Mobility Assistance in Columbia, SC

Local figures

Mobility Assistance in Columbia, SC: the local picture

25%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (22% in Richland County)

1,426

residents 85 or older (1.0% of all residents)

5.4 mi

to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Columbia)

37%

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

About 3,877 Columbia residents 65 or older have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (25%; 22% in Richland County). That is the Census measure closest to needing mobility help.

1,426 residents are 85 or older. Ask any caregiver who will help with transfers how they were trained.

Home health agencies serving Columbia that list physical therapy include Amedisys Home Health Of Lexington and Amedisys Home Health Of Camden; therapy at home needs a doctor’s order.

Columbia compared with Richland County and South Carolina

Census figure	Columbia	Richland County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	25%	22%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.0%	1.3%	1.8%
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	10%	7.6%	6.5%
Residents 65+ with a disability	37%	35%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	35%	30%	27%
Households with no vehicle	11%	7.2%	5.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$53,724	$55,737	—

Older residents in towns around Columbia

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Walking difficulty (65+)
Woodfield, SC	1.9 mi	1,595	35%
Dentsville, SC	3.7 mi	2,097	19%
Forest Acres, SC	3.9 mi	2,384	20%
Capitol View, SC	5.2 mi	659	43%
Arthurtown, SC	7.5 mi	117	91%
Cayce, SC	9.9 mi	2,419	37%

Home health agencies serving Columbia (therapy needs a doctor’s order)

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Amedisys Home Health Of Lexington	Lexington, SC	20 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(803) 359-2253
Amedisys Home Health Of Camden	Camden, SC	24 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(803) 713-9774
Centerwell Home Health	Newberry, SC	44 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(803) 276-0273
Amedisys Home Health Care	Augusta, GA	78 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(706) 860-0772
Amedisys Home Health Of Bluffton	Bluffton, SC	124 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work	(843) 815-8088
Prisma Health Homecare	Columbia, SC	7.9 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(803) 296-3100

Emergency hospitals near Columbia

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Columbia SC Va Medical Center	Columbia, SC	5.4 mi	5 of 5	(803) 695-7980
Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown	Columbia, SC	5.7 mi	3 of 5	(803) 256-5300

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 caregiver for mobility help can help with

Steadying walks inside and outside the home
Transfers: bed, chair, toilet, shower and car
Help with walkers, canes and wheelchairs
The home exercises a physical therapist set

Cost

What mobility assistance 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 caregiver for mobility help

Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older, and over 14 million, or 1 in 4, older adults report falling every year (CDC).

Questions worth asking: Which transfers are you trained to do safely? Have you used a gait belt, walker or wheelchair with clients? What would you do if my parent started to fall? More in our mobility assistance guide.

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

Questions

Mobility Assistance in Columbia: common questions

How much does mobility assistance 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).

What does a caregiver do to help with mobility?

Walks beside the person, helps them stand and sit, transfers them to bed, chair, toilet, shower or car, and keeps walkways clear. They do not replace a physical therapist.

More near Columbia

More senior care near Columbia

Mobility Assistance 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.

Mobility Assistance at Home in Columbia, SC