Respite Care in Charleston, SC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Charleston, SC: the local picture

25,374

residents 65 or older (16% of Charleston)

67%

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

28%

of residents 65+ report a disability (27% in Charleston County)

25

Medicare-certified hospices serve Charleston ZIP codes

Most older adults in Charleston live with someone: 67% 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 6,909 Charleston residents aged 65 or older report a disability (28%) (27% in Charleston County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 25 hospices serving Charleston ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Charleston compared with Charleston County and South Carolina

Census figure	Charleston	Charleston County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	28%	27%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	33%	29%	27%
Residents 65 or older	16%	18%	19%
Residents 85 or older	1.9%	1.9%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	7.5%	8.9%	11%
Households with no vehicle	7.2%	5.9%	5.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$74,872	$65,198	—

Older residents in towns around Charleston

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Mount Pleasant, SC	6.4 mi	17,275	22%
James Island, SC	6.7 mi	2,168	25%
Hanahan, SC	7.3 mi	2,750	44%
North Charleston, SC	8.2 mi	14,951	37%
Goose Creek, SC	12 mi	5,855	38%
Isle of Palms, SC	13 mi	1,514	21%

Hospices serving Charleston

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry	North Charleston, SC	2.0 mi	(843) 598-4536
Interim Health Care Hospice Of Charleston	North Charleston, SC	2.0 mi	(843) 554-1410
Musc Health Hospice At Home By Bayada-Charleston	Charleston, SC	2.0 mi	(843) 416-4020
Promedica Hospice-Charleston	Charleston, SC	2.8 mi	(843) 766-7646
Hospice Of Charleston	North Charleston, SC	8.2 mi	(803) 529-3100

Nursing homes near Charleston (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Riverside Health And Rehab	Charleston, SC	2.3 mi	1 of 5	160	(843) 744-2750
Ashley River Healthcare	Charleston, SC	2.9 mi	5 of 5	125	(843) 763-0233
Kempton Of Charleston	Charleston, SC	3.0 mi	5 of 5	23	(315) 576-5726
Nhc Healthcare - Charleston	Charleston, SC	3.9 mi	4 of 5	88	(843) 766-5228

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 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 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 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 Charleston: common questions

Which hospices serve Charleston?

Medicare lists 25 hospices for Charleston ZIP codes, including Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry, Interim Health Care Hospice Of Charleston, Musc Health Hospice At Home By Bayada-Charleston.

How much does respite 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).

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 Charleston. 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 Charleston

More senior care near Charleston

Respite 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.

Respite Care in Charleston, SC