Respite Care in Blythewood, SC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Blythewood, SC: the local picture

983

residents 65 or older (17% of Blythewood)

77%

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

41%

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

21

Medicare-certified hospices serve Blythewood ZIP codes

Most older adults in Blythewood live with someone: 77% 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 400 Blythewood residents aged 65 or older report a disability (41%) (35% in Richland County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 21 hospices serving Blythewood ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Blythewood compared with Richland County and South Carolina

Census figure	Blythewood	Richland County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	35%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	23%	30%	27%
Residents 65 or older	17%	14%	19%
Residents 85 or older	5.3%	1.3%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	0.0%	11%	11%
Households with no vehicle	0.9%	7.2%	5.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$63,591	$55,737	—

Older residents in towns around Blythewood

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Dentsville, SC	9.5 mi	2,097	29%
Woodfield, SC	11 mi	1,595	50%
Forest Acres, SC	12 mi	2,384	31%
Winnsboro, SC	12 mi	592	47%
St. Andrews, SC	13 mi	2,745	37%
Columbia, SC	13 mi	16,083	37%

Hospices serving Blythewood

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart Of Hospice LLC	Columbia, SC	10 mi	(803) 699-3233
Pruitthealth Hospice- Columbia	Columbia, SC	13 mi	(803) 771-0489
Caris Healthcare Columbia	Columbia, SC	13 mi	(803) 794-4141
Prisma Health Hospice Midlands	Columbia, SC	13 mi	(803) 296-3100
Crescent Hospice, Inc	Columbia, SC	13 mi	(803) 732-3274

Nursing homes near Blythewood (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Rice Estate Rehabilitation And Healthcare	Columbia, SC	7.2 mi	3 of 5	80	(803) 691-5720
Pruitthealth- Blythewood	Columbia, SC	8.0 mi	4 of 5	120	(803) 419-9863
Nhc Healthcare - Parklane	Columbia, SC	9.0 mi	5 of 5	106	(803) 741-9090
Ridgeway Manor Healthcare Center	Ridgeway, SC	9.7 mi	1 of 5	112	(803) 337-2257

Straight-line miles from the center of Blythewood. 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 Blythewood

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 24% of the $5,299 monthly median income of Blythewood 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 Blythewood: common questions

Which hospices serve Blythewood?

Medicare lists 21 hospices for Blythewood ZIP codes, including Heart Of Hospice LLC, Pruitthealth Hospice- Columbia, Caris Healthcare Columbia.

How much does respite care cost in Blythewood?

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 24% of the $5,299 monthly median income of Blythewood 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 Blythewood. 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 Blythewood

More senior care near Blythewood

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Blythewood

More for Blythewood 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 Blythewood, SC