A senior apartment in Charleston, South Carolina, is sure to delight. Situated on the Charleston Harbor, waterfront views and easy access to beaches aren’t hard to come by. A Charleston senior apartment is likely to be in close proximity to historical landmarks like Fort Sumter, giving the city historical depth of character.
It’s hard not to imagine enjoying the Southern hospitality of the new friends you’ll meet in your own senior apartment community where laid-back living is the norm. You won’t have to worry about things like lawn care or household repairs. You can expect to feel safe and secure in an apartment complex designed with the needs and desires of those 55 and older in mind.
In this guide, we’ll show you some of the senior apartments you might soon be calling home within a 10-mile radius of the heart of Charleston and help you think through ways to pay for them. A Place for Mom will also give you plenty of information about regulations you can expect to protect your senior apartment stay, as well as a look at options for health care, transportation, and all the wonderful things to do in the vibrant, historic city of Charleston.
A great choice for a much loved family member. We picked this community because it was close by, clean and had friendly staff.
It's a delightful place with southern beach charm !The room was great spacious being able to look out the windows and see the hummingbird feeders in the birdhouse feeders in the garden beds was spectacular...
We developed a proprietary recommendation system that orders Charleston community options based on factors we know are important to seniors and their families:
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The average rent for a senior apartment in Charleston is around $2,000.[01] Depending on what you want, you could end up spending as little as $1,180 or as much as $4,416. Location, convenience, and additional amenities all influence how much a specific senior apartment complex will cost.
The graphic below is representative of the average baseline costs of a senior apartment without taking into account any additional fees or add-on extras.
Paying rent at a senior apartment usually comes out of your own pocket, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to make sure you can find savings elsewhere to leave more breathing room in your budget. While programs like Medicaid, Medicare, or long-term care insurance won’t help with senior apartment rent, they can pay for the medical care you might need while living there.
Here, we’ll discuss private payment methods and how VA benefits, public assistance, as well as Medicaid and Medicare might be able to help.
Senior apartments in South Carolina are not required to be licensed as they do not offer nursing or medical care of any kind. They typically provide independent living for adults who are 55 and older, and they may offer amenities such as housekeeping services, transportation, and social activities.
The laws and regulations for senior apartments in Charleston are generally the same as those throughout South Carolina. Some of the primary laws that apply to senior apartments in Charleston include the following:
Senior apartments that accept Housing Choice Vouchers must meet Housing Quality Standards (HQS) set by the federal government and pass Real Estate Assessment Center (REAC) inspections every 9 to 15 months. Contact the HUD office to request inspection reports.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
2600 Bull St.
Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 855-472-3432
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
There are no specific COVID-19 mandates for senior apartments in Charleston, but the city does provide some guidelines and provides coronavirus updates here, which are in line with the CDC recommendations for prevention.
From studio to 2-bedroom options, there is sure to be a size and floor plan that fits your needs in Charleston. You can expect hassle-free living with on-site maintenance, added security features, and plenty of extras.
Since Charleston is a coastal city, you can find some unique amenities in Charleston senior apartments that give a nod to that waterfront lifestyle. Some senior apartments in Charleston have large marshfront relaxation decks, crab docks, kayak docks, and even kayak storage available. You’ll also be able to enjoy amenities like lawn games, swimming pools, and fitness centers. Pickleball courts, shuffleboard, and private movie theaters are also common.
Charleston’s senior apartment market is mostly high-end. Apartments generally feature stainless steel kitchen appliances, French-door refrigerators, granite countertops, brushed-nickel finishes, custom cabinets, and designer lighting. Plenty of storage, accessibility (like walk-in showers), and even extra perks like assigned golf cart parking.
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Getting around town is primarily going to require a car of your own. Charleston doesn’t have a robust public transportation system, scoring just 24 on a scale of 100, according to Walk Score, which rates cities on how well their public transit is set up to get people around.[04] The city offers buses operating on several fixed routes through the Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority (CARTA). There are also three Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) routes. CARTA provides several free ride days for seniors who are 55+ to encourage seniors to learn the bus system.
CARTA OnDemand offers seniors who are at least 55 years old up to 20 trips per month on fixed routes within this service area for as little as $4 because the program subsidizes the rest of the fare. This program is a partnership between the city and Uber. Current Tel-A-Ride paratransit customers automatically qualify.
There are some private options available to Charleston residents who need to get around town:
If you’d like to get around on foot, the most walkable areas in Charleston are the Radcliffeborough, Cannonborough, and Elliotborough neighborhoods.[04] Biking is an option, as there are some trails and urban infrastructure for bicycles. The city of Charleston provides this guide around safety and laws for bikes.
From the architectural splendor of Charleston’s Rainbow Row to the waterfront beauty of Charleston Harbor and everything in between, there is so much beauty and vibrance to take in!
Founded in 1670, it’s no surprise that Charleston has plenty of things to see and do for resident history buffs. Walking tours or horse-drawn carriage tours are a great way to take it all in. Visit the Nathaniel Russell House Museum to get a glimpse inside of a fully restored late Colonial-era mansion.
You can take in America’s first museum, The Charleston Museum, as it celebrates its 250th anniversary. The Old Slave Mart Museum in Charleston is the first African-American slave museum and is especially meaningful as it is often staffed by people who trace their roots to America’s slavery heritage.
Charleston’s Fort Sumter has an infamous place in history as the location of the opening shot of the Civil War. Touring the site is not fully accessible, but many portions are. To get there, you have to ride a ferry boat. While there is a ramp system for those who use wheelchairs, the tides can sometimes prohibit the use of the ramps. It’s best to call ahead to make sure ramps are in use when you want to visit.
Spending time taking in the sights of Charleston wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the historic Charleston City Market, which operates every day of the week. The night market operates on Friday and Saturday evenings to give everyone the opportunity to find Southern staples and the well-known sweetgrass baskets.
The Gibbes Museum of Art features visual arts, special exhibits, lectures, and even art sales. Parts of the museum are free, while other parts require a ticket. The museum offers this accessibility guide to ensure an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Charleston’s Gaillard Center hosts an assortment of performing arts, from ballet to live music to comedy. The center is fully accessible and offers assisted listening devices and sensory-friendly experiences. Another spot for live music is the Charleston Music Hall. There are six accessible seating locations; you can view them on this seating chart. The Black Fedora Comedy Mystery Theatre makes for a fun night out, too.
Charleston’s Waterfront Park is so much more than an ordinary park! With eight acres of gorgeous manicured greenspace along more than 1,000 feet of coastline, this landmark is an experience for the senses. Take a stroll along the many paths or down the pier, relax on a bench or family-sized swing, and check out the beautiful fountains.
If you love being active outside, there are plenty of great places to fish. The James Island County Park fishing dock is one of many fishing holes to keep in mind in addition to Waterfront Park. Sailing is big business at Charleston Harbor, and many places offer sailing tours. Take in the Lowcountry wetlands by renting a canoe or a kayak.
For land lovers, there are gorgeous fairways to consider, with seven golf courses in Charleston. Head out to Folly Beach to kick back on the six miles of sandy shore, listen to the waves, and catch some sun.
Quality Care Residential Home, Cypress Square and Restore at Carolina Park are the top-rated Senior Apartments facilities near Charleston, SC. These Senior Apartments facilities received the highest rankings based on verified family reviews. See full list of communities.
The average cost of Senior Apartments in Charleston is $3,286 per month. This cost may vary based on location, amenities, floorplan, level of care and other factors.
A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Healthgrades. (2023). MUSC Health University Medical Center.
Healthgrades. (2023). Roper Hospital.
WalkScore. (2023). Living in Charleston.
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A Place for Mom. (2023). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
Healthgrades. (2023). MUSC Health University Medical Center.
Healthgrades. (2023). Roper Hospital.
WalkScore. (2023). Living in Charleston.