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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Summerville, SC: the local picture

766

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

8,370

residents 65 or older (16% of Summerville)

39%

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

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Summerville has about 766 residents aged 85 or older among 8,370 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.

39% of residents 65 and older report a disability (35% in Berkeley County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

38% of older Summerville 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.

Summerville compared with Berkeley County and South Carolina

Census figure	Summerville	Berkeley County	South Carolina
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.2%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	16%	15%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	39%	35%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	38%	25%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	11%	9.0%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	8.1%	10.0%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$57,038	$60,161	—

Older residents in towns around Summerville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Sangaree, SC	3.6 mi	980	47
Ladson, SC	4.1 mi	1,645	37
North Charleston, SC	9.0 mi	14,951	1,446
Goose Creek, SC	9.9 mi	5,855	448
Hanahan, SC	11 mi	2,750	222
Ravenel, SC	16 mi	366	15

Nursing homes near Summerville

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Presbyterian Communities Of South Carolina-Summerv	Summerville, SC	2.0 mi	4 of 5	48	(843) 873-2550
Hallmark Healthcare Center	Summerville, SC	3.0 mi	3 of 5	88	(843) 821-5005
Oakbrook Health And Rehabilitation Center	Summerville, SC	3.6 mi	1 of 5	88	(843) 875-9053
White Oak Manor - Charleston	Charleston, SC	6.5 mi	4 of 5	176	(843) 797-8282
Life Care Center Of Charleston	N Charleston, SC	7.0 mi	3 of 5	148	(843) 764-3500
The Reserve Healthcare And Rehabilitation	Charleston, SC	9.3 mi	5 of 5	135	(843) 553-0656

Hospices serving Summerville

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Transitions Hospice Care Of Georgia, Inc	Summerville, SC	2.1 mi	(843) 875-7915
Roper St Francis Hospice	Ladson, SC	3.2 mi	(843) 402-3260
Pruitthealth Hospice- Charleston	Ladson, SC	3.2 mi	(843) 573-8623
Hospice Of Charleston	North Charleston, SC	9.8 mi	(803) 529-3100

Straight-line miles from the center of Summerville. 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 Summerville

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 26% of the $4,753 monthly median income of Summerville 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 Summerville: common questions

What nursing homes are near Summerville?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Presbyterian Communities Of South Carolina-Summerv in Summerville (2.0 mi, 4 of 5 overall); Hallmark Healthcare Center in Summerville (3.0 mi, 3 of 5 overall); Oakbrook Health And Rehabilitation Center in Summerville (3.6 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Summerville?

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 26% of the $4,753 monthly median income of Summerville 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 Summerville

More senior care near Summerville

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Summerville

More for Summerville 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 Summerville, SC