memory care facilities to assist these seniors, all of which are located in Summerville.

Memory care facilities, or as they’re known in Dorchester County and the rest of South Carolina, Assisted Living Facilities and Community Residential Care Facilities, are licensed by the Board of Health and Environmental Control, Division of Health Licensing.

• Residents of Dorchester County enjoy pleasant winters with lows of 34 and hot summers with highs of 92. Sperling’s Comfort Index gives the county a rank of 75 out of 100, compared to the national average of 54, which indicates that the area might be ideal for seniors with joint pains and respiratory issues.
  
• On a 100-point scale where 100 represents the American average, Dorchester County’s overall cost of living ranks 106.2. Groceries and healthcare rank slightly lower at 81.9 and 99, respectively, although transportation ranks slightly higher at 120. The slightly lower healthcare costs suggest that Dorchester County might be an ideal location for seniors in need of memory care.
  
• Seniors in Dorchester County might benefit from South Carolina’s tax-friendly status. While social security is not taxed, pensions and retirement savings account income are partially taxed. Seniors in the county who rely solely on these types of income may find that they have more money to put toward their care.
  
• On a 100-point scale where 100 represents the areas with the highest crime rates, Dorchester County ranks 45.8 for violent crime and 42.5 for property crime compared to the national averages of 31.1 and 38.1. When scouting out facilities, seniors’ families may want to ensure that security measures are in place to protect their loved one.

Memory Care costs in Dorchester County start around $5,537 per month on average, while the nationwide average cost of memory care is $5,694 per month.

It’s important to note that memory care rates in Dorchester County and the surrounding suburbs can vary widely based on factors such as location, the level of care needed, apartment size and the types of amenities offered at each community.

Learn more about these programs, plus who’s eligible, on our Memory Care in South Carolina page.

While many families use their own funds or personal assets to pay for memory care, there are plenty of additional options to cover these costs. Some additional ways to finance memory care costs include:

• Veterans Benefits
• Life Insurance Policy
• Long-Term Care Insurance
• Reverse Mortgage

For more information about different ways to finance memory care, visit our Memory Care in South Carolina page.

Dorchester County-area memory care communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all memory care communities in South Carolina are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in South Carolina page for more information about these laws.