Respite Care in Laurens, SC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Laurens, SC: the local picture

2,351

residents 65 or older (25% of Laurens)

80%

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

50%

of residents 65+ report a disability (41% in Laurens County)

20

Medicare-certified hospices serve Laurens ZIP codes

Most older adults in Laurens live with someone: 80% 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 1,036 Laurens residents aged 65 or older report a disability (50%) (41% in Laurens County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 20 hospices serving Laurens ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Laurens compared with Laurens County and South Carolina

Census figure	Laurens	Laurens County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	50%	41%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	20%	27%	27%
Residents 65 or older	25%	19%	19%
Residents 85 or older	3.4%	1.7%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	13%	11%
Households with no vehicle	14%	5.7%	5.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$44,596	$44,102	—

Older residents in towns around Laurens

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Clinton, SC	9.4 mi	1,193	39%
Woodruff, SC	17 mi	691	70%
Fountain Inn, SC	17 mi	1,369	32%
Simpsonville, SC	21 mi	3,666	22%
Honea Path, SC	22 mi	555	38%
Greenwood, SC	23 mi	3,656	37%

Hospices serving Laurens

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Open Arms Hospice	Simpsonville, SC	20 mi	(864) 688-1700
Heartland Hospice Services - Greenville	Simpsonville, SC	22 mi	(864) 963-0045
Hospice And Palliative Care Of The Piedmont	Greenwood, SC	24 mi	(864) 227-9393
Agape Care South Carolina Ii	Spartanburg, SC	29 mi	(800) 932-2738
Kindred Hospice	Spartanburg, SC	29 mi	(864) 585-6500

Nursing homes near Laurens (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Nhc Healthcare - Laurens	Laurens, SC	0.3 mi	5 of 5	176	(864) 984-6584
Martha Franks Baptist Retirement Center	Laurens, SC	0.3 mi	3 of 5	88	(864) 984-4541
Presbyterian Communities Of South Carolina- Clinto	Clinton, SC	8.5 mi	5 of 5	5	(864) 833-5190
Nhc Healthcare - Clinton	Clinton, SC	9.0 mi	5 of 5	131	(864) 833-2550

Straight-line miles from the center of Laurens. 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 Laurens

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 34% of the $3,716 monthly median income of Laurens 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 Laurens: common questions

Which hospices serve Laurens?

Medicare lists 20 hospices for Laurens ZIP codes, including Open Arms Hospice, Heartland Hospice Services - Greenville, Hospice And Palliative Care Of The Piedmont.

How much does respite care cost in Laurens?

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 34% of the $3,716 monthly median income of Laurens 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 Laurens. 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 Laurens

More senior care near Laurens

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Laurens

More for Laurens 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 Laurens, SC