8 Assisted Living Communities in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $4,526 a month. This guide is a starting point covering the cost of assisted living care in the city, as well as financing options to pay for it. You’ll find in-depth information on 8 Assisted Living Communities in Myrtle Beach and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in Myrtle Beach, SC

• Assisted Living: $4,526
• Nursing Home Care: $6,235
• In-home Care: $3,718
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,213

The 2018 Genworth Cost of Care study reveals that Myrtle Beach ($4,526) has the highest assisted living costs of all the North Carolina cities surveyed. Rates here are also moderately higher than the national average ($4,000) and substantially more expensive than the state average of $3,500. Charleston is the closest in cost but still $600 less per month at $3,925. The least costly location is Florence at $2,275, where assisted living rates are almost half those in Myrtle Beach.

The cost of senior care depends on various factors such as location, the type of care and services provided and the number of hours per month services are received. Nursing home care is the most costly in Myrtle Beach, largely because it offers skilled services and 24-hour care. In-home care including homemaker or home health aide services cost considerably less than assisted living. Although these services may seem like a more cost-effective option, it’s important to consider other expenses related to staying at home, such as maintenance, food and utilities, for a reliable cost comparison.

 

Medicaid was established in 1965 by the federal government to provide necessary health care services to low-income Americans. The program is funded jointly by federal and state revenue and operates under federal guidelines but is administered by individual states.

South Carolina’s Medicaid program, Healthy Connections, is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services and provides services for over 20% of the state’s residents. To qualify for Medicaid, those over age 65, blind or disabled must be a South Carolina resident and:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Have monthly income below $1,041 for an individual or $1,409 for a married couple
• Have assets of less than $7,730 as an individual or $11,600 as a married couple

Those who qualify receive a range of services including doctors visits, hospital care, laboratory tests, X-rays and prescription drugs. Supplemental Security Income recipients automatically qualify for full Medicaid benefits.

Medicaid-eligible seniors with a monthly income of up to $2,313 and $2,000 or less in assets per person qualify for long-term care in a nursing home. There are exceptions to these financial limits for married applicants when only one spouse applies:

• Those whose two-person household income is above the combined $4,626 limit may still qualify because Medicaid allows up to $3,160.50 in monthly income to be transferred to their non-applicant spouse as a living allowance.
• Those who are over the basic countable asset limit even with allowed exemptions, such as a home, vehicle and personal effects, may qualify when $66,480 in joint assets are deducted, which is the amount allowed a non-applicant spouse.

Community Choices Long-Term Care Waiver

South Carolina’s Medicaid plan doesn’t pay for assisted living as it does nursing home care. It does offer a Community Choices waiver program that may benefit those who want to move to an assisted living facility. The goal of the waiver is to lower long-term care costs by keeping seniors in the community and reducing nursing home placements. Medicaid-eligible individuals who qualify for nursing home care must be assessed to ensure they can live safely in a community setting with the provided waiver services. Room-and-board costs aren’t covered, but the program pays for other services such as:

• Case management
• Attendant or companion services
• Personal care and help with activities of daily living
• Incontinence supplies
• Necessary durable medical equipment
• Health checks including blood pressure and blood glucose levels
• Intermittent skilled nursing services
• Transportation
• Nutritional supplements

This long-term care waiver isn’t an entitlement, and SCDHHS limits statewide enrollment numbers, so those who qualify may have to wait for a slot to become available.

To learn more or to apply for the Community Choices waiver program, Myrtle Beach residents can visit the local SCDHHS office at 1601 11th Ave. in Conway or call (843) 248-7249.

Aid and Attendance Benefits or Housebound Allowance

Senior veterans and surviving spouses who receive a regular VA pension may qualify for an additional monthly stipend from Veterans Affairs. The VA offers two programs, the Aid and Attendance benefit and Housebound allowance, which are available to those 65 and older who meet specific eligibility criteria:

• For A&A benefits, applicants must have a severe visual impairment, be bedridden due to disability or persistent illness or need daily help with activities such as bathing, dressing or eating.

• For the Housebound allowance, applicants must have a disability that keeps them primarily confined to their home.

Eligible veterans must have served during wartime and been honorably discharged, but their qualifying disability doesn’t need to be service related. Those who receive a VA disability pension aren’t eligible for these programs, and others may only qualify for one of the two benefits. Applying can be time consuming and complicated, and the determination process is quite lengthy, but benefits may be paid retroactively once approved.

To learn more about these programs or for assistance applying, senior veterans can contact the Horry County Veterans Affairs office at (843) 915-5480.

Optional State Supplementation

The state of South Carolina provides a monthly benefit to residents 65 and older, blind or disabled who reside in a participating, licensed assisted living facility. To qualify, applicants must meet all the eligibility requirements for federal Supplemental Security Income benefits other than the monthly income limit of $771 per person or $1,157 per couple. An applicant must also:

• Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident

• Have $1,456 or less in monthly income

• Own $2,000 or less in countable resources

The monthly benefit for those approved is sent directly to their care facility to cover room-and-board expenses. Acceptance also qualifies the recipient for full state Medicaid benefits.

Seniors can apply for the OSS program online, visit the Horry County SCDHHS office at 1201 Creel St. in Conway or call (888) 549-0820 for assistance. 

The Horry County Council on Aging serves the Myrtle Beach area as the regional Area Agency on Aging provider. Here, seniors can get referrals to local resources, receive health insurance and long-term care counselling and arrange no-cost transportation. The HCCOA also operates two senior centers in the Myrtle Beach area. For a $20 yearly membership fee, seniors can socialize over morning coffee, enjoy a healthy weekday lunch, receive health and nutrition education and take part in an assortment of planned activities including exercise classes, card and board games, shopping excursions and group trips. Horry County Council on Aging
2213 North Main St., Conway, SC 29526
(843) 248-5523 Grand Strand Senior Center
1268 21st Ave., North Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 626-3991  Carolina Forest Senior Center
121 Gateway Dr., Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
(843) 903-0355

Veterans and their survivors can receive help filing for benefits and pensions, making appeals and enrolling in the VA health system at the Horry County Veterans Affairs office. The Myrtle Beach VA clinic offers primary care, mental health and other services including podiatry, audiology, optometry and physical therapy. Seniors can also socialize with fellow veterans at the N Myrtle Beach VFW post.

Horry County Veterans Affairs Office
1949 Industrial Park Rd., Suite 101, Conway, SC 29526
(843) 915-5480

Myrtle Beach VA Outpatient Clinic
1101 Johnson Ave., Suite R-2A, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
(843) 477-0177

N Myrtle Beach VFW Post 10804
111 Hwy. 57, North Little River, SC 29566
(843) 399-0877

Senior Homes has an extensive directory of senior living options, with care and living providers across the United States.