The Retreat at Lady’s Island

The Beaufort River runs beside The Retreat at Lady’s Island, an assisted living and memory care community at 9 Sunset Blvd in Beaufort, South Carolina. Phoenix Senior Living operates it. Short respite stays of 14 to 29 days are offered as well, and the community's dementia programs are certified and custom designed. For families spread across the coast, a single community with both levels of care can mean one fewer move later on.

Apartments include spacious bathrooms and kitchenettes, and utilities are included, with telephone and cable TV available as options. Assisted living covers supervision of daily activities and self-administered medications, with trained associates on hand at all hours and staff who schedule medical appointments. Physical, occupational and speech therapy are available on site, and the building is wheelchair accessible.

Memory care serves residents living with Alzheimer's or another dementia through those certified programs. Ask how the programs fill the day, how staff respond to evening restlessness, and how often families hear updates. Meals come restaurant style, three a day plus snacks, and a private dining room is available when family visits.

Residents can join an art club, watch films in the movie theater, read in the library or play in the game room, with live entertainment and scheduled outings. Local trips include the Beaufort History Museum, Hunting Island State Park and the Pat Conroy Literary Center, which suit residents who enjoy the outdoors, books or local history. Families weighing choices can also review senior living in Beaufort.