Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
Featured Communities
213 Laurens Street, Aiken, SC 29801
100 Finley Road, Columbia, SC 29203
2101 Dutch Fork Road, Chapin, SC 29036
429 North Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601
102 Fortress Dr., Chapin, SC 29036
1885 Rifle Range Rd., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
About Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
A Century-Long, Faith-Based Ministry Serving Older Adults Statewide
Lutheran Homes of South Carolina (LHSC) is a nonprofit, faith-based senior services organization headquartered in Irmo, South Carolina, and is a ministry of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. One of the oldest senior services ministries in the state, LHSC operates five continuing care communities, Franke at Seaside, the Heritage at Lowman, Rice Estate, RoseCrest, and Trinity on Laurens, alongside three statewide programs: BeWell@Home, BeWell Home Services (non-medical home care), and Lutheran Hospice. The organization offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, home care, hospice, and Life Plan Community/CCRC living, with services varying by location. LHSC is rooted in a Christian heritage and welcomes people of all faiths and creeds.
Visit the official Lutheran Homes of South Carolina website to learn more about the organization and its communities.
Company at a Glance
â—Ź Headquarters: Irmo, South Carolina
â—Ź Founded: Over 100 years ago; described by the organization as one of the oldest senior services ministries in South Carolina
â—Ź Current leadership: Frank T. Shepke, President and Chief Executive Officer
â—Ź Portfolio size: Senior Care Finder's directory lists 8 Locations and 9 Communities; the organization's own site names 5 continuing care communities plus 3 BeWell home care branches and a Lutheran Hospice program, consistent with SCF's figures once split-listing conventions are considered
â—Ź States served: South Carolina
â—Ź Care and lifestyle options: Independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing/long-term care, home care (non-medical), hospice, Life Plan Community/CCRC living, and respite care
â—Ź Official website: lutheranhomessc.org
Senior Living and Care Options
Lutheran Homes of South Carolina's five continuing care communities each offer a version of the following, though not every community offers every service:
â—Ź Independent living
â—Ź Assisted living
â—Ź Memory care
â—Ź Skilled nursing and rehabilitation
â—Ź Life Plan Community/CCRC living
â—Ź Respite care
Beyond its physical communities, LHSC extends its reach statewide through BeWell Home Services, a non-medical home care program, BeWell@Home, a healthcare membership program, and Lutheran Hospice, which operates in the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina. This combination allows LHSC to serve older adults both on its campuses and in their own homes. Families should confirm current care levels and availability directly on the Senior Care Finder listing for the specific community or program they are considering.
What Makes Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Different?
A Century-Long, Faith-Based Ministry
LHSC describes itself as one of the oldest senior services ministries in South Carolina, operating as a ministry of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The organization states its programs reflect a Christian heritage while explicitly welcoming residents, patients, and clients of all faiths and creeds.
A Combination of Campuses and Statewide Home-Based Programs
Rather than operating only fixed communities, LHSC pairs its five continuing care campuses with statewide home care (BeWell Home Services), a healthcare membership program (BeWell@Home), and hospice care (Lutheran Hospice) serving the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry regions. This combination allows the organization to support older adults whether they live on one of its campuses or remain in their own homes.
Long-Tenured Local Leadership at Individual Communities
Several of LHSC's community-level Executive Directors have been with the organization for well over a decade, including leaders who began their careers at their current communities in entry-level roles decades ago and were promoted internally into their current positions. The organization points to this continuity as supporting institutional knowledge and stability at the community level.
Independently Documented Skilled Nursing Quality
Rice Estate's rehabilitation and healthcare center holds an overall 4-star rating in the federal government's Medicare Care Compare system, along with High Performing distinctions for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care reported by U.S. News & World Report, reflecting federal health inspection, staffing, and quality-measure data.
A Locally Governed Nonprofit Structure
As a nonprofit ministry governed by a Board of Trustees, LHSC states that its resources are directed toward its mission of promoting the well-being of older adults rather than outside shareholders, and that its LHSC Foundation supports the organization's continued growth and endowment.
Signature Programs and Services
BeWell@Home is a healthcare membership program, and BeWell Home Services is a non-medical home care program; together they extend LHSC's continuum of care into clients' own homes across South Carolina, separate from its five physical communities.
Lutheran Hospice provides end-of-life care across the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina, operating as a distinct program from LHSC's residential communities.
Life at a Lutheran Homes of South Carolina Community
Life at an LHSC community may include chef-prepared dining, a full calendar of social, spiritual, vocational, and educational life enrichment programming, on-site fitness and wellness facilities, scheduled transportation, and on-campus chapel or spiritual care options. Specific amenities and programming vary by community; some, such as Franke at Seaside, offer entrance-fee-based Life Plan living, while others operate on different fee structures.
Families evaluating any LHSC community, or any CCRC, should ask specifically about entrance fee and monthly fee structures, current staffing levels, and how transitions between levels of care are handled on campuses offering a full continuum.
What Residents and Families Say
Lutheran Homes of South Carolina does not publish a single portfolio-wide review rating, and Senior Care Finder's own listings show ratings that vary significantly by individual community, from the high 3-star range to the high 4-star range among the Premium listings reviewed. Beyond consumer reviews, Rice Estate's skilled nursing center holds a government-assigned 4-star overall rating in Medicare's Care Compare system. Recurring themes in publicly available feedback include caring, long-tenured staff and strong rehabilitation services, though experience can vary meaningfully by community, leadership team, and time period. Families are encouraged to review recent feedback for the specific LHSC community they are considering rather than relying on portfolio-wide impressions.
Leadership
Frank T. Shepke is President and Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. He joined the organization in 2015 with more than 25 years of progressive experience in the health and human services sectors at the senior executive and CEO level. Shepke holds master's degrees in Business Administration and Social Work and serves on the boards of the Prisma Health PACE program, the SC Institute on Aging, and LeadingAge South Carolina.
Visit the official Lutheran Homes of South Carolina leadership page for the complete and most current executive team.
Recent News, Growth, and Recognition
Rice Estate Rehabilitation and Healthcare Holds a 4-Star Medicare Quality Rating
Rice Estate's rehabilitation and healthcare center in Columbia holds an overall 4-star rating in the federal government's Medicare Care Compare system, along with High Performing distinctions for both short-term rehabilitation and long-term care reported by U.S. News & World Report, reflecting recent federal health inspection, staffing, and quality-measure data for the 80-bed center.
See the official Medicare Care Compare listing for current details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lutheran Homes of South Carolina? Lutheran Homes of South Carolina is a nonprofit, faith-based senior services organization headquartered in Irmo, South Carolina, operating five continuing care communities plus statewide home care and hospice programs.
Where is Lutheran Homes of South Carolina headquartered? The organization is headquartered in Irmo, South Carolina.
Who owns Lutheran Homes of South Carolina? Lutheran Homes of South Carolina is a nonprofit ministry of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees. Frank T. Shepke serves as President and CEO.
How many communities does Lutheran Homes of South Carolina operate? The organization operates five continuing care communities (Franke at Seaside, the Heritage at Lowman, Rice Estate, RoseCrest, and Trinity on Laurens) plus three BeWell home care branches and a Lutheran Hospice program. Senior Care Finder's directory lists this as 8 Locations and 9 Communities.
Where are Lutheran Homes of South Carolina's communities located? Communities and programs are located across South Carolina, including Mount Pleasant, Chapin, Columbia, Inman, Aiken, Greenville, and the Upstate, Midlands, and Lowcountry regions.
What care options does Lutheran Homes of South Carolina offer? Depending on the community or program, the organization offers independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, home care, hospice, and Life Plan Community/CCRC living.
Is Lutheran Homes of South Carolina a religious organization? Yes. LHSC is a ministry of the South Carolina Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and reflects a Christian heritage, while welcoming people of all faiths and creeds.
Does every LHSC community provide the same services? No. Services vary by community; some offer a full continuum of independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, while the BeWell and hospice programs serve clients in their own homes rather than on a campus.
What do reviews say about Lutheran Homes of South Carolina? Feedback varies significantly by community. Recurring themes include caring, long-tenured staff and strong rehabilitation services, though families should review recent feedback for the specific community they are considering.
How much do Lutheran Homes of South Carolina communities cost? Pricing varies by community, fee structure (some communities use entrance fees, others do not), and level of care. Families should contact the specific community directly for current pricing.
How can families find a Lutheran Homes of South Carolina community? Families can browse LHSC communities and programs through Senior Care Finder's listings or through the organization's own website.
Explore Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
Comparing individual Lutheran Homes of South Carolina communities and programs is the best way to understand what a specific location actually offers, since services, amenities, fee structures, and resident experience vary across the organization's five communities and three statewide programs. Explore Lutheran Homes of South Carolina communities on Senior Care Finder for current listings, ratings, and details for locations near you.
Services, pricing, availability, leadership, and resident experience can all vary meaningfully from one Lutheran Homes of South Carolina community to the next.
Lutheran Homes of South Carolina is a paid Senior Care Finder partner. Partner status does not replace the need for families to independently evaluate individual communities, services, pricing, licensing information, and recent reviews.
Company information, leadership details, programs, recognition, and news were reviewed using publicly available sources. Information last reviewed July 2026.
Senior Living & Care Options
