Companion Care in North Charleston, SC for Seniors

Local figures

Companion Care in North Charleston, SC: the local picture

14,951

residents 65 or older (12% of North Charleston)

36%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (29% in Charleston County)

15%

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

7.2%

of households have no vehicle (5.9% in Charleston County)

About 5,131 residents of North Charleston aged 65 or older live alone, 36% of older residents in households (29% in Charleston County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

7.2% of North Charleston households have no vehicle (5.9% in Charleston County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

About 15% of North Charleston residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (11,094), other Indo-European languages (1,493), Vietnamese (759). 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.

North Charleston compared with Charleston County and South Carolina

Census figure	North Charleston	Charleston County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	36%	29%	27%
Residents 65 or older	12%	18%	19%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	15%	9.0%	8.4%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	5.9%	5.7%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	15%	8.9%	11%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	27%	33%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,767	$65,198	—

Older residents in towns around North Charleston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Hanahan, SC	3.8 mi	2,750	27%
Goose Creek, SC	6.2 mi	5,855	17%
Ladson, SC	6.8 mi	1,645	32%
Charleston, SC	8.2 mi	25,374	33%
Sangaree, SC	8.7 mi	980	30%
Summerville, SC	9.0 mi	8,370	38%

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 North Charleston

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 34% of the $3,731 monthly median income of North Charleston 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 North Charleston: common questions

How many seniors live alone in North Charleston?

About 5,131 residents aged 65 or older, 36% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (29% in Charleston County).

How much does companion care cost in North Charleston?

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 34% of the $3,731 monthly median income of North Charleston 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 North Charleston?

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 North Charleston

More senior care near North Charleston

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in North Charleston

More for North Charleston 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 North Charleston, SC