Companion Care in Murrells Inlet, SC for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in Murrells Inlet, SC: the local picture

3,846

residents 65 or older (38% of Murrells Inlet)

18%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (23% in Georgetown County)

3.7%

of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home

0.9%

of households have no vehicle (5.2% in Georgetown County)

About 691 residents of Murrells Inlet aged 65 or older live alone, 18% of older residents in households (23% in Georgetown County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

0.9% of Murrells Inlet households have no vehicle (5.2% in Georgetown County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 3,846 Murrells Inlet residents aged 65 or older, 217 are 85 or older (5.6%). Before the first visit with someone in that oldest group, ask the family about hearing, eyesight, walking and any memory changes, so the visit is planned around them.

2,109 Murrells Inlet households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 214 rent. A companion visiting a house may also help with mail, light chores and keeping an eye on things; in an apartment building, ask whether visitors sign in.

About 257 older Murrells Inlet residents (6.7%) live below the poverty line (8.3% in Georgetown County). For them, Medicaid home and community-based services or the local Area Agency on Aging may cover some companion or homemaker hours, depending on the state program; private pay is not the only route.

About 3.7% of Murrells Inlet residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (210), Vietnamese (57), other Indo-European languages (50). If the person you care for is more at ease in one of these languages, say so in your posting; many caregivers list the languages they speak.

Murrells Inlet compared with Georgetown County and South Carolina

Census figure	Murrells Inlet	Georgetown County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	18%	23%	27%
Residents 65 or older	38%	31%	19%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	3.7%	3.0%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	0.9%	5.2%	5.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	6.7%	8.3%	11%
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	29%	33%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$69,976	$61,818	—

Older residents in towns around Murrells Inlet

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Garden City, SC	3.8 mi	4,872	31%
Surfside Beach, SC	5.8 mi	1,235	27%
Litchfield Beach, SC	6.6 mi	4,356	28%
Socastee, SC	9.4 mi	4,945	29%
Forestbrook, SC	13 mi	2,058	18%
Myrtle Beach, SC	14 mi	9,079	27%

Hospitals near Murrells Inlet (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital	Murrells Inlet, SC	0.5 mi	4 of 5	(843) 652-1000
Tidelands Georgetown Memorial Hospital	Georgetown, SC	18 mi	2 of 5	(843) 527-7000
Grand Strand Regional Medical Center	Myrtle Beach, SC	20 mi	2 of 5	(843) 692-1000

Straight-line miles from the center of Murrells Inlet. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a companion caregiver can help with

Conversation, cards, puzzles and shared hobbies
Walks and outings to the park, library or senior center
Company at meals, and help preparing them
Rides or escort to appointments, church and visits

Cost

What companion care costs in Murrells Inlet

At the South Carolina median aide wage of $14.48 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,255 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,831 monthly median income of Murrells Inlet households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Carolina has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a companion caregiver

Isolation is a health risk, not only a mood. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly one in four Americans aged 65 and older living in the community is socially isolated, and linked isolation to higher risks of dementia, heart disease and early death (2020 report).

Questions worth asking: What do you enjoy doing with the people you care for? Are you comfortable driving, and is your car insured for passengers? How do you handle a client who does not want company at first? More in our companion care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Companion Care in Murrells Inlet: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Murrells Inlet?

About 691 residents aged 65 or older, 18% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (23% in Georgetown County).

How much does companion care cost in Murrells Inlet?

At the South Carolina median aide wage of $14.48 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,255 a month in wages, which is 22% of the $5,831 monthly median income of Murrells Inlet households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. South Carolina has no state minimum wage law, so the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour applies to employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act (U.S. Department of Labor).

What does a companion caregiver do in Murrells Inlet?

A companion keeps an older adult company and helps around the visit: conversation, activities, walks, meals, errands, rides and reminders. It suits someone who is mostly independent but lonely, or a family that wants someone to check in on weekdays.

More near Murrells Inlet

More senior care near Murrells Inlet

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Murrells Inlet

More for Murrells Inlet families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Companion Care for Seniors in Murrells Inlet, SC