What is the mission of your business?

Believing in the presence of God, the value of human life, and the dignity of the individual, the mission of Lutheran Homes of South Carolina, Inc., as a ministry of the church, is to promote the well-being of older adults by providing residential, health care, and hospice services.

What differentiates your business from other specialists in the field?

Nestled at the end of a quiet suburban street beneath towering hardwoods and surrounded by wetlands, Rice Estate is the Northeast’s only non-profit, faith-based Life Plan or Continuing Care Retirement Community. Like a neighborhood inside a greater community, Rice offers a full continuum of services all on one campus and mostly under one roof. Services range from independent living with the support of assisted living when more help is needed, short-term inpatient and outpatient rehab, and long-term care. We love to see people go home, and we helped more than 400 patients reach their rehab goals this past year. Short–term respite and flexible assisted living programs support family caregivers.

How do you keep up with the latest advances in your field?

From culinary tastings and cooking techniques, webinars, and seminars on the latest care and lifestyle approaches, and pre-planning for emergency preparedness, our TeamMates participate in ongoing training and education to provide the best care and services. We collaborate with specialty care physicians for geriatrics, advanced wound care, and rehabilitation to best address the unique needs of older adults.

How does your company give back to the Columbia community?

Rice Estate provides numerous community educational opportunities through our free monthly BeWell Educated Lunch and Learn series with thought-provoking guest speakers presenting topics of special interest for senior living. The Rice blog provides up-to-date articles of interest on wellness and aging. We welcome the greater community to join in our wide array of life enrichment programs. For our TeamMates, their caring is a calling that they take to heart both on-the-job and through volunteering with local organizations. In all that we do, we focus on six dimensions of wellness: physical, spiritual, social, intellectual, vocational, and emotional to provide unique programs designed to support older adults in mind, body, and spirit.