The 5 Best Memory Care Facilities in Beaufort, SC for 2024

 

Alzheimer's deaths have risen by 165.8% from 2000 to 2019 in South Carolina, reflecting the challenges an aging population places on the healthcare system. However, despite people aged 65+ comprising 16.7% of Beaufort's 13,722 residents, the mortality rate of Alzheimer's in the city has fallen by 11.43% from 2016 to 2020, according to CDC statistics — a result made possible by the state's continued use of 5-year action plans to improve dementia care.

Memory care facilities, a crucial aspect of the state's Alzheimer's response, provide 24-hour supervision by specially-trained staff in a secure environment. They offer a structured routine that can help limit confusion in residents with memory loss and engaging activities such as reminiscence therapy that may help stimulate their memories to improve their sense of self. 

This guide compares the cost of memory care in Beaufort with other cities throughout South Carolina. It also discusses some benefits and drawbacks of living in the area, helping families decide whether it's a suitable home for loved ones.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control regulates memory care facilities throughout the state, including in Beaufort. The department only allows providers to operate with a license and requires them to submit to regular inspections to verify they meet state health and safety regulations.

 

• Beaufort has a relatively comfortable climate with mild winters and 11 more sunny days per year than the national average of 205. While summers can be humid, with temperatures 5.3 degrees above the U.S. average, winter temperatures are also 17.3 degrees warmer, and the region gets less than an inch of snow annually, making Beaufort a particularly comfortable city for seniors sensitive to cold weather.
• Based on a 100-point index where the U.S. average is 100, the overall cost of living in Beaufort comes in at 92.5, reflecting much lower prices on various goods and services.
• With 193 physicians per 100,000 population, Beaufort has slightly fewer doctors than the national average of 210, but this slight difference shouldn't make it much more difficult for seniors to access medical services. The cost of health care, which is 5.8% less in the city vs. the U.S. average, may also improve accessibility for families with tight budgets.
• Beaufort provides excellent access to hospital care because it's home to several providers and is close to major hospitals in surrounding cities such as Hilton Head and Charleston. Beaufort Memorial Hospital has received awards for patient safety, while Hilton Head Regional Medical Center has been recognized for safety, surgical care and joint replacements.
• Air quality in Beaufort tends to fall into the good category of the U.S. Air Quality Index most of the year, potentially making it a comfortable city for seniors with lung conditions.
• Rated on a 100-point scale, crime rates in Beaufort are exceptionally high. Violent crimes measure at 42.3 compared to. the national average of 22.7, while property crimes are 46.6 points higher than the U.S. average. However, these rates are following a slow but gradual downward trend and memory care facilities typically have excellent security and safety features that can give families peace of mind.

 

Note: Residential memory care is usually offered in assisted living facilities, and in general, memory care rates tend to be 20-30% higher than assisted living rates. No national database currently tracks memory care costs in the United States, so we've estimated the monthly memory care costs listed below by adding 25% to the rates listed in Genworth's 2021 Cost of Care Survey.

Memory care costs $5,625 per month on average in Beaufort.

At a typical cost of $5,625 per month, memory care is significantly more expensive in Beaufort than the state average of $4,515 but equivalent to the national average. Several locations in South Carolina are substantially more affordable, and families can save up to $2,296 in Sumter or $1,537 in Columbia. Beaufort is one of the most expensive cities overall, and even Myrtle Beach, another location with higher memory care costs, offers savings of up to $537‬ per month.

Several types of care in Beaufort are more affordable than memory care. Assisted living, which may be suitable for seniors with mild or early-stage dementia, can save families up to $1,125, while home care and home health care only cost $48 less than memory care in Beaufort but can allow seniors to continue living at home longer. Adult day care can save families $3,729, but nursing home care costs $641 more monthly.

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.