The 10 Best Home Care Agencies for Seniors in Columbia, SC for 2024

Columbia, South Carolina, the state’s capital city, is a cultural hub and creative melting pot, earning it a well-deserved spot in the top half of Caring’s National Rankings. Columbia commits an abundance of resources to its hospitals, particularly benefiting the elderly community. Lexington Medical Center is a high-performing hospital positively ranked for its exceptional procedural care, and Prisma Health Heart Hospital specializes in cardiovascular needs.

In 2021, the Genworth Cost of Care Survey found that Columbia citizens spend a monthly average of $4,385 for in-home care services. In-home care services differ slightly from home health care since the latter delivers medical aid to residents’ homes.

Below we’ve compiled a comprehensive directory of every home care provider in Columbia– complete with services offered and reviews from families who’ve actually used the service. In addition to our in-depth provider listings, we’ve compiled resources to help seniors and their families to access all the tools they need to age in place safely and gracefully.

Compared to the state average, Columbia saves its residents $48 per month on home health care costs. It also fares much better than the national average of $4,957. Monthly rates in Sumter and Charleston exceed Columbia’s expense by more than $570. Simpsonville, tucked in the northwest region of South Carolina, is slightly cheaper than surrounding cities, with Charlotte, North Carolina, 93 miles north of Columbia, around the same price.

As a boon to Columbia senior citizens, the average cost of home care is the same as home health care which often involves more direct medical supervision like dispensing medications and taking vitals. Adult day health opportunities are the least expensive option, but individuals must commute to a group center to participate in classes and projects. Assisted living facilities offer health care for less than the cost of home care for a significant savings of just over $1,100 monthly. For the highest price, residents can choose a nursing home facility. 

Given the high cost of in-home care, many people use one or more forms of financial assistance to cover the expenses. Below, we explain some of the most common sources of financial help for paying for in-home care. If none of these options are available to you, you can reach out to your Area Agency on Aging or Aging and Disability Resource Center to learn about local resources.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: Long-term care insurance covers expenses related to senior care, including in-home care. Depending on the policy type, beneficiaries may receive a cash payment to use towards long-term care or reimbursement for qualifying long-term care expenses. Note that there are limitations- typically a maximum benefit of $150 per day- and exact coverage terms vary depending on the exact policy, so always check the details.
• Medicare: Medicare does not cover in-home care because it is classified as custodial, or non-medical, care. However, some Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans, which offer expanded benefits, may cover in-home custodial care.
• Medicaid: Medicaid coverage of in-home care varies between different states because it is not a federally mandated benefit. Currently, all states cover some in-home care either through their standard Medicaid or a waiver program. The specific coverage rules are set individually by each state.
• Veterans’ Benefits: The Aid and Attendance benefit is a monthly cash payment that beneficiaries can use to pay for senior care, including in-home care services. To qualify for A&A, Veterans must already receive the VA pension and meet several additional requirements, including needing assistance with the activities of daily living. Contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to learn more.
• Reverse Mortgages: Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) are federally insured loans that are available to homeowners age 62 and over. Reverse mortgages allow you to access a portion of your home’s equity in cash, tax free. Many seniors use reverse mortgages to finance their care expenses, including in-home care. Note that although there are no monthly payments due on reverse mortgage loans, borrowers do have to repay the loan once the last surviving homeowner passes away, moves, or sells the home.