Respite Care in Port Royal, SC: Breaks for Family Caregivers

Local figures

Respite Care in Port Royal, SC: the local picture

1,383

residents 65 or older (8.9% of Port Royal)

63%

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

41%

of residents 65+ report a disability (25% in Beaufort County)

7

Medicare-certified hospices serve Port Royal ZIP codes

Most older adults in Port Royal live with someone: 63% 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 554 Port Royal residents aged 65 or older report a disability (41%) (25% in Beaufort County). Many of them rely on a spouse or adult child day to day.

Medicare lists 7 hospices serving Port Royal ZIP codes. For someone on hospice, Medicare also covers short inpatient respite stays so the family caregiver can rest.

Port Royal compared with Beaufort County and South Carolina

Census figure	Port Royal	Beaufort County	South Carolina
Residents 65+ with a disability	41%	25%	33%
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	37%	20%	27%
Residents 65 or older	8.9%	28%	19%
Residents 85 or older	0.9%	2.6%	1.8%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	14%	7.2%	11%
Households with no vehicle	4.7%	4.3%	5.7%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$80,899	$83,920	—

Older residents in towns around Port Royal

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	65+ with a disability
Burton, SC	5.3 mi	1,139	30%
Beaufort, SC	7.2 mi	2,050	26%
Laurel Bay, SC	8.8 mi	271	15%
Hilton Head Island, SC	12 mi	14,855	27%
Ridgeland, SC	15 mi	311	52%
Bluffton, SC	17 mi	8,154	20%

Hospices serving Port Royal

Hospice	Office	Distance	Phone
Pruitthealth Hospice-Beaufort	Bluffton, SC	8.5 mi	(770) 279-6200
Crescent Hospice	Bluffton, SC	12 mi	(843) 757-9388
Hospice Care Of The Lowcountry	Bluffton, SC	12 mi	(843) 706-2296
Compassus-Charleston	Ridgeland, SC	19 mi	(843) 645-6540
Friends Of Caroline Hospice Of Beaufort, Inc	Ridgeland, SC	19 mi	(843) 525-6257

Nursing homes near Port Royal (ask about short stays)

Nursing home	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Certified beds	Phone
Sprenger Health Care Of Port Royal	Port Royal, SC	2.0 mi	1 of 5	65	(843) 781-7700
Resorts At Beaufort	Beaufort, SC	3.6 mi	3 of 5	170	(843) 524-8911
The Preston Health Center	Hilton Head Island, SC	8.8 mi	5 of 5	62	(843) 689-7077
Life Care Center Of Hilton Head	Hilton Head Island, SC	9.2 mi	1 of 5	88	(843) 681-6006

Straight-line miles from the center of Port Royal. 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 Port Royal

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 19% of the $6,742 monthly median income of Port Royal 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 Port Royal: common questions

Which hospices serve Port Royal?

Medicare lists 7 hospices for Port Royal ZIP codes, including Pruitthealth Hospice-Beaufort, Crescent Hospice, Hospice Care Of The Lowcountry.

How much does respite care cost in Port Royal?

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 19% of the $6,742 monthly median income of Port Royal 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 Port Royal. 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 Port Royal

More senior care near Port Royal

Respite Care in nearby cities

Other care in Port Royal

More for Port Royal 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 Port Royal, SC