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

Local figures

Dementia Care in Sumter, SC: the local picture

1,508

residents 85 or older (3.5% of all residents)

7,590

residents 65 or older (18% of Sumter)

32%

of residents 65+ report a disability (30% in Sumter County)

6+

Medicare-certified nursing homes within 25 miles

Sumter has about 1,508 residents aged 85 or older among 7,590 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.

32% of residents 65 and older report a disability (30% in Sumter County). The Census counts cognitive difficulty as one kind, alongside hearing, vision, walking, self-care and living independently.

32% of older Sumter 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.

Sumter compared with Sumter County and South Carolina

Census figure	Sumter	Sumter County	South Carolina
Residents 85 or older	3.5%	2.4%	1.8%
Residents 65 or older	18%	18%	19%
Residents 65+ with a disability	32%	30%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	32%	30%	27%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	18%	17%	11%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	9.3%	6.1%	8.4%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$42,155	$42,815	—

Older residents in towns around Sumter

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Residents 85+
Cherryvale, SC	3.7 mi	225	59
Dalzell, SC	5.9 mi	203	34
Lakewood, SC	7.8 mi	772	60
Manning, SC	20 mi	1,556	317
Bishopville, SC	21 mi	703	57
East Camden, SC	25 mi	660	17

Nursing homes near Sumter

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare - Sumter	Sumter, SC	1.0 mi	5 of 5	138	(803) 773-5567
Sumter East Health & Rehabilitation Center	Sumter, SC	2.5 mi	1 of 5	176	(803) 775-5394
Oak Hollow Of Sumter Rehabilitation Center	Sumter, SC	5.0 mi	1 of 5	96	(803) 340-0307
Pocotaligo River Health And Rehab	Manning, SC	16 mi	2 of 5	88	(803) 478-2323
Mccoy Memorial Nursing Center	Bishopville, SC	21 mi	2 of 5	120	(803) 484-5636
Lake Marion Nursing Facility	Summerton, SC	22 mi	4 of 5	88	(803) 485-2317

Hospices serving Sumter

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Prisma Health Tuomey Hospice	Sumter, SC	4.1 mi	(803) 773-4663
Musc Health Hospice Kershaw	Lugoff, SC	27 mi	(803) 425-1916
Medical Services Of America Hospice-Columbia	Columbia, SC	37 mi	(803) 400-1177
United Hospice Of The Pee Dee	Florence, SC	39 mi	(843) 662-8633

Straight-line miles from the center of Sumter. 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 Sumter

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 36% of the $3,513 monthly median income of Sumter 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 Sumter: common questions

What nursing homes are near Sumter?

The closest Medicare-certified nursing homes are Nhc Healthcare - Sumter in Sumter (1.0 mi, 5 of 5 overall); Sumter East Health & Rehabilitation Center in Sumter (2.5 mi, 1 of 5 overall); Oak Hollow Of Sumter Rehabilitation Center in Sumter (5.0 mi, 1 of 5 overall). Ratings are from Medicare Care Compare.

How much does dementia care cost in Sumter?

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 36% of the $3,513 monthly median income of Sumter 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 Sumter

More senior care near Sumter

Dementia Care in nearby cities

Other care in Sumter

More for Sumter 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 Sumter, SC