Charleston, South Carolina

Post-Surgery and Hospital Discharge Care in Charleston, SC

Non-medical help at home in the days and weeks after surgery, a hospital stay or a fall, alongside any nursing or therapy a doctor orders. Post what you need in Charleston for free and hire a caregiver directly, with no agency mark-up.

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Local figures

Post-Surgery Care in Charleston, SC: the local picture

3.3 mi
to the nearest hospital with an emergency department (Charleston)
11
Medicare-certified home health agencies list Charleston ZIP codes in their service area
28%
of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Charleston County)
25,374
residents 65 or older (16% of Charleston)

The nearest hospital with an emergency department is Musc Medical Center in Charleston, about 3.3 mi away in a straight line, followed by Roper Hospital (3.9 mi). Plan the ride home on discharge day and the rides back for follow-up visits.

Medicare lists 11 certified home health agencies whose service area includes Charleston. If the surgeon orders home health, one of them sends the nurse or therapist; a private caregiver covers the hours in between.

Charleston compared with Charleston County and South Carolina

Census figureCharlestonCharleston CountySouth Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability28%27%33%
Residents 65 or older16%18%19%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone33%29%27%
Households with no vehicle7.2%5.9%5.7%
Residents 85 or older1.9%1.9%1.8%
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

TownDistanceResidents 65+65+ with a disability
Mount Pleasant, SC6.4 mi17,27522%
James Island, SC6.7 mi2,16825%
Hanahan, SC7.3 mi2,75044%
North Charleston, SC8.2 mi14,95137%
Goose Creek, SC12 mi5,85538%
Isle of Palms, SC13 mi1,51421%

Hospitals near Charleston

Hospital with an emergency departmentTownDistanceCMS overall ratingPhone
Musc Medical CenterCharleston, SC3.3 mi2 of 5(843) 792-2300
Roper HospitalCharleston, SC3.9 mi4 of 5(843) 724-2800
Charleston Va Medical CenterCharleston, SC3.9 mi5 of 5(843) 577-5011
Bon Secours-St Francis Xavier HospitalCharleston, SC4.9 mi3 of 5(843) 402-1006

Home health agencies serving Charleston

AgencyOfficeDistanceCMS quality starsServices listedPhone
Amedisys Home Health Of Charleston EastCharleston, SC4.9 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(843) 556-0200
Centerwell Home HealthNorth Charleston, SC8.2 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(843) 744-1191
Amedisys Home Health Of CharlestonNorth Charleston, SC8.2 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(843) 553-1263
Pruitthealth Home Health-Low CountryBluffton, SC61 mi4.5 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(843) 872-0946
Interim HealthcareNorth Charleston, SC2.0 mi4 of 5nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical social work, home health aides(843) 518-5437
Musc Health At Home, By Bayada- CharlestonCharleston, SC2.0 mi3.5 of 5nursing, 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 post-surgery caregiver can help with

  • Help getting in and out of bed, chairs and the shower
  • Meals, fluids and medication reminders
  • Rides to follow-up and therapy appointments
  • Help with home exercises the therapist set
Cost

What post-surgery 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 post-surgery caregiver

Medicare covers home health care after surgery when a doctor orders it and the person is homebound: part-time skilled nursing and therapy from a Medicare-certified agency. It does not cover round-the-clock help, or personal care when that is the only care needed (Medicare.gov).

Questions worth asking: Have you cared for someone after this kind of surgery? Are you comfortable with transfers, walkers and shower chairs? Can you start on the discharge date and cover the first nights? More in our post-surgery care guide.

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

Questions

Post-Surgery Care in Charleston: common questions

Where is the nearest emergency hospital to Charleston?

Musc Medical Center in Charleston, about 3.3 mi in a straight line from the center of Charleston (Medicare hospital file). Its listed phone number is (843) 792-2300. In an emergency, call 911.

Which home health agencies serve Charleston?

Medicare lists 11 certified agencies whose service area includes Charleston ZIP codes. The highest-rated on Medicare’s quality stars include Amedisys Home Health Of Charleston East (4.5 of 5), Centerwell Home Health (4.5 of 5), Amedisys Home Health Of Charleston (4.5 of 5). Compare them on Medicare Care Compare.

How much does post-surgery 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).

How long do people usually need help after surgery?

It depends on the operation and the person. After a hip or knee replacement many people need daily help for a few weeks, and more at night in the first days. Ask the surgical team for an estimate and plan with some slack.

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.

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