South Carolina Aging Statistics & Resource Guide

The South Carolina Aging Statistics & Resource Guide contains key information, links and statistics for senior citizens in South Carolina. With an aging population and the average cost of care averaging between $20.00 an hour for home care to $7,604 a month for skilled nursing care, South Carolina is typically less expensive than the national average.  This guide also contains helpful contact information for county offices, Alzheimer’s Disease organizations and government agencies that offer assistance to caregivers and senior citizens. 

South Carolina Key Statistics

• 24.3% of the South Carolina population is aged 60 or over with 11.5% of seniors aged 65+ living alone. 
• With no social security or inheritance tax, it is one of the most tax friendly states for retirees, with the highest income tax set at 7% and an average property tax set at $601 per $100,000 in home value. 
• 48.9% of certified nursing home beds were rated four or five-stars over a three-month period compared to a US national average of 47.3%.
• The median household income for a South Carolina senior (65+) is $41,017.
• 95,000 people aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s in South Carolina.

Choosing Long Term Care in South Carolina

• South Carolina Home Care Agencies Directory: The average hourly home care rate in South Carolina is $20.00, making South Carolina less expensive than the national average ($22.50) for home care. 
• South Carolina Adult Day Care Directory: The average cost of adult day care in South Carolina is $1,343 per month making South Carolina less expensive than the national average ($1,625) for adult day care.
• South Carolina Assisted Living Directory: The average cost of assisted living in South Carolina is $3,500 per month making South Carolina less expensive than the national average ($4,051) for assisted living.
• South Carolina Skilled Nursing Directory: The average cost of skilled nursing in South Carolina is $7,604 per month making South Carolina less expensive than the national average ($8,517) for skilled nursing.

South Carolina Senior Services

South Carolina Department on Aging

Address: 1301 Gervais Street, Suite 350, Columbia, SC 29201

Phone: (803) 734-9900

Toll Free: 1-800-868-9095

Fax: (803) 734-9886

Website

South Carolina State Plan on Aging

• South Carolina State Plan on Aging 2017-2021

South Carolina Elder Justice and Advocacy

• South Carolina Adult Protective Services Program
• South Carolina Adult Protective Services

South Carolina Department of Social Services

Address: 1535 Confederate Avenue, Columbia, SC 29201-1915 

County Office Locations

To report Elder Abuse call the SCDSS Hotline at 1-888-227-3487

South Carolina Support for Caregivers

• South Carolina Family Caregiver Support
• GetCareSC
• Caregiver Support

South Carolina Senior Disaster Preparedness

• The South Carolina Emergency Management Division
• SC DHEC Specific Disaster Information

South Carolina Health Care Fraud

• Senior Medicare Patrol – Medicare Fraud Protection

For more information or to volunteer please contact the South Carolina Department on Aging at 1-800-868-9095 or your local Area Agency on Aging.

South Carolina Long-Term Care Ombudsman

• South Carolina Long Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO)

If you suspect abuse or neglect in a long term care facility, please call the SCDOA Long Term Care Ombudsman at 1-800-868-9095

South Carolina Medicaid Elderly & Disabled Waiver Programme

• Healthy Connections – South Carolina Medicaid

South Carolina Medicare and Insurance Counseling

• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
• Insurance Counseling Assistance and Referrals for Elders (I-Care) program
• Healthy Connections Prime Ombudsman

South Carolina Elderly Nutrition & Wellness

• Evidence Based Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Title III-D)
• Food and Nutrition
• Senior Nutrition
• Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP)
• Healthy Bucks
• SC SNAP Education and Obesity Prevention Program

South Carolina Prescription Assistance

• Prescription Assistance Programs – SCDHHS.gov
• South Carolina Rx Assistance Programs

South Carolina Area Agencies on Aging

Appalachian Area Agency on Aging (Anderson, Cherokee, Greenville, Oconee, Pickens and Spartanburg)

Address: SC Appalachian Council of Governments, 30 Century Circle, Greenville, SC 29607

Phone: 864-242-9733

Website

Upper Savannah Area Agency on Aging (Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick and Saluda)

Address: Upper Savannah Council of Governments, 430 Helix Road, Greenwood, SC 29646

Toll-Free: 800-922-7729

Phone: 864-941-8069

Website

Catawba Area Agency on Aging (Chester, Lancaster, York and Union)

Address: 2051 Ebenezer Road, Suite B, Post Office Box 4618, Rock Hill, SC 29732

Phone: 803-329-9670

Toll-Free: (800) 662-8330

Website

Central Midlands Area Agency on Aging (Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Richland)

Address: Central Midlands Council of Governments, 236 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia, SC 29210

Phone: 803-376-5390

Toll-Free: 866-394-4166 

Website 

Lower Savannah Area Agency on Aging (Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun and Orangeburg)

Address: Lower Savannah Council of Governments, 2748 Wagener Road, Aiken, SC 29801

Phone: 803-649-7981

Website 

Santee-Lynches Area Agency on Aging (Clarendon, Kershaw, Lee and Sumter)

Address: Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments, 39 E. Calhoun Street, Sumter, SC 29150

Phone: 803-775-7381

Website 

Pee Dee Area Agency on Aging – Vantage Point (Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion, and Marlboro)

Address: Caresouth Carolina, Inc., 216 South 2nd Street, Hartsville, SC 29551

Phone: 843-383-8632

Website 

Waccamaw Area Agency on Aging (Georgetown, Horry, and Williamsburg)

Address: Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments, 1230 Highmarket Street, Georgetown, SC 29440

Phone: 843-546-8502

Website 

Trident Area Agency on Aging (Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester)

Address: 4450 Leeds Place West, Suite B, North Charleston, SC 29405

Phone: 843-554-2275

Website 

Lowcountry Area Agency on Aging (Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper)

Address: Lowcountry Council of Governments, 634 Campground Road, Yemassee, SC 29945

Phone: 843-473-3991

Toll-Free: 877-846-8148

Website 

Resources

National Healthcare, Caregiving & Senior Living Resources

• The Official U.S. Government Site for Medicare     
• Administration for Community Living     
• National Council for Aging Care     
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)    
• The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care        
• Pioneer Network: Culture Change in Long-Term Care     
• The Center for Social Gerontology     

South Carolina Healthcare, Caregiving & Senior Living Resources

• ElderCare Trust Fund
• Geriatric Physician Loan Forgiveness
• Legal Assistance for Seniors
• Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)
• SC Vulnerable Adult Guardian Ad Litem
• Senior Centers
• Adult Advocacy
• Assisted Living and Nursing Homes
• Emergency Financial Assistance
• In-Home Care
• Transportation

Alzheimer’s Organizations & Resources

• Alzheimers Foundation of America
• Alzheimers Association
• Alzheimers Resource Centre
• Alzheimers Association – South Carolina 
• South Carolina Chapter – Alzheimer’s Association

South Carolina Senior Health Studies

• South Carolina Scorecard on Long-Term Services and Supports for Older Adults, People with Physical Disabilities, and Family Caregivers
• America’s Health Rankings – South Carolina 

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