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

 

Florence, SC, has a population of around 40,000, of which almost 19% are 65 and older. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s is most prevalent among the older community. Statistics from the CDC indicate that Alzheimer’s caused 102 deaths in Florence in 2020, accounting for 7.35% of the total death rate. Although the total number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths has increased from 91 deaths in 2016, it’s decreased as a percentage of total deaths.

Secure dementia care facilities provide around-the-clock specialized care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Services include research-based activities that boost brain health and maintain cognitive function as well as assistance with personal care. Culinary teams prepare nutritious meals designed to stimulate the senses, including pureed meals and finger food when appropriate.

This guide offers an overview of memory care in Florence, compares long-term care costs and details affordable resources that can help seniors and their loved ones navigate the care system.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is responsible for overseeing memory care communities in Florence and elsewhere across the state. Dementia care providers fall under the state’s definition of Community Residential Care Facilities (CRCF). The department licenses facilities and ensures they comply with their licensing terms and relevant regulations.

 

• Overall, the cost of living in Florence is lower than state and national averages. Florence locals can expect to pay around 20% less for daily living as compared with the U.S. norm. Savings relate to diverse categories, including health, housing, transportation and groceries. Memory care residents may also be eligible for financial assistance through Medicaid waiver programs.  
• Sales and income tax rates are higher in South Carolina than national averages. However, the state doesn’t tax income from Social Security benefits and offers tax breaks for seniors.
• Crime rates are higher in Florence than in many other places across the country. On a 100-point scale, Florence rates 49.2 for violent crime while the U.S. average is 22.7. Property crime is even more prevalent, with Florence scoring 95.1, which is more than double the national average of 35.4. However, memory care communities provide safe and secure living environments, which may increase peace of mind for seniors and their loved ones.
• Florence offers easy access to affordable health care, with 264 doctors per 100,000 people. For comparison, the U.S. average is 210 physicians per capita. Health care costs in the city are also slightly lower than the nationwide average.
• Florence has two hospitals in close proximity: McLeod Regional Medical Center and Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center. Each offers a comprehensive range of medical services, including inpatient and outpatient care, as well as 24/7 emergency services.
• Climate-wise, Florence sees hot summers and mild winters. The city gets around 45 inches of rain throughout the year, which is more than the U.S. average of 38 inches. The city has more-than-average sunny days per annum, with 211 compared to the national average of 205.

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.

On average, memory care costs $4,320 per month in Florence, although exact rates depend on the services and amenities provided.

At $4,320 per month, memory care in Florence is cheaper than the respective state and national averages of $4,515 and $5,625. It’s also less expensive than in Spartanburg and Charleston, where seniors tend to pay around $4,500 and $4,931, respectively. Seniors in Florence generally pay $1,305 less than their contemporaries in Hilton Head Island. However, rates in Sumter are roughly $991 more affordable than in Florence.  

In Florence, memory care services are cheaper than nursing home care, with a semiprivate nursing home room running $6,844 per month. Aging in place is more cost-effective than dementia care, with in-home and home health care providers charging around $4,195 monthly. Averaging $3,456 per month, assisted living facilities cost less than memory care communities. The median rate of adult day health care, the cheapest option, is $1,222.   

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.