Assisted living in South Carolina: how it is licensed.
Who licenses assisted living in South Carolina, and what to check before you choose.
What South Carolina calls it
In South Carolina, assisted living is licensed under the term “Community Residential Care Facility (CRCF)”. Other states use different names, so it helps to know the exact term when you search.
Who licenses and inspects
South Carolina Department of Public Health, Healthcare Quality is the agency that licenses these communities. It is the official place to check a community’s license and inspection history.
Paying for care
Medicare generally does not cover long term custodial care.
South Carolina's Community Choices waiver, a Medicaid program run by the Department of Health and Human Services, is an alternative to nursing home care for people 65 and older and adults 18-64 with physical disabilities who meet nursing facility level of care; its page does not mention community residential care facilities. Eligibility rules apply.
Help and complaints
South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman Program supports residents of long term care and their families.
Also worth knowing in South Carolina
South Carolina licenses Community Residential Care Facilities, which offer room and board and provide or coordinate personal care for two or more adults who are not closely related to the licensee.
Sources we checked (October 2026)
Licensing rules change. We checked the pages below. Confirm with the state agency.
Questions
Who regulates assisted living in South Carolina?
South Carolina Department of Public Health, Healthcare Quality.