Respite Care in Forest Acres, SC for Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Forest Acres, SC: the local picture

2,384

residents 65 or older (23% of Forest Acres)

54%

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

31%

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

23

Medicare-certified hospices serve Forest Acres ZIP codes

Most older adults in Forest Acres live with someone: 54% 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 744 Forest Acres residents aged 65 or older report a disability (31%) (35% in Richland County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 23 hospices serving Forest Acres ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Forest Acres compared with Richland County and South Carolina

Census figure	Forest Acres	Richland County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	31%	35%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	46%	30%	27%
Residents 65 or older	23%	14%	19%
Residents 85 or older	4.3%	1.3%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.6%	11%	11%
Households with no vehicle	3.9%	7.2%	5.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$48,317	$55,737	—

Older residents in towns around Forest Acres

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Woodfield, SC	3.0 mi	1,595	50%
Dentsville, SC	3.1 mi	2,097	29%
Columbia, SC	3.9 mi	16,083	37%
Arthurtown, SC	4.9 mi	117	91%
Capitol View, SC	5.4 mi	659	52%
Cayce, SC	6.9 mi	2,419	42%

Hospices serving Forest Acres

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Heart Of Hospice LLC	Columbia, SC	3.7 mi	(803) 699-3233
Medical Services Of America Hospice-Columbia	Columbia, SC	4.1 mi	(803) 400-1177
Compassionate Care Hospice Of South Carolina, LLC	West Columbia, SC	7.1 mi	(803) 731-8110
Pruitthealth Hospice- Columbia	Columbia, SC	7.9 mi	(803) 771-0489
Caris Healthcare Columbia	Columbia, SC	7.9 mi	(803) 794-4141

Nursing homes near Forest Acres (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
White Oak Manor - Columbia	Columbia, SC	1.4 mi	4 of 5	120	(803) 782-4363
Forest Acres Post Acute	Columbia, SC	2.3 mi	1 of 5	132	(803) 256-4983
Pruitthealth- Columbia	Columbia, SC	2.6 mi	1 of 5	144	(964) 341-6758
Midlands Health & Rehabilitation Center	Columbia, SC	2.9 mi	2 of 5	88	(803) 699-4111

Straight-line miles from the center of Forest Acres. 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 Forest Acres

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 31% of the $4,026 monthly median income of Forest Acres 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 Forest Acres: common questions

Which hospices serve Forest Acres?

Medicare lists 23 hospices for Forest Acres ZIP codes, including Heart Of Hospice LLC, Medical Services Of America Hospice-Columbia, Compassionate Care Hospice Of South Carolina, LLC.

How much does respite care cost in Forest Acres?

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 31% of the $4,026 monthly median income of Forest Acres 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 Forest Acres. 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 Forest Acres

More senior care near Forest Acres

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Forest Acres

More for Forest Acres 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 Forest Acres, SC