The Palmettos Assisted Living of Charleston
By Debbie Lagestee
Moving a loved one into an Assisted Living facility is one of life’s most significant decisions. Choosing a place with a capable and loving staff is of the utmost importance. In addition, the peace of mind knowing an aging relative is safe and well cared for is priceless.
The Palmettos of Charleston is a part of National HealthCare Corporation. They offer Assisted Living and Memory Care Services. NHC has been an industry leader for nearly 50 years and came to Charleston in 2008 when they purchased a Long Term Care/ Rehab facility and an Assisted Living Community. The 2 communities are now NHC Health Care of Charleston and The Palmettos of Charleston. Palmettos Executive Director, Megan Martin, has been leading the Community for over 17 years.
The majority of the full-time staff, including management, housekeeping, food service, maintenance, and the nursing department staff, have been there for over a decade. They pride themselves on their dedication to the Community and its Residents. Megan says, “We are all family here, and we are so fortunate to have a compassionate group of people who share our mindset and love our Residents like their own family.”
The Palmettos has the philosophy “Generations Serving Generations”, with a commitment to enhancing the lives of those who call the community home. Each day, they strive to recognize each person as an individual and honor their unique personalities and needs. Palmettos believe in an open-door policy for Residents, family, and partners, creating a sense of transparency and cohesiveness. This past year was filled with hardships for the Residents with limited visits with their loved ones. However, staff worked diligently, doing everything in their power to find ways to keep the Residents happy.
When searching for a place for a loved one, it’s easy to get caught up in a community with many bells and whistles. However, often times the larger communities can be overwhelming to seniors. Even simple tasks such as getting to and from the dining room 3 times per day can be exhausting for them. The Palmettos Community has a smaller floor plan thus allowing the Residents to learn their bearings and navigate easier. This has proven to be beneficial to most seniors because they struggle to navigate the larger communities.
The Palmettos is a boutique-style Assisted Living facility. They offer daily activities catering to people in their 80s-90s, such as flower arranging, art and crafts, cooking, ice cream socials, lemonade on the porch, live entertainment, and many other social events.
In addition, they have a theatre, a library, and a common area where jigsaw puzzles are set up. Also available are exercise classes, pet therapy, music activities, and bible study. Residents also have the opportunity to take a bus ride to off-community outings.
The Palmettos of Charleston has 45 Assisted Living apartments and 15 Memory Care apartments with beautiful grounds and southern-style porches. NHC is the only provider in West Ashley to offer the continuum of care. They provide Home Health Services, Hospice, Assisted Living, Long Term Care, and Inpatient Rehab. In addition to the specialties offered, the longevity of the staff is a crucial aspect of making the Residents and family members feel comfortable and should be a factor in choosing a facility. “We are so blessed to have wonderful compassionate partners,” Megan said. So, when the need arises for care, look no further than The Palmettos of Charleston.
This article was featured in the July 2021 issue of Carolina Bay Neighbors magazine.
