Myrtle Beach, a community of about 36,000 permanent residents, is a top retirement destination in South Carolina. Here, about one in five people are aged 65 and over, which is the demographic most likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Despite the large senior community, the number of Alzheimer’s-related deaths is dropping. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of deaths linked to this disease dropped by 9% between 2016 and 2020. By comparison, the total number of deaths went up by 42%. At the beginning of this reporting period, Alzheimer’s was the primary cause of 8% of deaths, and that the end, 5% of deaths were attributed to this disease.
Residential dementia care can improve the quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s by providing them with engaging activities and innovative therapies. These facilities provide comfortable housing, daily meals and personalized care plans in secured, nurturing environments.
Through this guide, readers can learn more about dementia care in Myrtle Beach, including average local care costs and options that may be available for seniors and their families.
Directory of Memory Care Facilities in Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Estates is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, near the city’s boardwalk and a state park. Visitors describe the facility as clean and bright, with a staff that is professional and i
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Myrtle Beach Estates is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, near the city’s boardwalk and a state park. Visitors describe the facility as clean and bright, with a staff that is professional and informative. They note the beautiful outdoor area and walking trail, and residents can enjoy games, singing, dancing and group outings to shopping malls and local restaurants . Artists and musicians visit the community for live musical performances, and parties are thrown for special occasions. A beauty salon, well-stocked library and dance floor are available to residents.
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Myrtle Beach Estates is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, near the city’s boardwalk and a state park. Visitors describe the facility as clean and bright, with a staff that is professional and i
… (read more)
Myrtle Beach Estates is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, near the city’s boardwalk and a state park. Visitors describe the facility as clean and bright, with a staff that is professional and informative. They note the beautiful outdoor area and walking trail, and residents can enjoy games, singing, dancing and group outings to shopping malls and local restaurants . Artists and musicians visit the community for live musical performances, and parties are thrown for special occasions. A beauty salon, well-stocked library and dance floor are available to residents.
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Myrtle Beach Manor is close to Tanger Outlets, Northwood Plaza Shopping Center and Grand Strand Medical Center in South Carolina. Reviewers compliment the clean, pet-friendly apartments and well-decor
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Myrtle Beach Manor is close to Tanger Outlets, Northwood Plaza Shopping Center and Grand Strand Medical Center in South Carolina. Reviewers compliment the clean, pet-friendly apartments and well-decorated common areas. Visitors speak highly of the food and appreciate the varied menu. The community’s on-site amenities include a library, game room and computer lounge. Visitors appreciate the many available activities, such as bingo, the walking club and off-site trips to shopping centers. Relatives are impressed by the staff who they say are friendly and take good care of their loved ones.
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Myrtle Beach Manor is close to Tanger Outlets, Northwood Plaza Shopping Center and Grand Strand Medical Center in South Carolina. Reviewers compliment the clean, pet-friendly apartments and well-decor
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Myrtle Beach Manor is close to Tanger Outlets, Northwood Plaza Shopping Center and Grand Strand Medical Center in South Carolina. Reviewers compliment the clean, pet-friendly apartments and well-decorated common areas. Visitors speak highly of the food and appreciate the varied menu. The community’s on-site amenities include a library, game room and computer lounge. Visitors appreciate the many available activities, such as bingo, the walking club and off-site trips to shopping centers. Relatives are impressed by the staff who they say are friendly and take good care of their loved ones.
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Reflections Assisted Living is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, near Tanger Outlets, The Plaza at Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach National Golf Course. Visitors note the community’s well-deco
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Reflections Assisted Living is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, near Tanger Outlets, The Plaza at Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach National Golf Course. Visitors note the community’s well-decorated common areas, clean facilities and homelike environment. Reviewers speak highly of the friendly staff, who they say are concerned with the residents’ well being, and they comment favorably on the food. This Christian facility offers Sunday worship services and daily devotions. Other activities for residents include bingo, gardening and pet therapy. Reflections Assisted Living’s amenities include a patio, dining room and hairdressing services.
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Reflections Assisted Living is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, near Tanger Outlets, The Plaza at Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach National Golf Course. Visitors note the community’s well-deco
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Reflections Assisted Living is located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, near Tanger Outlets, The Plaza at Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach National Golf Course. Visitors note the community’s well-decorated common areas, clean facilities and homelike environment. Reviewers speak highly of the friendly staff, who they say are concerned with the residents’ well being, and they comment favorably on the food. This Christian facility offers Sunday worship services and daily devotions. Other activities for residents include bingo, gardening and pet therapy. Reflections Assisted Living’s amenities include a patio, dining room and hairdressing services.
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Brightwater has been very good to us. My mom’s room is in memory care and it’s beautiful. The staff is very caring and very attentive to all her needs and problems. The food could be a little better,
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Brightwater has been very good to us. My mom’s room is in memory care and it’s beautiful. The staff is very caring and very attentive to all her needs and problems. The food could be a little better, but their dining area is attractive and the atmosphere of the place is very nice and very friendly. They have different things to do every day. They make a lot of decorations for the different types of the year, they go on bus rides, they go get ice cream, or go over to the assisted living area for concerts. They don’t let them just sit in their room. They make sure that they’re involved in doing things, and they keep us all updated with newsletters and personal reports.
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Brightwater has been very good to us. My mom’s room is in memory care and it’s beautiful. The staff is very caring and very attentive to all her needs and problems. The food could be a little better,
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Brightwater has been very good to us. My mom’s room is in memory care and it’s beautiful. The staff is very caring and very attentive to all her needs and problems. The food could be a little better, but their dining area is attractive and the atmosphere of the place is very nice and very friendly. They have different things to do every day. They make a lot of decorations for the different types of the year, they go on bus rides, they go get ice cream, or go over to the assisted living area for concerts. They don’t let them just sit in their room. They make sure that they’re involved in doing things, and they keep us all updated with newsletters and personal reports.
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My loved one lived here for 2.5months. Unfortunately the memory care unit is sub par compared to those in the area. We learned the staff does not have the skills or toolkit to handle Sundowning deme
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My loved one lived here for 2.5months. Unfortunately the memory care unit is sub par compared to those in the area. We learned the staff does not have the skills or toolkit to handle Sundowning dementia patients. Often (more than 10 occasions) there was only one staff member in memory care to watch 11 residents. Once you raide an issue, the staff attitude
became unhelpful and uncaring.
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My loved one lived here for 2.5months. Unfortunately the memory care unit is sub par compared to those in the area. We learned the staff does not have the skills or toolkit to handle Sundowning deme
… (read more)
My loved one lived here for 2.5months. Unfortunately the memory care unit is sub par compared to those in the area. We learned the staff does not have the skills or toolkit to handle Sundowning dementia patients. Often (more than 10 occasions) there was only one staff member in memory care to watch 11 residents. Once you raide an issue, the staff attitude
became unhelpful and uncaring.
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Anderson Oaks Assisted Living is located in Conway, South Carolina, close to Conway Medical Center, Myrtle Beach National Golf Course and U.S. Highway 501. Visitors note the community’s wooded surroun
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Anderson Oaks Assisted Living is located in Conway, South Carolina, close to Conway Medical Center, Myrtle Beach National Golf Course and U.S. Highway 501. Visitors note the community’s wooded surroundings, clean facilities and friendly staff. They’re also pleased with the tidy, spacious rooms. The facility’s on-site amenities include a library, full-sized whirlpool and beauty salon. Visitors compliment the full schedule of activities, which includes bingo, exercise classes and ice cream socials. Church services and Bible study are also offered. Meals are served in the dining room, and visitors comment favorably on the food.
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Anderson Oaks Assisted Living is located in Conway, South Carolina, close to Conway Medical Center, Myrtle Beach National Golf Course and U.S. Highway 501. Visitors note the community’s wooded surroun
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Anderson Oaks Assisted Living is located in Conway, South Carolina, close to Conway Medical Center, Myrtle Beach National Golf Course and U.S. Highway 501. Visitors note the community’s wooded surroundings, clean facilities and friendly staff. They’re also pleased with the tidy, spacious rooms. The facility’s on-site amenities include a library, full-sized whirlpool and beauty salon. Visitors compliment the full schedule of activities, which includes bingo, exercise classes and ice cream socials. Church services and Bible study are also offered. Meals are served in the dining room, and visitors comment favorably on the food.
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My friend moved into St Gabriel of Murrells Inlet. It was convenient, and they were willing to take my friend because she’s a memory care patient. It was in close proximity to where her family could r
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My friend moved into St Gabriel of Murrells Inlet. It was convenient, and they were willing to take my friend because she’s a memory care patient. It was in close proximity to where her family could reach her. The care from the nurses is outstanding. They were very attentive, very caring, and patient. When I was there, they did dine out and gave the residents pizza. They have workstations and games, and they take them on outings.
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My friend moved into St Gabriel of Murrells Inlet. It was convenient, and they were willing to take my friend because she’s a memory care patient. It was in close proximity to where her family could r
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My friend moved into St Gabriel of Murrells Inlet. It was convenient, and they were willing to take my friend because she’s a memory care patient. It was in close proximity to where her family could reach her. The care from the nurses is outstanding. They were very attentive, very caring, and patient. When I was there, they did dine out and gave the residents pizza. They have workstations and games, and they take them on outings.
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Hope Arbor of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, is close to Huntington Beach State Park and the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk. Visitors give high marks to the facility for its cleanliness, spacious rooms an
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Hope Arbor of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, is close to Huntington Beach State Park and the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk. Visitors give high marks to the facility for its cleanliness, spacious rooms and good location. Several areas are available for residents to exercise, and visitors note the convenience of the on-site beauty salon. Guests appreciate the polite, professional staff and available transportation, which is provided to community members for shopping, doctor appointments and local events. Seniors can play pool in the billiards room or relax in the Creekside Cafe or Plantation Parlor.
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Hope Arbor of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, is close to Huntington Beach State Park and the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk. Visitors give high marks to the facility for its cleanliness, spacious rooms an
… (read more)
Hope Arbor of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, is close to Huntington Beach State Park and the Murrells Inlet Marsh Walk. Visitors give high marks to the facility for its cleanliness, spacious rooms and good location. Several areas are available for residents to exercise, and visitors note the convenience of the on-site beauty salon. Guests appreciate the polite, professional staff and available transportation, which is provided to community members for shopping, doctor appointments and local events. Seniors can play pool in the billiards room or relax in the Creekside Cafe or Plantation Parlor.
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COVID-19 Rules for Memory Care in Myrtle Beach
Since most COVID-19 rules for Memory Care Communities and other Senior Living Facilities are set at the state level, you can view the specific rules for your state on our Guide to Memory Care in South Carolina. Keep in mind that every community has specific policies that they put in place to protect their residents, so you should contact your local community for more information. Additionally, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging to learn more – find contact information here.
What to Consider About Memory Care in Myrtle Beach
The Bureau of Health Facility Licensing (BHFL) regulates all health care facilities and related care providers across the state of South Carolina, including Myrtle Beach. It licenses, inspects and enforces standards for facilities such as memory care residential facilities, nursing homes, hospices, home health agencies and adult day care centers.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Memory Care in Myrtle Beach
- For a small beach community, Myrtle Beach is well-served by memory care facilities and excellent general hospitals. Grand Strand Regional Medical Center, the Tidelands Health System, and McLeod Health Seacoast each have multiple satellite facilities for urgent care and specialty services. A dedicated Memory Disorders Clinic is located nearby at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
- Although sales taxes are on the high side (8.7% in contrast to the U.S. average of 7.3%), South Carolina and Myrtle Beach are fairly tax-friendly to seniors. In addition to no taxes on Social Security, those over 65 can deduct up to $15,000 in retirement income from pensions and IRAs. Thus, many seniors end up paying no income tax.
- Weather is one reason families and retirees flock to Myrtle Beach. Breezes off the water keep the town pleasantly comfortable in spite of hot and humid summers. Snowfall is scarce though fairly frequent in December. Air quality is considered above average in a state not known for tough environmental protections and that has no statewide climate plan.
- Retirees have always flocked to Myrtle Beach for its temperate climate, seaside location and cost of living that’s lower than the U.S. average. For seniors requiring residential memory care, this is reflected in average monthly costs of $5,087, which is considerably lower than the national average of $5,625.
- Myrtle Beach joined AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly Communities in 2020. The Network improves the lives of seniors in targeted communities through a commitment to improved urban infrastructure and accessibility.
Paying for Memory Care in Myrtle Beach
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.
Residential memory care in the Myrtle Beach area costs an average of $5,087 monthly. This is considerably higher than the state average of $4,515 per month, but well below the national average of $5,625.
The Cost of Memory Care in Nearby Cities
All of South Carolina is reasonably inexpensive when it comes to memory care, with the highest rates charged in Myrtle Beach. Coastal Charleston, at $4,931 per month, is also a more costly city for memory care. In Greenville, care averages $4,679 per month, and in Columbia near the center of the state, memory care averages $4,087 a month. Cheaper rates are available in Sumter, where $3,329 is the monthly average.
The Cost of Other Types of Senior Care
Memory care is the second most costly form of senior care after nursing home care, which requires professional staff and averages $6,372 monthly in a semiprivate room. In-home care, which typically supports seniors who need help with activities of daily living such as grooming and meal preparation, averages $4,576 monthly in Myrtle Beach. Home health care, which requires some degree of medical intervention for wound dressing changes and medication management, is a bit pricier at $4,767. Assisted living care in a facility averages $4,070. Adult day care, the least costly form of senior support, averages $1,300 a month in the Myrtle Beach area.
Nursing Home Care (semiprivate room)
Financial Assistance for Memory Care in Myrtle Beach
In Myrtle Beach, there are options for seniors who need financial assistance paying for Memory Care. For more information about other options, who qualifies, and how to apply, Memory Care in South Carolina page.
More Ways to Pay for Memory Care
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.
Free Memory Care Resources in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach offers a number of free resources for seniors who need some degree of memory care support, and even more are available in nearby communities. Often these organizations can provide personalized counseling and referrals to local services.
Funded by the South Carolina Department on Aging, ARCC is a statewide coordinator for services, information and educational programs that assist people who have Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders as well as their families or caregivers.
With a 24/7 helpline and programs for Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers, AA has several regional offices in South Carolina. It also offers in-person classes, workshops and counseling in several languages.
The Myrtle Beach Police Department works with other city and county agencies to provide protection and safety for Alzheimer's and dementia patients who wander. Project Lifesaver uses innovative tracking technology to find and help permanent residents and visitors with cognitive issues.
Located in nearby Hilton Head, Memory Matters is a community center helping seniors with cognitive disorders as well as their families and caregivers. Programs include adult day health care, brain health education, support groups and caregiver resources.
A grassroots community outreach initiative of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Summerville, The Ark offers support groups, memory screenings, respite support, an early memory loss program and The Navigation Club to support brain health.
Memory Care Laws and Regulations in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach Memory Care Communities must adhere to the comprehensive set of state laws and regulations that all Memory Care Facilities in South Carolina are required to follow. Visit our Memory Care in South Carolina page for more information about these laws.
