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Cost of Home Care in South Carolina
How much does home care cost in South Carolina? It depends on the type of care, the number of hours per week, and the schedule. This page gives national and South Carolina median costs from the CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, so you can see the scale of costs before you call. These are survey medians, not Empyrean rates. Your cost depends on your care plan. Call the South Carolina office for a local estimate after a free consultation and assessment.
What home care costs, compared with other settings
The table below compares monthly median costs. Read the basis for each row. In-home care is priced by the hour, so the monthly figure depends on hours. Assisted living and nursing home figures are monthly feesfor a room and care together. They do not buy the same thing, and the comparison is shown so you can see the scale of each option.
Non-medical care at home: $6,673 per month nationally, $5,982 in South Carolina. Caregiver time at home, based on 44 hours per week. Housing and food are not included.
Assisted living community: $6,200 per month nationally, $5,350 in South Carolina. Monthly fee with room and board, private one-bedroom.
Nursing home, semi-private room: $9,581 per month nationally, $9,034 in South Carolina. Daily room rate for 365 days, divided by 12.
Nursing home, private room: $10,798 per month nationally, $9,612 in South Carolina. Daily room rate for 365 days, divided by 12.
Annual medians, same survey: non-medical care at home, $80,080 nationally and $71,786 in South Carolina (44 hours per week, 52 weeks); assisted living, $74,400 nationally and $64,200 in South Carolina (monthly fee x 12); nursing home semi-private room, $114,975 nationally and $108,405 in South Carolina; nursing home private room, $129,575 nationally and $115,340 in South Carolina (365 days). South Carolina medians in this survey are lower than the national medians in every category shown.
Hourly medians, same survey: non-medical care at home, $35 per hour nationally and $31 per hour in South Carolina. Skilled nursing in the home (private duty nurse), $90 per hour nationally and $73 per hour in South Carolina, with a median per-visit rate of $160 nationally and $185 in South Carolina. Per-visit pricing generally reflects brief, task-based clinical services, while hourly rates are more common for extended or ongoing skilled care.
A median is the middle value in the survey. Half of the rates collected were higher, and half were lower. Your local cost may be higher or lower than the median. Source: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (formerly the Genworth Cost of Care Survey). Data collected July through November 2025. Released March 2, 2026.
How hours change the monthly cost
Home care is usually billed by the hour. More hours per week means a higher monthly cost. The examples below use the national median rate of $35 per hour to show how hours change the total. They are arithmetic examples, not survey figures and not Empyrean quotes.
10 hours per week: About $1,517 per month.
20 hours per week: About $3,033 per month.
44 hours per week: $6,673 per month.
Your hours depend on your assessment and care plan. Some people need a few hours a week. Others need daily care or 24-hour care. The South Carolina office will explain your hours and your cost after assessment. 24-hour care is priced by the local office after assessment. No number for 24-hour care is published on this page, because hours and care type change the cost.
How hourly rates work
Home care agencies commonly charge by the hour. The hourly rate depends on the type of care. Non-medical care, such as personal care and companion care, is generally charged at a lower hourly rate than skilled nursing care from a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, which requires advanced training. The survey medians above show that difference: $35 per hour nationally for non-medical care, and $90 per hour nationally for skilled nursing in the home. Those are survey medians, not Empyrean rates.
Schedule can also affect cost. Nights, weekends, holidays, and short-notice or 24-hour schedules may be priced differently from weekday daytime care. Ask the South Carolina office how schedule affects your estimate. Your rate will be explained to you before care starts, as part of your care plan.
Minimum hours per visit
Many home care agencies set a minimum number of hours per visit. A minimum helps cover travel time and scheduling, and helps keep visits long enough for the caregiver to complete the care plan. Empyrean has a minimum of 2 hours per visit. Ask the South Carolina office how the minimum applies to your care plan.
What affects your cost
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Type of care: personal care, companion care, respite care, skilled nursing, dementia care, veteran care, pediatric care, 24-hour care, or hospital-to-home care.
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Hours per week and length of each visit.
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Schedule: daytime, evenings, nights, weekends, or 24-hour coverage.
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Level of support needed, as set out in your assessment and care plan.
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Location. Costs vary by area, even within South Carolina.
Hospital-to-home care: the cost depends on the care needed after discharge. Transport is not included in hospital-to-home care. Call the South Carolina office to talk through the care needed and get an estimate.
How to pay: South Carolina
Empyrean Home Care SC LLC accepts:
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VA OPTUM Community Care. Empyrean Home Care SC LLC is an authorized VA OPTUM Community Care provider. Ask the office about VA coverage and eligibility for your care.
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Private Pay. You pay directly for care, under the terms in your care plan.
Medicaid in South Carolina is in progress. Call the office to ask about current status. Do not assume Medicaid coverage until the office confirms it for your care.
Bridge Care Program: if you are awaiting approval for the Medicaid Community Choices Waiver, our Bridge Care Program is designed to keep services in place while you wait. Ask the office how Bridge Care works and what it costs.
Coverage depends on your plan, your eligibility, and the type of care. The South Carolina office will explain which payment options apply to your care. If you are unsure how you will pay, call us. We will talk through your options as part of the free consultation.
Get a local estimate
Request a free consultation. We will conduct an assessment to determine the level of care needed, create a personalized care plan, and explain your cost before care starts.
Contact: Tracey Manuel, Administrator. Phone: (843) 981-1110. Email: tmanuel@empyreanhomecare.com. Address: 4000 S Faber Place Drive, Suite 300, North Charleston, SC 29405. Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Serving Charleston, Berkeley, Dorchester, Richland, Colleton, Calhoun, Sumter, and Orangeburg counties. Se habla español. Llame al (843) 981-1110.
Empyrean Home Care SC LLC. SCDPH License IHCP-2558.
Cost questions
How much does home care cost?
It depends on the type of care, the hours per week, and the schedule. The national median for non-medical care at home is $35 per hour, or $6,673 per month at 44 hours per week (CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025). Your cost depends on your care plan. Call the South Carolina office at (843) 981-1110 for a local estimate after a free consultation and assessment.
Is there a minimum number of hours per visit?
Yes. Empyrean has a minimum of 2 hours per visit. Ask the South Carolina office how the minimum applies to your care plan.
How can I pay for home care in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, Empyrean Home Care SC LLC accepts VA OPTUM Community Care and Private Pay. Medicaid in South Carolina is in progress. Call the office to ask about current status. If you are awaiting approval for the Medicaid Community Choices Waiver, ask about the Bridge Care Program.
How much does 24-hour care cost?
24-hour care is priced by the local office after assessment. No number is published here, because hours and care type change the cost.
How much does hospital-to-home care cost?
The cost depends on the care needed after discharge. Transport is not included in hospital-to-home care. Call the local office to talk through the care needed and get an estimate.