Respite Care in Beaufort, SC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Beaufort, SC: the local picture

2,050

residents 65 or older (15% of Beaufort)

71%

of residents 65+ in households live with someone, often a family caregiver

26%

of residents 65+ report a disability (25% in Beaufort County)

13

Medicare-certified hospices serve Beaufort ZIP codes

Most older adults in Beaufort live with someone: 71% of residents 65 and older in households do. When one of them needs care, the person they live with usually provides most of it, and respite is what keeps that sustainable.

About 511 Beaufort residents aged 65 or older report a disability (26%) (25% in Beaufort County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 13 hospices serving Beaufort ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Beaufort compared with Beaufort County and South Carolina

Census figure	Beaufort	Beaufort County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	26%	25%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	29%	20%	27%
Residents 65 or older	15%	28%	19%
Residents 85 or older	0.8%	2.6%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	4.5%	7.2%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.4%	4.3%	5.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$64,205	$83,920	—

Older residents in towns around Beaufort

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Burton, SC	2.5 mi	1,139	30%
Laurel Bay, SC	3.7 mi	271	15%
Port Royal, SC	7.2 mi	1,383	41%
Ridgeland, SC	12 mi	311	52%
Hilton Head Island, SC	19 mi	14,855	27%
Bluffton, SC	21 mi	8,154	20%

Hospices serving Beaufort

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Cardinal Hospice LLC	Beaufort, SC	5.7 mi	(843) 252-0463
Pruitthealth Hospice-Beaufort	Bluffton, SC	11 mi	(770) 279-6200
Compassus-Charleston	Ridgeland, SC	15 mi	(843) 645-6540
Medical Services Of America Hospice Of The Lowcountry	Ridgeland, SC	15 mi	(843) 332-0063
Friends Of Caroline Hospice Of Beaufort, Inc	Ridgeland, SC	15 mi	(843) 525-6257

Nursing homes near Beaufort (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Resorts At Beaufort	Beaufort, SC	4.4 mi	3 of 5	170	(843) 524-8911
Sprenger Health Care Of Port Royal	Port Royal, SC	5.5 mi	1 of 5	65	(843) 781-7700
The Preston Health Center	Hilton Head Island, SC	16 mi	5 of 5	62	(843) 689-7077
Ridgeland Nursing Center Inc	Ridgeland, SC	16 mi	1 of 5	88	(843) 726-5581

Straight-line miles from the center of Beaufort. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a respite caregiver can help with

Taking over the usual routine while you are away
Meals, medication reminders and personal care
Company and activities
Overnight cover for a weekend or a trip

Cost

What respite care costs in Beaufort

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 23% of the $5,350 monthly median income of Beaufort 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 respite caregiver

Family caregivers carry most long-term care in the U.S., and burnout is a common reason a home arrangement breaks down. The federal National Family Caregiver Support Program funds respite through local Area Agencies on Aging, and the ARCH National Respite Locator lists respite programs by state.

Questions worth asking: Can you do a short paid visit first, while I am home? Are you available at short notice if I am ill? Can you stay overnight, and what do you charge for it? More in our respite care guide.

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

Questions

Respite Care in Beaufort: common questions

Which hospices serve Beaufort?

Medicare lists 13 hospices for Beaufort ZIP codes, including Cardinal Hospice LLC, Pruitthealth Hospice-Beaufort, Compassus-Charleston.

How much does respite care cost in Beaufort?

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 23% of the $5,350 monthly median income of Beaufort 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).

Does Medicaid or Medicare pay for respite care?

Medicare pays for short inpatient respite stays only for people on its hospice benefit (Medicare.gov); the hospices on this page serve Beaufort. Many state Medicaid home and community-based programs, veterans’ programs and the National Family Caregiver Support Program fund respite. Our guide Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states covers South Carolina.

More near Beaufort

More senior care near Beaufort

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Beaufort

More for Beaufort 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.

Respite Care in Beaufort, SC