1 Assisted Living Community in North Augusta, South Carolina

The average cost of assisted living in the city is $2,950 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 1 Assisted Living Community in North Augusta and several in surrounding areas. The Cost of Senior Care in North Augusta, SC

• Assisted Living: $2,950
• Nursing Home Care: $6,023
• In-home Care: $3,623
• Adult Day Health Services: $1,463

Data from Genworth’s 2018 Cost of Care study reveals that at $2,950 per month, assisted living in North Augusta is very affordable compared to the state ($3,500) and national ($4,000) averages. North Augusta can’t claim the lowest costs in the state since that distinction belongs to Florence ($2,275), and Spartanburg isn’t far behind at $2,310. The highest assisted living rates are found in the coastal cities of Hilton Head Island ($3,850), Charleston ($3,925) and Myrtle Beach, where costs average $4,526 per month.

Note: Senior care cost data wasn’t available for North Augusta, so data for the adjacent city of Augusta, GA, was used instead.

Geographic location plays a role in the cost of senior care, but other factors, including the type of care, where care is received and whether skilled services are provided, ultimately determine the rates for different care options within a community. In North Augusta, nursing homes that provide round-the-clock skilled services cost the most. Even though assisted living is also provided in a residential setting, it’s only half as costly. Adult day health services received on a weekday-only basis in a care center are just one-quarter the cost of nursing home care. In-home services cost several hundred dollars more per month than assisted living, even though they don’t include necessities such as food, utilities and maintenance that are typically covered by residential care fees.

 

Medicaid is the nation’s largest health care program, serving over 72 million low-income people, including families with children, pregnant women and the elderly, blind and disabled. This wide-ranging program is a joint initiative of the federal and state governments with federal regulation and oversight of individual state-administered plans.

The South Carolina Medicaid plan known as Healthy Connections is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services and provides essential health care services to over 900,000 state residents. Services covered include physician and specialist care, emergency and inpatient hospital care, lab and X-ray services, prescription drugs and long-term care in nursing home facilities.

North Augusta seniors can qualify for Medicaid coverage if they’re aged 65 and older or younger than age 64 and blind or disabled and:

• A U.S. citizen or legal resident
• Have a monthly income of $2,313 as an individual and $4,626 as a married couple
• Have countable assets valued at less than $2,000 if single and $4,000 as a married couple

Medicaid considers income from all sources, but some assets are disregarded, such as a principal home, household furnishings, one automobile, personal belongings including jewelry and a non-revocable burial trust.

Married seniors who are over these limits may still qualify for coverage if their spouse doesn’t apply. Medicaid allows the transfer of up to $3,160.50 of an applicant’s monthly income as a non-applicant spousal living allowance. A non-applicant spouse can also keep up to $66,480 of the couple’s joint assets.

Other seniors whose income exceeds the Medicaid cap may qualify for long-term care coverage by setting up a non-revocable Income Trust. Their over-limit monthly income is deposited into the trust account and must be used to pay medical bills or long-term care expenses.

North Augusta seniors and those with disabilities can apply for Healthy Connections Medicaid coverage online or by contacting the Aiken County Department of Social Services at (803) 202-3500. 

Community Long-Term Care Choices Waiver

The Healthy Connections program only covers long-term care in nursing facilities. However, it does offer a Community Long Term Care Choices waiver that may provide some financial relief to seniors who want to avoid nursing home placement and reside in an assisted living setting. Although the waiver doesn’t pay for room and board expenses, it does cover other services such as:

• Case management
• Assistance with personal care and daily living activities
• Attendant or companion services
• Wellness checks
• Periodic skilled nursing services
• Transportation
• Necessary medical equipment and supplies
• Nutritional supplements

South Carolina seniors aged 65 and older may qualify for the Choices waiver if they meet Medicaid’s income, asset and residency requirements. Additionally, applicants must need a nursing home level of care but be able to safely live in a community setting with the services and supports provided under the waiver.

The waiver program has an enrollment cap, so those who qualify may have to wait until a slot opens up to receive services.

Seniors can apply for the Choices waiver online, by calling (803) 202-3500 or in person at the Aiken County DSS office.

Optional State Supplementation

Seniors eligible for or receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits from the federal government may also qualify for a monthly Optional State Supplementation top-up to use for assisted living room and board costs or other expenses.

To qualify, OSS applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents aged 65 and older or be younger than 65 and disabled or blind. They also have to live in a state-licensed residential care facility, earn less than $1,456 per month and have less than $2,000 in countable assets.

Seniors can learn more about OSS program by calling (803) 202-3500. They can apply for the benefit online or in person at the North Augusta office of the Aiken County DSS.

Veterans Aid and Attendance Program

Senior North Augusta veterans who currently receive a VA pension may qualify for an additional monthly benefit through the Aid and Attendance pension program. Veterans already receiving VA disability benefits aren’t eligible for the A&A program. Applicants must be an honorably discharged wartime veteran or a surviving spouse and meet one of the following criteria:

• Require assistance with activities of daily living

• Have a severe, permanent visual impairment

• Be bedridden at home or reside in a nursing home due to chronic illness or disability

For information about eligibility or assistance navigating the program’s complex application process, senior veterans can contact the Aiken County Veterans Affairs office at (803) 642-1545.

The Lower Savannah Area Agency on Aging operates the state’s only aging, disability and transportation resource center. Its mission is to help area seniors live fulfilling, independent lives. The center’s staff provides information and access to aging-related resources, such as state and federal programs and benefits, transportation services, long-term care options and medical insurance. Seniors and their caregivers can reach the ADTRC help line by calling (866) 845-1550. Lower Savannah Area Agency on Aging
2748 Wagener Rd., Aiken, SC 29801
(803) 649-7981

The Aiken County Veterans Affairs office provides local veterans with application assistance for pensions and benefits, help filing appeals and a full range of counseling services. Veterans can receive comprehensive health care at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in neighboring Augusta, GA. The available services include primary care, podiatry, audiology, dental, surgical and specialist care.

Aiken County Veterans Affairs Office
1930 University Pkwy., Ste. 2300, Aiken, SC 29801
(803) 642-1545 

Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center
950 15th St., Augusta, GA 30904
(706) 733-0188

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