According to Genworth Financials' 2021 Cost of Care Survey, the average cost of a Nursing Home in Columbia comes to around $8,790 per month. It is higher than the South Carolina average of $7,867. And if compared to the national monthly average of $7,756, Columbia nursing home cost is 13% higher.
Nursing Home rates in Columbia and the surrounding suburbs depend on multiple factors, including location, level of care, apartment size, and amenities offered in each community.
The nearest city to Columbia in terms of distance is State Park, where Nursing Home costs around $8,790 per month, The cost is similar to the monthly median Nursing Home in Columbia. Seniors in Hopkins pay an average of $8,790 per month, which is similar to per month what their peers pay in Columbia.
Columbia has more senior care facilities available for seniors other than nursing homes. For example, if your senior loved one struggles with memory-related issues like dementia or Alzheimer's Disease (AD), memory care in Columbia would be more suitable. These facilities care for their daily needs and mental health issues. This specific level of care can cost less than nursing home costs in Columbia.
Apart from dementia care facilities, seniors have the option to shift to assisted living facilities in Columbia after completing skilled nursing care treatment. Here the ADLs & IADLs are well taken care of. Compared to Columbia nursing home costs, assisted living in Columbia can be much lower. Active seniors can also choose independent living facilities in Columbia to enjoy high quality of life.
The senior care options available in Columbia are:
Assisted Living: Assisted living communities in Columbia offer services that help seniors to receive assistance with ADLs & IADLs daily meal services, and recreational opportunities with other seniors in a community.
Independent Living: Independent living is for active older adults who want to downsize to a home in a retirement community but don't need help to live completely alone.
Memory Care: These communities are for seniors struggling with Alzheimer's or other advanced forms of dementia.
Home Care: Caregivers provide services to older adults in their home to provide primary healthcare, meal delivery services, meal preparation, and transportation to and from appointments.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC): A CCRC accommodates Assisted living, Independent living, and Nursing Home care. This means that you can live out the rest of your life in the same setting with on-site medical care.
The median home cost in Columbia comes at $170,300. This brings Columbia housing index to 59.1, which is lower than the South Carolina housing index of 73.6. The overall cost of living index in Columbia is 84.3 that is lower than the national average of 100 and lower than the state average of 88.5.
The population of Columbia is 132,130. The median age in the city is 28.3, and about 10% of its population is age 65 or older.
Columbia is quite diverse, with white, black, and Hispanic/Latino being the three most common ethnicities in the city, about 48% of residents identify as white alone.
The violent crime rate of 39.5 in Columbia is higher than the national average of 22.7. And the property crime rate of 76 seems higher than the national rate of 35.4.
Seasonal Temperatures: Columbia has a typical summer high of 94°F and a winter low of 35°F. And the yearly rainfall here is about 46 inches, while the snowfall is around 1 inch(es) on average.
Air Quality: The Average air quality index rating is usually 40, which is lower than the national average of 58.The index rating at or below 100 is considered satisfactory.
The health index of 107.1 indicates resourceful quality of healthcare services available for seniors, This index is higher than the state average of 102.3. The Columbia hospitals cater their services to meet treatment requirements of seniors and people of all ages. Therefore, you can rest assured of getting the best possible care in Columbia for any common or chronic health condition.
Many seniors and their families require financial aid to pay for nursing care in Columbia. Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans' benefits are among the most common options. These programs might be difficult to understand, especially when it comes to the terms of the benefits. In the sections below, we have briefly summarized how these programs can help to pay for skilled nursing care in Columbia.
For the first 20 days of a skilled nursing home stay, Medicare will cover entire costs and a significant percentage of the covered expenses until day 100. After that, Medicare will not cover any part of the cost. While this is sufficient for short-term care, those who require long-term care must either pay out of pocket or seek financial support from another source.
For those who qualify, Medicaid pays for skilled nursing care when Medicare stops covering after 100 days. In addition, it covers the long-term care costs of living in an approved nursing home. However, because Medicaid eligibility requirements are stringent and complicated, not all seniors are eligible for benefits.
Veterans receiving a VA pension may be eligible for the VA's Aid and Attendance benefit. Aid and Attendance is a monthly stipend that veterans and their spouses can use to pay for long-term care, such as skilled nursing care.
Read more about A&A Veteran Benefits
Check out more nursing home payment options from our Nursing Homes South Carolina page. You can also contact your Area Agency on Aging to ask about local financial assistance programs for seniors.
Columbia nursing home facilities must adhere to standards to ensure quality services for senior residents. These facilities should be strict in providing quality services as they cater to the vulnerable group of seniors who suffer from medical conditions. Thus, the facility staff must be well-trained and skilled. In addition, the communities must be secured and possess all the amenities a senior patient might require. As a result, South Carolina has set some rules and regulations for every nursing care facility in Columbia. Check out the specific laws and regulations from the Nursing Homes South Carolina page.
Seniors who need long-term care can learn about the wide range of services available in Columbia by contacting one of the many senior services agencies in the region. These agencies help seniors navigate their long-term care options, learn about financial aid programs, and, whenever possible, arrange support to help older adults avoid or delay institutionalization. Find out more about specific resources and ways to contact the departments from the Nursing Homes South Carolina page.
BoomersHub can change without notice any of its compiled cost data provided by senior living communities. This data is used for informational purposes only and may have inaccuracies. In addition, actual independent living costs may vary depending on personal choices and situations.