In-Home Personal Care in Summerville, SC

Local figures

Personal Care in Summerville, SC: the local picture

8.0%

of residents 65+ have difficulty dressing or bathing (4.4% in Berkeley County)

23%

of residents 65+ have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (19% in Berkeley County)

766

residents 85 or older (1.5% of all residents)

11

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

About 651 Summerville residents aged 65 or older have difficulty dressing or bathing (8.0%; 4.4% in Berkeley County). The Census Bureau calls this a self-care difficulty, and it is what personal care is for.

1,879 have serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs (23%), so many personal care visits also mean help getting to the bathroom or shower safely.

766 of the 8,370 older residents are 85 or older; needs for hands-on help rise with age.

Summerville compared with Berkeley County and South Carolina

Census figure	Summerville	Berkeley County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with difficulty dressing or bathing	8.0%	4.4%	6.5%
Residents 65+ with serious difficulty walking	23%	19%	21%
Residents 85 or older	1.5%	1.2%	1.8%
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%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$57,038	$60,161	—

Older residents in towns around Summerville

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Self-care difficulty (65+)
Sangaree, SC	3.6 mi	980	3.3%
Ladson, SC	4.1 mi	1,645	5.8%
North Charleston, SC	9.0 mi	14,951	8.0%
Goose Creek, SC	9.9 mi	5,855	6.2%
Hanahan, SC	11 mi	2,750	7.7%
Ravenel, SC	16 mi	366	7.7%

Home health agencies with aides serving Summerville

Agency	Office	Distance	CMS quality stars	Services listed	Phone
Centerwell Home Health	North Charleston, SC	9.8 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	9.8 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
Amedisys Home Health Of Lexington	Lexington, SC	90 mi	4.5 of 5	nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides	(803) 359-2253
Interim Healthcare	North Charleston, SC	15 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	15 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 Summerville. 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 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 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 Summerville: common questions

How much does personal 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).

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 Summerville

More senior care near Summerville

Personal 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.