In-Home Personal Care in Charleston, SC

Local figures

Personal Care in Charleston, SC: the local picture

5.1%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.7% in Charleston County)

17%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17% in Charleston County)

3,001

residents 85 or older (1.9% of all residents)

11

Medicare-certified home health agencies list Charleston ZIP codes in their service area

About 1,254 Charleston residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (5.1%; 4.7% in Charleston County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

4,247 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (17%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

3,001 of the 25,374 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Charleston compared with Charleston County and South Carolina

Census figure	Charleston	Charleston County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	5.1%	4.7%	6.5%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	17%	17%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.9%	1.8%
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%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$74,872	$65,198	—

Older residents in towns around Charleston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Mount Pleasant, SC	6.4 mi	17,275	3.6%
James Island, SC	6.7 mi	2,168	2.7%
Hanahan, SC	7.3 mi	2,750	7.7%
North Charleston, SC	8.2 mi	14,951	8.0%
Goose Creek, SC	12 mi	5,855	6.2%
Isle of Palms, SC	13 mi	1,514	3.2%

Home health agencies with aides serving Charleston

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Amedisys Home Health Of Charleston East	Charleston, SC	4.9 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(843) 556-0200
Centerwell Home Health	North Charleston, SC	8.2 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(843) 744-1191
Amedisys Home Health Of Charleston	North Charleston, SC	8.2 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(843) 553-1263
Pruitthealth Home Health-Low Country	Bluffton, SC	61 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(843) 872-0946
Interim Healthcare	North Charleston, SC	2.0 mi	4 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(843) 518-5437
Musc Health At Home, By Bayada- Charleston	Charleston, SC	2.0 mi	3.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(843) 576-5378

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 personal care aide can help with

Bathing or showering, with a shower chair if needed
Dressing and undressing
Toileting and incontinence care
Grooming: hair, shaving and oral care

Cost

What personal 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 personal care aide

The Census Bureau asks whether a person has difficulty dressing or bathing, which it calls a self-care difficulty; it is the clearest sign that someone needs personal care. Medicare does not pay for personal care when it is the only care needed (Medicare.gov), but many state Medicaid programs do for people who qualify.

Questions worth asking: How do you protect a client’s dignity during bathing and toileting? Are you trained in safe transfers? Can you keep the same morning or evening hours each day? More in our personal care guide.

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

Questions

Personal Care in Charleston: common questions

How much does personal 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).

What is the difference between personal care and companion care?

Companion care is company and help around the house. Personal care is hands-on help with the body: bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming. Many caregivers offer both; say in your posting which you need.

More near Charleston

More senior care near Charleston

Personal 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.