Charleston Senior AdvisorWhat changes when a parent moves to South Carolina for care?
Licensing and public programs change: South Carolina licenses assisted living as community residential care facilities through DPH, and Medicaid, OSS and the Community Choices waiver are South Carolina programs with their own applications that require South Carolina residency.
Medicaid coverage from another state does not transfer. A parent on Medicaid elsewhere will need to apply in South Carolina after moving, so plan for a gap and ask the receiving facility how it handles pending applications. Medicare is federal and moves with your parent, though a Medicare Advantage plan may need to change.
Where in the Lowcountry should a parent live?
As close as practical to the family member who will visit most, because a 15-minute drive becomes a weekly visit and a 45-minute drive across bridges becomes a monthly one.
The tri-county area spreads from Moncks Corner and Summerville to the islands. DPH's data shows 60 licensed CRCFs in the three counties with 3,452 licensed beds; 4 are small community residences run by the county disabilities board, which leaves 56 that serve older adults, 42 of them in Charleston County. Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, Summerville and North Charleston have the most licensed choices; the islands and rural Berkeley and Dorchester have few. Use the Charleston area pages and city pages to see what is licensed near you.
What should be in place before moving day?
A South Carolina physician or a plan to establish one, a physical exam within 30 days before admission if the destination is a CRCF, transferred prescriptions, copies of legal documents and insurance cards, and a clear budget for the first two years.
CRCF residents must establish care with a South Carolina-licensed physician within 30 days after admission. Ask the facility which doctors visit the building, because that can make the transition simpler.
Should a family worry about hurricanes and heat?
Plan for them rather than worry: Lowcountry facilities must keep written evacuation plans and sheltering agreements, and families should know which building their parent would go to and how they will be told.
Summers are hot and humid, which matters for people with heart or lung disease and for anyone who walks outdoors. Ask any building about air-conditioning backup, generator coverage and the location of the sheltering facility.
Side by side
| A good relocation plan | A risky relocation plan | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicaid | Accounts for applying anew in South Carolina | Assumes coverage carries over |
| Location | Puts the parent near the most involved family member | Chooses the most impressive building far away |
| Doctors | Lines up a South Carolina physician early | Waits for the first problem |
| Storms | Knows the facility's sheltering destination | Assumes the building never evacuates |
Sources: S.C. Code Regs. 60-84, DPH Healthcare Quality, SCDHHS bulletins and charts, CareScout, CMS and VA rate tables, as cited in each answer. See our editorial standards.
