Respite Care in Lake City, SC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Lake City, SC: the local picture

1,206

residents 65 or older (20% of Lake City)

56%

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

46%

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

10

Medicare-certified hospices serve Lake City ZIP codes

Most older adults in Lake City live with someone: 56% 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 555 Lake City residents aged 65 or older report a disability (46%) (35% in Florence County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 10 hospices serving Lake City ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Lake City compared with Florence County and South Carolina

Census figure	Lake City	Florence County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	46%	35%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	44%	31%	27%
Residents 65 or older	20%	18%	19%
Residents 85 or older	2.6%	1.6%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	34%	15%	11%
Households with no vehicle	17%	7.6%	5.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$27,353	$40,410	—

Older residents in towns around Lake City

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Kingstree, SC	15 mi	671	55%
Florence, SC	22 mi	7,201	33%
Manning, SC	29 mi	1,556	45%
Marion, SC	30 mi	1,555	38%
Darlington, SC	31 mi	1,581	44%
Andrews, SC	31 mi	491	24%

Hospices serving Lake City

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
United Hospice Of The Pee Dee	Florence, SC	22 mi	(843) 662-8633
Amedisys Hospice Of South Carolina	Florence, SC	22 mi	(803) 774-4036
Mcleod Hcs - Hospice Of The Pee Dee	Florence, SC	22 mi	(843) 777-2564
Medical Services Of America Hospice - Coastal	Myrtle Beach, SC	50 mi	(803) 957-0500
Agape Hospice Of The Lowcountry	North Charleston, SC	71 mi	(843) 598-4536

Nursing homes near Lake City (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Dr Ronald E Mcnair Nursing & Rehabilitation Center	Lake City, SC	3.3 mi	3 of 5	88	(843) 389-3685
Lake City Scranton Healthcare Center	Scranton, SC	3.4 mi	4 of 5	88	(843) 389-9201
Carlyle Senior Care Of Kingstree	Kingstree, SC	15 mi	3 of 5	96	(843) 355-6116
The Palms At Florence	Florence, SC	17 mi	2 of 5	163	(843) 669-3502

Straight-line miles from the center of Lake City. 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 Lake City

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 55% of the $2,279 monthly median income of Lake City 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 Lake City: common questions

Which hospices serve Lake City?

Medicare lists 10 hospices for Lake City ZIP codes, including United Hospice Of The Pee Dee, Amedisys Hospice Of South Carolina, Mcleod Hcs - Hospice Of The Pee Dee.

How much does respite care cost in Lake City?

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 55% of the $2,279 monthly median income of Lake City 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 Lake City. 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 Lake City

More senior care near Lake City

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Lake City

More for Lake City 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 Lake City, SC