Dementia

I. National & Statewide Resources

Alzheimer’s Association – South Carolina Chapter

• 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-272-3900

• Support groups, caregiver education, safety services

• Website: https://www.alz.org

South Carolina Department on Aging (SCDOA)

• Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-868-9095

• Dementia Care Specialist program

• Family Caregiver Support Program

• SC Dementia Toolkit (PDF)

• Website: https://aging.sc.gov

GetCareSC.com

• Search for senior services statewide

• Adult day care, home care, respite, transportation

• Website: https://GetCareSC.com

AARP Caregiving Resources

• Home safety, legal planning, dementia behavior guides

• Website: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving

II. Midlands Regional Resources

Central Midlands Area Agency on Aging (AAA)

Covers Richland, Lexington, Newberry, Fairfield

• Benefits counseling, referrals, respite

• Website: https://centralmidlands.org/agency_on_aging

Senior Resources, Inc. (Richland County)

• Meals on Wheels, senior centers, transportation, caregiver programs

• Website: https://www.seniorresourcesinc.org

Richland County Senior Services

• Needs assessments, in-home support, caregiver counseling

Recreation Commissions

Richland County Recreation Commission

• Senior fitness, social programs

• https://richlandcountyrecreation.com

Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission (LCRAC)

• Seniorcise, Zumba Gold, balance programs

• https://www.lcrac.com

Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC)

• Senior fitness, pickleball, yoga

• https://www.icrc.net

Project HOPE – Richland County Sheriff’s Department

• Home safety checks, elder outreach

• Website: https://www.rcsd.net/our-programs/project-hope

III. County-Specific Councils on Aging

Orangeburg County Council on Aging (OCCOA)

• Meals, transportation, senior center activities

• Phone: 803-531-4663

Aiken Senior Life Services

• Senior enrichment, meals, transportation

• Website: https://www.aikensenior.org

Additional Aiken resource:
Visiting Angels of Aiken – dementia-trained caregivers

• Phone: 803-335-3660

Other Counties

Visit GetCareSC.com and search by county:

• Calhoun

• Sumter

• Saluda

• Barnwell

• Bamberg

• Kershaw

• Fairfield

All provide:

• Senior centers

• Meals

• Transportation

• Limited caregiver support

• Social activities

IV. Physical Activity & Social Engagement

Lourie Center – Columbia

• Senior fitness center (age 50+)

• Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates, strength, cardio

• Website: https://www.seniorresourcesinc.org/thelouriecenter

Lexington County Recreation & Aging (LCRAC)

• Seniorcise, low-impact aerobics, dance classes

• Website: https://www.lcrac.com

Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission (ICRC)

• Senior fitness classes, pickleball, stretching

• Website: https://www.icrc.net

Richland County Adult Activity Centers

• Adaptive equipment (Nu-Step), strength classes

• Website: https://richlandcountyrecreation.com

YMCA of Columbia

• Water aerobics, circuit training, senior personal training

• Website: https://columbiaymca.org

Libraries (Richland, Lexington, Sumter, Orangeburg)

• Memory cafés

• Book clubs

• Technology help

• Health education workshops

Senior Centers

• Group meals, outings, hobby groups

• Supportive for mood, mobility, and cognition

V. In-Home Support, Caregiving & Safety

In-Home Dementia-Trained Care Agencies

• Visiting Angels

• Home Instead

• Right at Home

• Interim Healthcare
  (availability varies by county)

Home Safety & Fall Prevention

• Project HOPE home visits

• Occupational therapy safety evaluations

• Installation of grab bars, lighting adjustments, etc.

Respite Care

• Through SCDOA Family Caregiver Support Program

• Adult Day Health Programs (county-specific)

VI. PACE: Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

Prisma Health SeniorCare PACE (Richland & Lexington Counties)

• Phone: 803-931-8175

• Fax: 803-434-3773

• Address: 1308 Laurel Street, 2nd Floor, Columbia, SC 29201

• For adults 55+ needing nursing-home level care but able to live safely at home

Orangeburg Senior Helping Center PACE

Covers: Orangeburg, Calhoun, Bamberg

• Phone: 803-268-5300

• Address: 153 Founders Court, Orangeburg, SC 29118

PACE benefits:

• Full medical + social + rehab care

• Transportation, coordinated medication management

• Keeps older adults safely at home

• Covers Medicare + Medicaid services

VII. Educational, Legal, & Planning Resources

Alzheimer’s Association Education Series

• Communication, behaviors, safety, late-stage planning

SCDOA Dementia Toolkit

• Practical guidance for families in all stages

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

• Alzheimer’s and dementia education

• https://nia.nih.gov

Legal & Financial Resources

• SC Legal Services (Elder Law)

• SC Bar Lawyer Referral Service

• AARP legal/financial dementia planning guides

Driving Safety Evaluations

• Occupational therapy assessments

• Alzheimer’s Association driving decision tools

VIII. Free Tuition for SC Residents 60+

South Carolina Senior Citizen Tuition Program

• Tuition-free courses at public colleges/universities

• Audit or for-credit (space-available)

• Includes: USC system, Clemson, SC Technical Colleges, Winthrop, The Citadel

• Information: https://www.sciway.net/edu/colleges/sc-senior-citizen-education.html

Benefits:

• Cognitive stimulation

• Social engagement

• Lifelong learning

IX. Emergency & Identification Resources

Silver Alert (South Carolina)

• Statewide notification for missing adults with dementia

MedicAlert + Safe Return

• ID registry for individuals at risk of wandering

Smartphone Medical ID Setup

• Available in iPhone and Android settings

• Many libraries and senior centers help with setup

Medication Assistance

Parkinson's Disease

Michael J Fox Foundation

Parkinson's Foundation

Rock Steady Boxing

Forms and Scoring

Rating Scales

ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS)

Dementia Severity Rating Scale (DSRS)

Myasthenia Gravis ADL Profile (MG ADL)

Migraine Disability Scale (MIDAS)

Cognitive Testing

MoCA 8.1 and 8.2

MoCA 8.3

MMSE

Ehler's Danlos Syndrome

MUSC Health Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Center

Rheumatology - Dr Anne Maitland