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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Columbia, SC: the local picture

1,426

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

16,083

residents 65 or older (12% of Columbia)

37%

of residents 65+ report a disability (35% in Richland County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Columbia has about 1,426 residents aged 85 or older among 16,083 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.

37% of residents 65 and older report a disability (35% in Richland County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

35% of older Columbia 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.

Columbia compared with Richland County and South Carolina

Census figure	Columbia	Richland County	South Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.3%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	12%	14%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	35%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	30%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	16%	11%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	8.7%	8.7%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,724	$55,737	—

Older residents in towns around Columbia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Woodfield, SC	1.9 mi	1,595	342
Dentsville, SC	3.7 mi	2,097	239
Forest Acres, SC	3.9 mi	2,384	455
Capitol View, SC	5.2 mi	659	49
Arthurtown, SC	7.5 mi	117	0
Cayce, SC	9.9 mi	2,419	259

Nursing homes near Columbia

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Life Care Center Of Columbia	Columbia, SC	1.9 mi	2 of 5	179	(803) 865-1999
Wildewood Downs	Columbia, SC	3.4 mi	5 of 5	32	(803) 788-5115
Nhc Healthcare - Parklane	Columbia, SC	4.1 mi	5 of 5	106	(803) 741-9090
White Oak Manor - Columbia	Columbia, SC	5.3 mi	4 of 5	120	(803) 782-4363
Rice Estate Rehabilitation And Healthcare	Columbia, SC	5.8 mi	3 of 5	80	(803) 691-5720
Forest Acres Post Acute	Columbia, SC	6.1 mi	1 of 5	132	(803) 256-4983

Hospices serving Columbia

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart Of Hospice LLC	Columbia, SC	7.1 mi	(803) 699-3233
Medical Services Of America Hospice-Columbia	Columbia, SC	7.8 mi	(803) 400-1177
Compassionate Care Hospice Of South Carolina, LLC	West Columbia, SC	11 mi	(803) 731-8110
Pruitthealth Hospice- Columbia	Columbia, SC	12 mi	(803) 771-0489

Straight-line miles from the center of Columbia. 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 Columbia

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 28% of the $4,477 monthly median income of Columbia 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 Columbia: common questions

What nursing homes are near Columbia?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Life Care Center Of Columbia in Columbia (1.9 mi, 2 of 5 overall); Wildewood Downs in Columbia (3.4 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Nhc Healthcare - Parklane in Columbia (4.1 mi, 5 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Columbia?

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 28% of the $4,477 monthly median income of Columbia 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 Columbia

More senior care near Columbia

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Columbia

More for Columbia 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 Columbia, SC