Dementia Care in Charleston, SC: In-Home Alzheimer's Care

Local figures

Dementia Care in Charleston, SC: the local picture

3,001

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

25,374

residents 65 or older (16% of Charleston)

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Charleston County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Charleston has about 3,001 residents aged 85 or older among 25,374 aged 65 or older. The risk of Alzheimer’s rises steeply with age, and the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that about a third of people 85 and older have Alzheimer’s dementia.

28% of residents 65 and older report a disability (27% in Charleston County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

33% of older Charleston residents in households live alone. For someone with memory loss who lives alone, a few hours of daily check-ins are often the first step.

Charleston compared with Charleston County and South Carolina

Census figure	Charleston	Charleston County	South Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.9%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	27%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	29%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	8.9%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.8%	9.0%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$74,872	$65,198	—

Older residents in towns around Charleston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Mount Pleasant, SC	6.4 mi	17,275	1,961
James Island, SC	6.7 mi	2,168	274
Hanahan, SC	7.3 mi	2,750	222
North Charleston, SC	8.2 mi	14,951	1,446
Goose Creek, SC	12 mi	5,855	448
Isle of Palms, SC	13 mi	1,514	179

Nursing homes near Charleston

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Riverside Health And Rehab	Charleston, SC	2.3 mi	1 of 5	160	(843) 744-2750
Ashley River Healthcare	Charleston, SC	2.9 mi	5 of 5	125	(843) 763-0233
Kempton Of Charleston	Charleston, SC	3.0 mi	5 of 5	23	(315) 576-5726
Nhc Healthcare - Charleston	Charleston, SC	3.9 mi	4 of 5	88	(843) 766-5228
Retreat At Wellmore Of Daniel Island	Charleston, SC	4.7 mi	2 of 5	60	(843) 566-1000
Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Health Care Center	Charleston, SC	6.4 mi	5 of 5	41	(843) 762-3300

Hospices serving Charleston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry	North Charleston, SC	2.0 mi	(843) 598-4536
Interim Health Care Hospice Of Charleston	North Charleston, SC	2.0 mi	(843) 554-1410
Musc Health Hospice At Home By Bayada-Charleston	Charleston, SC	2.0 mi	(843) 416-4020
Promedica Hospice-Charleston	Charleston, SC	2.8 mi	(843) 766-7646

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

What it covers

What a dementia caregiver can help with

Keeping a predictable daily routine
Gentle help with bathing, dressing and toileting
Meals, hydration and medication reminders
Calming approaches for sundowning, agitation and repeated questions

Cost

What dementia care costs in 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 20% of the $6,239 monthly median income of 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 dementia caregiver

An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2025 Facts and Figures. Most live at home, cared for by family. The Association’s 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) is free.

Questions worth asking: Tell me about someone with dementia you cared for. What worked? What do you do when a client becomes agitated in the late afternoon? How do you keep someone safe who tries to leave the house? More in our dementia care guide.

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

Questions

Dementia Care in Charleston: common questions

What nursing homes are near Charleston?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Riverside Health And Rehab in Charleston (2.3 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Ashley River Healthcare in Charleston (2.9 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Kempton Of Charleston in Charleston (3.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in 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 20% of the $6,239 monthly median income of 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).

When does someone with dementia need care at home?

Common signs are missed meals or medication, getting lost in familiar places, unsafe cooking or driving, and a family caregiver who is exhausted. Many families start with a few hours a day and add hours, nights or live-in help as the disease progresses.

More near Charleston

More senior care near Charleston

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Charleston

More for 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.

In-Home Dementia and Alzheimer's Care in Charleston, SC