The 10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Charleston County, SC for 2024

Charleston County, South Carolina, has a population of 401,438 people, with 15.8 percent of residents aged 65 and older. Nine memory care facilities around Charleston County provide services for the state’s 89,000 people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia.

Facilities offering memory care are Community Residential Care Facilities            (CRCFs), while some may also be classified as Alzheimer’s Special Care Units      (SCUs) that offer specialized care and assistance with basic daily needs.

Considered the primary medical hub for eastern South Carolina, Charleston County is home to the Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center      (MUSC). MUSC Medical Center offers a Memory Disorders Clinic for advanced treatment of residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. 

• Winters in Charleston County are pleasant, with January lows averaging 40 degrees F, and summers are temperate, with July highs averaging 89 degrees F. It is a good idea to check how facilities keep residents comfortable in the event of temperature extremes.
• Charleston County ranks 51.7 out of 100 (with 100 being the safest) when it comes to the crime rate, which makes it roughly 13 points higher than the national average. Memory care facilities typically take precautions to safeguard residents, but it’s always good to check with each prospective facility to determine what precautions are in place to protect loved ones.
• Seniors with breathing problems can take comfort in the air quality in Charleston County. The American Lung Association has given the air here a passing grade.
• Seniors in South Carolina pay no tax on their Social Security retirement income benefits. A $15,000 deduction is available for seniors receiving other forms of retirement. 

Memory Care costs in Charleston County start around $5,423 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 Charleston 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.

Charleston 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.